Appeal of Municipality of Greenstone - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

ERO number
019-1010
Notice stage
Appeal
Appeal posted
Last updated
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Appeal summary

This decision has been appealed

Appeal details

This notice is given by the applicant in accordance with section 47 of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. The notice was prepared by the appellant and represents its position. It does not represent or reflect the views of the Government of Ontario, nor does the Government of Ontario make any representations about the accuracy of the content of this notice.

The instrument holder has appealed this decision.

Additional details can be found on the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal’s website (Case number PL190604).

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

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Contact

More information, including hearing dates and locations can be provided by the appellate body. Additional information about the instrument appeal process, can be provided by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5


Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environmental Bill of Rights Office
40 St. Clair Ave. West
12th Floor
Toronto, ON
M4V 1M2

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Follow this notice

Appeal of Municipality of Greenstone - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

ERO number
019-1010
Notice stage
Appeal
Appeal posted
Last updated
Follow this notice

Appeal summary

This decision has been appealed

Appeal details

This notice is given by the applicant in accordance with section 47 of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. The notice was prepared by the appellant and represents its position. It does not represent or reflect the views of the Government of Ontario, nor does the Government of Ontario make any representations about the accuracy of the content of this notice.

The instrument holder has appealed this decision.

Additional details can be found on the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal’s website (Case number PL190604)

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Connect with us

Contact

More information, including hearing dates and locations can be provided by the appellate body. Additional information about the instrument appeal process, can be provided by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5


Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environmental Bill of Rights Office
40 St. Clair Ave. West
12th Floor
Toronto, ON
M4V 1M2

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Twitter

Sign up for notifications

We will send you email notifications with any updates related to this consultation. You can change your notification preferences anytime by visiting settings in your profile page.

Follow this notice


Original decision

Municipality of Greenstone - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

Instrument type: Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

ERO number
019-1010
Ministry reference number
58-OP-186142
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Notice stage
Decision Appeal Updated
Decision posted
Comment period
December 13, 2019 - January 12, 2020 (30 days) Closed
Last updated

Update Announcement

This notice was originally published on March 25, 2020. The notice was updated on May 26, 2020 to tell the public that given the recent passing of Ontario Regulation 149/20 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/200149), this Notice is being reissued.

This consultation was open from:
December 13, 2019
to January 12, 2020

Follow this notice

Decision summary

A decision to approve all of Official Plan Amendment No. 8 to the Official Plan of the Geraldton and Suburban Planning Area, as adopted by Municipal By-law 19-39, was made with one modification on March 19, 2020. A modification was made to ensure that all uses related to the mine development will be compatible with sensitive land uses in the area.

Location details

Site address

Greenstone, ON
P0T 1M0
Canada

Site location details

These lands are generally located to the south of Geraldton, and include the intersection of Highway 11 and Michael Power Boulevard on the north, Kenogamisis Lake on the east and south, and include some lands in Salsberg Township. A map has been provided for reference, along with the legal description of the lands.

Site location map

The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.

View this location on a map opens link in a new window

Proponent(s)

Municipality of Greenstone
P.O. Box 70, 1800 Main Street
Geraldton , ON
P0T 1M0
Canada

Decision details

Decision on instrument

The purpose of Official Plan Amendment No. 8 (OPA #8) is for a site specific amendment to the Official Plan of the Geraldton and Suburban Planning Area which would re-designate certain properties from the current "Open Space", Hazard Land", "Commercial", "Industrial", and "Future Water Supply" designations to the "Rural" designation. OPA #8 also adds policies to enable the use of Site Plan Control, Holding Provisions and the authority to acquire lands for the purpose of developing the Hardrock Project (the Project). Approval of OPA #8 permits the development of a new open pit gold mine and associated facilities and uses by Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc. (the Developer).

The Project will consist of an open pit gold mine, processing plant and ancillary facilities. These facilities will include a temporary work camp that will be used to house construction workers during the initial facility construction phase.

The Developer has completed a federally and provincially approved environmental assessment (EA) in connection with the Project.

One modification to the amendment was made relative to land use compatibility. The modification ensures that all new extractive and mining industrial uses related to the development of the new mine will be compatible with sensitive land uses in the area. Specifically, the MECP's D-Series Guidelines (D-1 and D-6) will be followed in determining land use compatibility; these guidelines outline minimum separation distances which should be maintained between incompatible uses.

Other information

Given the recent passing of Ontario Regulation 149/20, this Notice is being reissued on May 26, 2020 with a firm last date of appeal of June 15, 2020. The Decision issued under ERO number 019-1010 on March 19, 2020 is still valid.

For further information on Ontario Regulation 149/20, you can also refer to the Bulletin issued under ERO number 019-1653.

The approval can be appealed using the procedure outlined below. Notice to appeal the decision to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal must be filed with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on or before June 15, 2020.

Comments received

Through the registry

0

By email

0

By mail

1
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

There was some opposition to the Project based on the following issues:

  • mine development is premature and not economically viable;
  • access issues to mining claims;
  • no financial assurance in place for a mine closure plan.

Although the comments and concerns were considered in the decision, however, they did not affect the decision. It was determined that the concerns did not directly relate to the Provincial Policy Statement, 2014 (PPS), and/or they were addressed through the EA process.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Municipal Services Office North (Thunder Bay)

435 James Street South
Suite 223
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6S7
Canada

807-475-1651

How to Appeal

This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 20 days from March 25, 2020 to begin the appeal process.

Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.

How to appealClick to Expand Accordion

For instrument decisions published on or after June 1, 2021, please refer to the updated instructions for information on how to appeal a decision.

Appeal process for decisions published before June 1, 2021

You can appeal all or part of this this instrument to the appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) by submitting a notice of appeal to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

There is an additional “leave to appeal” right under the Environmental Bill of Rights.

Who can appeal

A notice of appeal can be submitted by:

  • individuals
  • corporations
  • public bodies

A notice of appeal can’t be submitted by:

  • an unincorporated association
  • an unincorporated group

You can, however, submit a notice of appeal as a member of the unincorporated association or group.

You have to have made an oral submission at a public meeting or a written submission to the council before the official plan amendment was adopted. Note: this is not required if you are appealing a proposal for provisional consent (no official plan in place).

Notice of appeal

Your notice of appeal must include:

  • the specific part, or parts of the official plan amendment that you wish to appeal
  • the reasons for your appeal
  • the appeal fee, payable by certified cheque or money order to the Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario

Note: appeal fees and options for reductions are outlined in the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal’s fee chart.

Mail your notice of appeal

Send your notice of appeal to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing via the ‘issuing authority’ contact listed below.

Send a copy of your notice of appeal to the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:

College Park
5th Floor, 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3


Issuing authority
Victoria Kosny
Manager

Municipal Services Office North (Thunder Bay)
435 James Street South
Suite 223
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6S7
Canada

807-473-3025

Proponent(s)

Municipality of Greenstone
P.O. Box 70, 1800 Main Street
Geraldton , ON
P0T 1M0
Canada


Appellate body

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5


Include the following:

ERO number
019-1010
Ministry reference number
58-OP-186142

This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.

Connect with us

Contact

Robert Eady

807-632-1633
Municipal Services Office North (Thunder Bay)

435 James Street South
Suite 223
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6S7
Canada

807-475-1651

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We will send you email notifications with any updates related to this consultation. You can change your notification preferences anytime by visiting settings in your profile page.

Follow this notice

Original proposal

ERO number
019-1010
Ministry reference number
58-OP-186142
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Proposal posted

Comment period

December 13, 2019 - January 12, 2020 (30 days)

Proposal details

Details of instrument

The purpose of the Official Plan Amendment is to re-designate certain properties from the current "Open Space", "Hazard Land", "Commercial", "Industrial", and "Future Water Supply" designations to the "Rural" designation. This amendment is required to permit the development of an open pit gold mine and associated facilities and uses by Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc.

The Official Plan Amendment also proposes to add policies to enable the use of Site Plan Control, Holding Provisions and authority to acquire lands and hold lands for the purpose of developing the project.

The effect of the Official Plan Amendment is to facilitate the development of an open pit gold mine and associated facilities and uses being proposed by the applicant, Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc., also known as the Hardrock Project (the Project).

The Project will consist of an open pit gold mine, processing plant and ancillary facilities. These facilities will include a temporary work camp that will be used to house construction workers during the initial facility construction phase. The Project area is composed of approximately 4100 hectares.

Greenstone Gold Mines GP Inc. have completed both a federal and provincial environmental assessment (EA) in connection with this Project; both EA's have now been approved.

There is also an application for an implementing amendment to Geraldton Zoning By-law 98-2040 that has been processed concurrently by the Municipality of Greenstone.

Other information

During the public consultation period, the government contact may also be reached at 1-800-465-5027, extension 1655, or directly at 1-807-475-1655 (Canada wide, 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM EST, Monday to Friday).

If you have any questions, or would like to submit comments, please do so either online (below), by letter or phone to the contact person listed. Please submit your comment during the 30-day public consultation period and reference the Environmental Registry Number 019-1010.

Your personal information may be used in the decision-making process on this proposal and it may be used to contact you if clarification of your comment is required. It may be shared (along with your comment) with other Ontario ministries for use in the decision-making process. Questions about this collection should be directed to the contact listed.

If a person or public body that wishes to file an appeal in respect of the proposed amendment does not submit written comments to the Minister before the Minister gives or refuses to give a decision (e.g., during the public consultation period), the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal may dismiss the appeal. Appeal of a decision of the Minister in respect of this proposed amendment may be made by any person or public body not later than 20 days after notice of the decision is given. If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Minister in respect of the proposed amendment, you must make a written request to the Minister at the contact address.

Supporting materials

Related filesClick to Expand Accordion
 
Official Plan Amendment #8 - By-law, OPA, Site Plan
pdf 313.62 KB
Legal Description of the Subject Property
pdf 346.66 KB
Map of Proposed Official Plan Amendments
pdf 301.86 KB

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Municipal Services Office North (Thunder Bay)

435 James Street South
Suite 223
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6S7
Canada

807-475-1651

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from December 13, 2019
to January 12, 2020

Connect with us

Contact

Robert Eady

807-632-1633
Municipal Services Office North (Thunder Bay)

435 James Street South
Suite 223
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6S7
Canada

807-475-1651