Both the proponent and the protesters will have to wait another month before finding out the fate of a proposed asphalt plant in the Steelhead area.
A Temporary Use Permit has been requested for the properties located at 11546 and 11596 Dewdney Trunk Road for a period of up to three years and the possibility of a renewal for another three years.
On Monday night, council hosted a public meeting to allow residents to provide input on the proposal. A majority of the speakers were against the idea.
Concerns were raised regarding the impact on the local environment, air quality, water quality, truck traffic, smell, general livability, fire hazards, zoning and much more.
After more than five hours, Mission Mayor Pam Alexis told the crowd she had more than 10 pages of notes and needed time to go through all of the comments and questions.
Council will discuss the matter again on June 15 and present staff with a variety of concerns and questions. The proposal will then be debated at the July 6 council meeting.
“We don’t want to make a hasty decision so, definitely we need some time,” Alexis said after the meeting. “We certainly understand the passion of the Steelhead community.”
Some members of the public asked why council would even entertain such an application, but Alexis said anyone has the right to bring an application forward to be heard.
“I think some people don’t necessarily understand that it’s our duty to hear from anyone who makes an application.”
Steelhead residents have been vocal in their opposition of the plant, since it was first introduced at the end of 2019.
At that time, the land owner was attempting to rezone the properties to allow the plant.
In March of 2020, the rezoning request was withdrawn in favour of the Temporary Use Permit.
