5 . D a m a g e t o R o a d s

The risk of general wear and tear on roads and verges is often higher for HGVs relative to other road vehicles because of their large size and weight. Damage may be particularly obvious on minor roads (as pictured to the left) where other traffic is limited to private and light commercial vehicles.

• N o is e a n d v ib r a t io n - n o is e a r is e s f r o m a n u m b e r o f d i f f e r e n t s o u r c e s in c lu d in g t h e s i le n c e r , b r a k e s , s u s p e n s io n a n d r e p e a t e d c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e c h a s s is a n d m a in b o d y o f t h e v e h ic le . N o is e p o t e n t ia l i s in c r e a s e d o n b u m p y r o a d s a n d is m o r e n o t ic e a b le e a r ly in t h e m o r n in g o r d u r in g t h e n ig h t .

D a m a g e t o R o a d s• Dust and mud - fugitive material such as dust, grit and mud can be spilled from lorries or

carried by their wheels and chassis onto roads, leading to increased safety risks for other road users and degradation of environmental quality in adjacent areas due to spray (wet weather) and dispersion of dust (dry weather).

•Although many of these effects are not unique to HGVs, it is generally accepted that HGVs have a much greater impact on the public highway than a private car. The term 'passenger car unit' (PCU) is used to assess transport impacts. A private car has a PCU value of 1, while an HGV has a value of 2.3 (an HGV has the potential to cause an impact 2.3 times greater than a private car) (NECESI/The Environment Practice, 2004).

•The significance of the effects of the road transport of aggregates will depend on a range of factors including; the number of vehicles required to transport the aggregate; the size, weight and age of the vehicles; the timing of peak vehicle movements; the existing road conditions and capacity; and the proximity of housing, public buildings and other sensitive locations. S o , in e f f e c t 15 t r u c k s c o m in g a n d g o in g a r e t h e e q u iv a le n t o f 6 9 c a r s p e r d a y e x t r a a t t h e in t e r s e c t io n o f J e n k in s r o a d a n d 12 1 . In some areas, on-street parking, narrow pavements and property directly adjacent to the highway c o u ld e x a c e r b a t e c o n g e s t io n , s a f e t y a n d e n v ir o n m e n t a l e f f e c t s .

6 . T r a f f ic & T r a n s p o r t S a f e t y• What studies and considerations have been taken with regard to Traffic safety? At the clinic, we have witnessed numerous car accidents on Hwy. 121 for which we had to call 911.

• C o n g e s t io n . Traffic in the summer often backs up as far as the clinic to go through Fenelon. Regardless of the season, the accident rate is incredibly high on this stretch of road, coming in and out of Fenelon Falls. Has damage to the road due to substantially heavy vehicles been taken into consideration? What will be the hours of operation? No Saturday, Sunday or holiday traffic. What about the noise from the machinery?

HGVs used to transport aggregates can have significant effects on the health, environment, access and safety of those using, and living close to, roads on which they pass. Those most likely to be affected include motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, people at home or undertaking recreational activities and people in schools. The effects on them of the road transport of aggregates are considered in detail below:

· ‘Intimidation‘  - lack of care and courtesy for other road users, aggressive and dangerous driving are potential causes of 'intimidation', all of which are exacerbated by the size of HGVs used to transport aggregates.

· Congestion – vehicles carrying aggregates are often the heaviest and largest on the rural and urban roads that they have to use and even small increases in the traffic flow in sensitive areas may give rise to complaints. The perception of HGVs contribution to congestion is likely to be elevated by their size and visibility.

·         Access – the increased presence of HGVs can affect community access by making it difficult for pedestrians and other road users to move easily from one area to another. The development of new link roads can also isolate communities through the severance of communities.

·         Routing and use of unsuitable roads - the most direct route for HGVs carrying aggregates to the marketplace may use minor roads running through rural areas containing mainly private and light commercial traffic.

·         Public safety - poorly laid out access points at the aggregates site, increased levels of traffic and the presence of HGVs on unsuitable roads may all pose risks for other roads users and pedestrians.

7 . P r o p e r t y V a lu e s• Both Ron Roccio and Brad Bird have stated that having a soil processing plant in operation

next door will radically diminish neighboring property values and saleability of our properties.

How will we, the residents and business owners, be compensated for that? or would you like to buy my property & business at present fair market value and lease it back for $1 a year for the next 50 years?

• As you can see, this proposed operation is neighbored by several private homes, as well as my veterinary hospital.

8 . F a r m in g & A g r ic u l t u r e

As a large animal veterinarian, I am concerned with the lo s s o f a g r ic u l t u r e la n d in v o lv e d . The subject area has been actively farmed for hay, with hay crops being taken every year. Are there no other industrial-appropriate lands in the City of Kawartha Lakes which would be more appropriate for soil screening?

I contacted K . M a lo n e y a t t h e C i t y o f K a w a r t h a L a k e s , w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e a g r ic u l t u r a l s t u d y that was carried out for the proposed landscaping property.

What parameters were studied? What exactly were conclusions based on? I am sure you are aware that the land is posted as "Protected by the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority" and that it is locat- ed on agricultural land which has been regularly farmed for hay crops. Do you feel it is in keeping with the planning and forward thinking goals of the City, especially in light of the fact that it would not be allowed in the New Official Plan for the City? Do you feel that this is the best use of the lands in question and the best location for a soil processing facility which is already in operation on Industrial Park Road?

What will the removal of topsoil do to the agricultural value of the lands? What will the noise of the industrial equipment, the dust and the noise do to the local animals on farms in the area? Also as an expert I would like your opinion as to what will the effect be in your opinion on even domestic animals such as dogs and cats, often sick, immune compromised, and already stressed with disease, which are regularly patients in the adjacent animal hospital?

I also contacted M ic h e l le H e n d r y , o f t h e C i t y o f K a w a r t h a L a k e s , with some questions regarding her report and my concerns about the t r a n s p o r t of aggregates, road access, traffic congestion and public safety. Some issues, in specific, that I mentioned were:

How were these issues assessed in determining that the facility should be moved from Industrial Park Road to this residential and agricultural area on the front door of the Town of Fenelon Falls which is largely a residential and tourist destination for the people of Kawartha Lakes? Did you take into account  the affect that the estimated 15 trucks coming and going are the equivalent of 69 cars per day extra at the intersection of Jenkins road and 121? 

At the planning meeting, the Young’s did say that these are the numbers they are receiving on the Industrial Park Road site, but they w a n t e d t o m o v e t o e x p a n d t h e ir o p e r a t io n . Does expansion not also suggest that even more truck movements can be anticipated?  Did you consider what that would do to traffic entering Fenelon Falls in the height of the tourist season, specifically on Friday afternoons and long weekends?

What noise and fugitive dust studies were performed? What health and safety studies were done to assess the impact of the noise,vibration, traffic and dust on the Animal Hospital , its staff and the medical equipment being operated in the hospital?  What impact was found with regard to the nearest neighbours who are a mix of seniors and very small growing children who play regularly on Jenkins road? What plans are being made to accommodate the extra traffic turning off 121 and on Jenkins road and to ensure the safety of the resident?

How was it determined that this industrial operation would not affect the health, happiness and welfare of the residents in the immediate neighbourhood? Noise and dust from these sort of operations is known to travel over a km from the site which would affect a significant number of residents in the town. What has been done to determine and rule out the negative effect of an operation like this sitting high up on a hill over the neighbourhood?