Hastings County’s Planning and Development committee voted 11-3 in favour of recommending the re-zoning by-law to be voted on by County council next Thursday.
The County’s Director of Planning Justin Harrow explains that council will review and vote next week. If approved, it will be sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing who is the “ultimate approval authority” for the official plan amendment, Harrow says.
Bancroft’s Mayor Paul Jenkins voted against the recommendation along with Hastings Highlands’ Mayor Vic Bodnar and the Reeve of Wollaston Barb Shaw.
“Thank you to the Hastings County planning committee and our community for the support of this quarry,” the Freymonds say in a statement. “The 6 year process, detailed studies and peer reviews confirm that despite concerns that have been raised in regards to Grail Springs and the surrounding area, we will continue to operate as good neighbors in our community.”
No Place For a Quarry’s representative David Donnelly says County councillors need to take more time over the next week to review the reports that have been submitted. “There has been an overwhelming show of support for Grail Springs Wellness Spa and all the businesses in the town of Bancroft,” he says. Donnelly says the quarry is “simply incompatible” with a wellness spa. “Somebody has got to come to their senses here,” he says.