P&M Recycling has been given until April 7 to cease operations at its Sixth Avenue warehouse.

City council set that date at Monday’s meeting when an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment for the property was brought forward.

P&M was issued the order to cease operations at the warehouse last November, as its operations contravene zoning and the designation under the OCP.

Owner Pat McInroy has since appealed the decision – thereby allowing him to continue operations for the time being – applying for a change in the OCP that would allow him to keep the warehouse operations going.

McInroy has pointed out P&M has been using the facility since 2011 (first renting space and then purchasing the structure in 2014).

He has also cited the city’s policies in promoting waste diversion through initiatives like recycling.

City staff have pointed to numerous complaints from neighbours about noise, dust, machinery and errant waste in the area near their homes.

The site had been used as a warehouse historically. In recent years, however, the zoning and OCP were changed to mixed use commercial designations which don’t allow for warehouse operations.

At last week’s meeting, planning manager Pat Ross told council the use is in such direct contravention with the zoning and OCP that he was not recommending it even go ahead to first reading, as is typically recommended with most OCP changes in order to allow for public input.

Instead, he recommended council defeat first reading and enforce the order from November.

Coun. Dan Boyd proposed the 60-day timeline for P&M to end operations at the warehouse. He pointed to the “really unfortunate” timing as council also moves forward with a request for proposals (RFP) on a city-wide blue bin recycling program.

The outcome of the RFP could have an impact on P&M’s operations and decisions on how it proceeds.

Boyd then proposed the amendment allowing for the 60 workdays before the order is enforced, including a provision that city staff work with the company on finding a solution to the matter.

Boyd did not specify what direction that might take. At last week’s meeting, however, both Ross and McInroy noted the possibility of a land swap so McInroy could continue to have a warehouse.

McInroy was clear he wants to and believes he should be able to remain at the Sixth Avenue location. He also said if that doesn’t happen, he would be open to a land swap if the right spot is found.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu was the first to address Boyd’s proposal last night with support, noting the valuable service P&M offers the community.

Curteanu also agreed with Boyd that the direction taken on the possible blue box program could impact such recycling processors as P&M.

The resolution, she noted, addressed the time needed on the matter.

Meanwhile, Coun. Rob Fendrick reflected on the “quandary” he was in as he considered his vote.

He said in past discussions with McInroy, he’s made it clear that he believes the use is incompatible with the OCP and could benefit from a different use that fits with the zoning.

On the other side of the coin, Fendrick commented, he believes in due process and moving forward with such amendments to allow for public input.

Left weighing the two sides, Fendrick said he would support Boyd’s proposal, which grants additional time and for the possibility of city staff and McInroy to reach a resolution.

Other members of council made their thoughts clear when they raised their hands unanimously in support of Boyd’s motion, allowing for the additional 60 days.

Outside city hall following the vote, McInroy said that while he is obviously disappointed that the order will stand, he will “definitely” work with city staff to come to some resolution.

“It’s too soon to tell” exactly what that might be though, he added.

He also pointed out he will keep the conversation going with neighbours in the area to try to deal with the complaints that have come forward, something he has attempted to deal with already.

“Our workload has been reduced,” he said.

P&M and Whitehorse Blue Bin Recycling (a private firm that provides curbside recycling collection to clients) recently ended their contract amicably, he said. That has significantly reduced the amount of material coming in.

McInroy noted he’s pleased the private blue bin company was able to work with the Raven Recycling Society to take the material it collects there to be shipped out.

P&M’s workload was also reduced in the spring of 2015 after Raven reopened its drop-off depot, which it had closed for several months beginning in October 2014.

During that closure, P&M was the city’s only recycling processor accepting non-refundables.

The lighter workload means fewer trucks coming into the Ogilvie-Ray streets area and less activity at the warehouse.

McInroy continued to stress the site has historically been used as a warehouse for a variety of businesses in town.

Coun. Samson Hartland was absent from Monday’s meeting.