Asphalt plant approved
City council has approved the placement of an asphalt plant in a gravel quarry at the north end the city.
City council has approved the placement of an asphalt plant in a gravel quarry at the north end the city.
Its approval came at its Monday night meeting.
Castle Rock Enterprises applied for permission to establish the plant earlier this fall.
Several residents of the area appeared before council recently to express their concerns regarding the potential for air pollution, ground water contamination and more industrial noise and traffic.
Asphalt plants, however, are identified in the zoning bylaw as an acceptable secondary use for quarry sites.
A representative of Castle Rock who also appeared before council expressed his hope the city wouldn't be changing the rules of the game while the company was halfway through the process.
Castle Rock, council heard, is planning to purchase a new plant with all the bells and whistles to make sure air emissions will meet or exceed the toughest standards in the country.
Council approved the placement of the plant below Haeckel Hill on the condition the company follow through with its intent to purchase a style of plant capable of minimizing air emissions.
It is also requested the company develop an emergency response plan.
The approval is tied to Castle Rock's quarry lease, which is up for renewal in November 2015.
Members of council directed city administration to file a report on the operation of the plant in a year's time.
It was also recommended that area residents contact Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers to ensure he sees that the Yukon government fulfills its responsibility to monitor the air emissions.
Castle Rock recently won a $12.9-million contract to provide the asphalt and concrete work for phases one and two of the new Whistle Bend subdivision. Lots in phase one are scheduled to be ready for sale next fall.
"I think this is a necessary operation for the City of Whitehorse,” Coun. Betty Irwin said last night.
"Certainly, a little competition in any business does not hurt at all.”
Comments (5)
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Billy Polson on Oct 27, 2011 at 10:05 am
Castle Rock are taking advantage of the boom from mining, which is creating a need for more homes, electricity, etc. The plant will close one day when the contracts aren't there. Could be a while, like 6-8 years, perhaps less, perhaps more, if some steady development takes place.
One thing we should keep in mind, is the Yukon as it is, and why people like it here....protect more areas and folks can't do anything but look at the trees. No knee jerks required to assure the health of the land. Think about this.....imagine the permitting Castle Rock and other contractors go through to provide the services we want as Yukoners, but folks who use the wilderness to stage ecotourism adventures, don't require any permits. Unfettered use and profit from what is everyones to share.
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try to see a little further on Oct 26, 2011 at 6:47 am
Building this plant won't necessarily mean more paving. It's just going to enable Castle Rock to provide asphalt in-house, asphalt that would presumably be created with less emissions than the present plant (unless I'm mistaken?). No shame there.
If you oppose paving, then lobby the gov to create new sub-divisions with gravel roads. But keep in mind there will be significant issues regarding dust, increased fuel consumption, wear and tear on vehicles etc, etc. If you oppose all development per se, then you serve to increase the plight of those already seriously affected by the current housing shortage. But I do agree, we need to permanently protect more areas of wilderness, both within and without the city.
Consider ourselves fortunate that Canadian citizens are guaranteed right of residence in any province/territory of their choosing. The same right that gave us (or our ancestors) the right to settle here in the first place, and the same right that gives us choice to relocate. It's a 2 way street, don't hog the road.
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Brice Carruthers on Oct 26, 2011 at 6:10 am
Two asphalt plants are good for taxpayers and will bring down the price of building and maintaining roads. The saved money can then go into other programs - including environmental protection and social housing programs. The Contractor has assured Council they will be using the latest emissions reduction technology, and the facility will be monitored for emissions. I really don't see any issue here other than the typical irrational environmental alarmism and NIMBY-ism.
I'm a born Yukoner, and I certainly don't agree with the opinions on display here. I live here because the money is good, the people are nice, and the outdoors are not too far away. One additional asphalt plant will not change those fundamental facts about Whitehorse and the Yukon. The Yukon is the size of California and has only 35,000 people. There is tons of room here, and the implication that Whitehorse could ever get close to the size of Vancouver is ludicrous. Most people in Whitehorse like having the amenities of southern Canada, and they realize that we need the population to attract those services. What's wrong with increasing the population base a bit? We aren't even equal to the population at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush yet? Alaska has over three quarters of a million people. Does Alaska conjure up images of over-development, traffic gridlock, and pollution? I wish people would think about what they say and look at things logically, before they start demagoguing development.
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Keep the wilderness on Oct 26, 2011 at 4:19 am
I think this is ridiculous. We already have an asphalt plant near the city and I feel that that is more than enough for the size of our city. Why do we need another plant? Oh yeah so they can continue to destroy our green spaces and attempt to turn us into a large city (sarcasm is intended).
This plan is disgusting and Castle Rock should be ashamed of themselves.
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Jessie on Oct 25, 2011 at 7:57 am
Concerning this, wasn't it just viewed that Whitehorse has one of the cleanest air supplies in the world? Why would we want to create more pollution for this plant to be created? I understand that it states "Castle Rock, council heard, is planning to purchase a new plant with all the bells and whistles to make sure air emissions will meet or exceed the toughest standards in the country." But is it really enough to keep our territory let alone the city the cleanest in the world? I think that should be something to think about. If they let Castle Rock put up an asphalt plant how many more are we going to put up? This city is beautiful and clean and fresh, but with all the upgrades to houses and roads, that means higher gas emissions.... I think that this city is trying to turn into a big Vancouver looking city, and its not worth it for how much beauty and cleanness there is around here. If this place becomes like the big city, along with myself but I can guarantee many others will be moving away from Whitehorse, whether it be to another small community in the Yukon, or elsewhere in the world. I think the asphalt plant is a STUPID idea... Just saying