There is an ongoing need for gravel in the city and acting mayor Roslyn Woodcock would rather see it taken from areas that already see industrial use than going into undeveloped areas for it.

“We need gravel,” she said in an interview Tuesday night after the city council meeting where she served a notice of motion indicating she will bring forward a proposal next week.

The proposed amendment to the Official Community Plan would allow Norcope Enterprises to proceed with plans to operate a quarry off the Alaska Highway next to the Utah Siding yard.

Norcope president Doug Gonder had sought the OCP designation change on the 18 hectares of land earlier this year for the quarry, but council had not taken it any farther.

Gonder addressed council at last night’s meeting, pointing to a submission he had provided to members before the meeting detailing changes to his plans.

While Gonder didn’t go into specifics, he explained he was there to answer any questions council members might have about the proposal.

There were no questions from council, but later in the meeting Woodcock gave notice that she’d bring forward her motion next week for the OCP amendment.

In an interview following the meeting, she explained that Gonder has put forward a new plan that would address a number of the concerns that had come up earlier this year.

The plans outlined show quarry sites that are narrower than initially proposed and further from area trails, assurances of a visual barrier from the quarry, details of how noise and dust would be dealt with and so on.

Woodcock remained clear that there’s no guarantee the quarry would go ahead. Rather her motion would be the first step in a longer process that would also include looking at the zoning and issuing of a development permit if the OCP amendment even passes.

As she explained, she at least wants the OCP change considered in the interest of having much-needed gravel extracted from areas that are already being used for similar purposes rather than new areas. With the proponent’s changes to the plans, she believes the matter is at least worth considering.

“I’m a concrete thinker,” she said with a laugh.

The motion will come forward at next week’s meeting.

Mayor Dan Curtis and Coun. Dan Boyd were absent from last night’s meeting.