We have reviewed your letter…

We have reviewed your letter dated August 9, 2018 and the Environment Bill of Rights (EBR) Registry and have the following comments concerning an amendment to Environmental Site Compliance Approval No. A120412 for a Waste Disposal Site (landfill site) located at 65 Canal Bank Street to permit interim landfill cover and the eventual goal of re-opening and operation of 19.4 hectare soil disposal landfill. The Owner/Applicant has not consulted with the City of Welland concerning either of these proposals. The subject lands are designated General Industrial in the City’s Official Plan and Zoned G1- General Industrial in the City’s Zoning By-law 2017-117. The General Industrial designation in the City’s Official Plan and the G1 Zoning do not permit the use of a landfill. The use of the site for landfilling has ceased, as is indicated in the EBR Registry. The existing landfill has no legal non-conforming status as the use was ceased well before the October 17, 2017 date of passing of the City’s Zoning By-law. 2017-117. The proposal would require and Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a landfill. It is premature for City Staff to determine if they could support amendments to permit the proposed use of a landfill at this location. City Staff currently do not support the proposed modification to the Environmental Site Compliance Approval as the proposed use is not permitted on the subject lands and recommend the Ministry of Environment refuse the requested modification. City Staff also have concerns about the landfill and potential expansion given the close proximity to residential lands to the east and potential impacts on the Welland Recreational Waterway which is also a drinking water source for the City.