It is critical to protect…

It is critical to protect the farmland and the industry of this province. Allowing housing to encroach on industry is often its death knell. Stelco and Esso are heavy industries in my area of Haldimand County. They are the biggest industries, employers, and taxpayers.

Under the Haldimand County Official Plan, these industries are granted a 3 km setback from housing development, a plan approved by the province and in compliance with the Provincial Policy Statement. Industry needs stability, so maintain the current regulations of protection.

The 3 km setback is not just required for existing emissions, but occasional upsets and expansion.

Both Stelco and Esso have declared their objection to allowing a housing proposal by Empire Homes to proceed. In fact, Esso has increased the buffer zone around their oil refinery by buying out another house and demolishing it, giving them a clear 2 km to the next nearest house east of the refinery. Industry located there over 40 years ago to be away from residential areas. Need I mention the Bhopal, India industrial disaster at a Union Carbide plant where there were no setbacks?

Empire Homes is on record as wanting to reduce the buffer zone or setback from industry to 300
metres and to 500 metres from wind turbines. There needs to be a 2 km setback from wind turbines and a 3 km setback from industry.

There is no need for anymore significant housing in Haldimand County. There are many serviced lots not being built on in the existing urban areas plus more development land within them.

Some roads are already stretched to the max at times. We are in desperate need of a new bridge over the Grand River in Caledonia. So don’t allow for anymore land to be consumed by housing development in Haldiamnd.