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Community Update of the fight against the Hunsberger Gravel Pit. April 24, 2012. Hunsberger Pit. Sunset & Meadowbrook. KATHERINE ST. Golf Course Rd. Katherine & Hunsberger. River Run. CWRA Activities – Timeline. Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association.
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Community Updateof the fight against theHunsberger Gravel Pit April 24, 2012
Hunsberger Pit Sunset & Meadowbrook KATHERINE ST Golf Course Rd Katherine & Hunsberger River Run Conestogo Winterbourne Residents Association
CWRA Activities – Timeline Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Funds • Current balance is $49,584.57 • Costs to date were primarily legal fees and peer reviews • Require funds totaling greater than $226,000 to mount a fight $$$ Donations can be made tonight $$$ • So far your money has been well spent and is having an impact Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
CWRA Peer Reviews • The CWRA has commissioned peer reviews of the studies undertaken by Hunder Development for the proposed Hunsberger Pit covering: • Acoustics • Dust • Aggregate Quantity and Quality • Impact to the agricultural productivity • Conformance to the Official Plans Conestogo Winterbourne Residents Association
Why $226,000? • Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment (FORCE) is fighting a similar battle • FORCE was established to fight aggregate development in Northeast Flamborough • FORCE has been fighting since 2004 and is further along in the process • Force has spent over $215,000 in 2010 and 2011 Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
What will our OMB hearing cost? • Our situation is a little different from FORCE • Our lawyer estimates the budget for the OMB Hearing to be about $165,000 + HST + Reserve Allowance • Includes legal fees and paid testimony of our 5 expert witnesses (peer reviewers) • The late Richard Hardy MCIP, RPP (former professional planner and advisor to the CWRA) estimated the cost to be between $130,000 and $180,000 • Estimated total budget is: $165,000 + $26,000 (HST) + $35,000 (Reserve) = $226,000 Conestogo Winterbourne Residents Association
Real Estate Economics Kelly Ruston from Coldwell Banker, Peter Benninger Realtor on: • The difficulty she has had selling homes in Conestogo due to the proposed pit • Property values Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Impact on Property Values A Study by W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research entitled “An Assessment of the Economic Impact of the Proposed Stoneco Gravel Mine Operation on Richland Township” published August 15, 2006 found: Note: The Stoneco Pit is in Richland Township, Michigan Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
What can the community do? Donations, donations, donations! (thanks to those that have donated) • We are asking for $1000 per household (this is small when considering the likely drop in property value) • There are 1695 residents in Conestogo and Winterbourne and to date only 103 Families have contributed Inform your neighbours, we are in this together! Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Community Contributions Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Distribution of Contributors Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Lawn Signs • CWRA is investigating lawn signs • They will be available for purchase later this spring to those who have contributed to the fight against the Hunsberger Gravel Pit • We all need to make a statement • Together we will succeed Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Next Steps • OMB Hearing is scheduled to begin November 5, 2012 • Much legal preparation is required before then • Lawn signs will be available for purchase • We all need to make a statement • CWRA will be canvassing for donations • Volunteers are needed to help with canvassing Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Your Choice or or Conestogo - Winterbourne Residents Association
Proposed Pits KATHERINE ST Conestogo Winterbourne Residents Association