Timmins residents win zoning battle -- for now

A group of Timmins residents may have won their battle to keep a quarry from being set up near their homes in the Laforest Road area, at least for the time being.
The issue involves 11 large parcels of land, located south of Laforest Road between Highway 655 and MacLean Drive.
Leo Alarie and Son’s Limited had applied to have the land rezoned from Rural Wilderness and Rural Agricultural lands to Industrial Aggregate Removal zoning, which would allow for the extraction and processing of sand and gravel for road building purposes.
City council has decided to refuse the plan unless the Alarie company can supply further documentation. Alarie was required to provide a peer review study to show that it’s quarry proposal would not have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area.
Because that review has not been done, council has indicated it will not likely move ahead with the zoning change.
A formal vote on the issue is expected to occur at the April 15 council meeting.
The plan was strongly opposed by many residential property owners along Laforest Road who argued they purchased their properties for the qualities of peace and quiet.
Alarie will have 30 days to appeal council’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) if it feels it has a strong enough case to argue for the zoning change. The OMB has the power to overturn any decision of council.