Eastern Shore residents rejoice after plan for waste facility suspended

Residents on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore who opposed the creation of a construction waste processing facility are rejoicing that the project is no longer moving forward.

Kiann Management Ltd. had applied to rezone 14.7 hectares of land that it owns in Lake Echo, off Highway 7, for the facility. Its owner confirmed to CBC on Monday that he had suspended his application.

A member of the community group that opposed the project said hearing of the suspension was "like Christmas morning."

"I was shocked. We didn't see this coming this morning," said Mike Thomas, with Concerned Residents of Porters Lake, Lake Echo, Preston and Mineville.

Construction debris

Kiann Management Ltd. applied for the rezoning in the spring of 2015.

The facility would have received debris from projects such as the demolition of St. Patrick's High School and the Gordon Bell Annex in Cole Harbour. Its owner, Lawrence Bellefontaine, intended to use the facility to sort recyclable materials such as rebar from concrete.

Bellefontaine said Monday his application is still in the process, but is suspended.

Residents campaigned against Kiann's application, worried the facility would create negative environmental impacts on water, increased truck traffic, noise and dust. 

"They call this community in particular Lake Echo, because sound goes everywhere," said Thomas. 

Planners agree with critics

In a letter to Bellefontaine dated Aug. 29, city planners said the site was not suitable for what he wanted to do.

The planners agreed with residents that the proposed site was too close to areas intended for homes and would create too much truck traffic on Highway 7. 

The planners also noted that the Porters Lake forest fire in 2008 swept through the area and cleared out a lot of natural vegetation that would act as a noise and visual buffer. The staff's recommendation to council would be not to approve the rezoning application.

"We have faith in the system," said Thomas. "They have listened to all of the concerns that the community members have raised over the last 16 months." 

Victory signs

Julie MacDougall and her son Jake were so happy to receive the news they put out a victory sign.

"As soon as I saw it, I started to ugly cry," MacDougall said about learning the waste facility would not move forward. Her family was making plans to move if the rezoning went ahead.

"My children and my husband and myself are very emotional about this. But we're very happy today," she said.

According to the rezoning application, the proposed facility would be situated 305 metres from the nearest homes. 

Thomas said residents believe a more suitable place would be in an industrial park. 

"Where the risks can be properly managed, and there is no impact on residential communities," he said.  

Application likely to go no further

Coun. David Hendsbee, who represents Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore, said he remained neutral on the Kiann Management application in order not to influence the process.

"The matter is now in the hands of the applicant. He has three choices: either to drop it altogether, put it in abeyance, or to try to persevere and try to put the application to community council," Hendsbee said.  

Hendsbee said the real estate division of the municipality is looking for sites within the city's industrial parks that could be suitable for a construction and demolition waste facility, but that if the company pressed ahead with the current proposal it was likely the application would go no further.