Residents have until Oct. 13 to tell the province how they feel about Sarjeant Co.’s request for a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) in Bradford.
According to a listing on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, is seeking input and information that could help minister Paul Calandra make a decision about Sarjeant’s request.
Even though the listing notes public consultation is not required, the ministry is still seeking public feedback “to help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities.”
That follows Bradford council’s decision from June to approve the demolition of the barn and farmhouse at 1934 Sideroad 5, which itself followed council’s December decision to support the request from Sarjeant for an MZO to rezone the property for a concrete batching plant.
Previously, Sarjeant was expected by July 9 to relocate the company’s current plant, which has been located at 3111 Sideroad 10 since 2004, after the Ontario Ministry of Transportation expropriated that property in 2022 as part of the Bradford Bypass highway project.
So far, the plant has yet to be moved.
According to Sarjeant, the new location is the only site in Bradford that will meet their needs for expansion, while also providing quick access to the highway, keeping trucks out of town.
However, that site is currently zoned agricultural, and would need multiple approvals under the Planning Act to facilitate that relocation, all of which take time.
As a result, Sarjeant is looking for the MZO to expedite the process by removing the requirements for public consultation to rezone the lands or the ability to appeal the rezoning.
In addition to relocating the batching plant, first with something temporary and then a more permanent plant, Sarjeant also intends to eventually add:
- An electric vehicle charging station facility
- A fuel storage facility
- A truck fuel dispensing facility
- An accessory use building
According to a December report from Alan Wiebe, manager of community planning for the town, the MZO would result in a development agreement under Section 47 of the Planning Act which would still require plans, assessments, studies and reports before the site can be developed.
Once the minister issues a decision about the MZO, notice should be provided with 30 days.
For more information visit the listing page, call 1-800-668-0230.
Comments can be submitted via a link on the listing page, by email to [email protected] or by mail to Municipal Services Office - Central Ontario, 16th floor, 777 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M7A 2J3.
