A plan to start a Point Roberts mining operation to supply material for the Century Group's Southlands development has residents on both sides of the border concerned.
Whatcom County has received an application from Jason and Lori McDougal to mine their 50-acre property in the 1600-block of Roosevelt Way for a one-time, lowintensity operation within an area less than three acres in the centre of the property.
The plan is to mine the site over the course of 90 to 120 days for gravel and sand, material that would be taken by dump truck, at about 75 trips daily, from the American peninsula to the nearby Southlands in Tsawwassen, where the Century Group is preparing to build 950 housing units.
The application states that it's expected between 50,000 and 100,000 cubic yards of gravel will be removed, after which a final grading/reclamation plan will be prepared for county review.
A county report, which notes the activity to begin later this summer will take place at least 500 feet from the nearest residence, states the applicant has assured the project will not be detrimental to the economic welfare of the community, while traffic patterns have been designed to limit impacts on public roads.
However, locals in the Point aren't so sure, raising a plethora of questions and concerns on a community e-mail feed that also includes residents on the Canadian side of the border.
One Point resident noted it's another example on a non-resident attempting to do a business venture with no benefit to the community. Among several concerns listed by Tsawwassen's Jim Ronback were the economic impact of increased truck traffic causing longer lineups at the border.
The applicant has also received some support, including a Point resident who noted the couple has close and long-standing ties to the peninsula and used to live in the house on the property, which used to include an active quarry.
Comment period closed this week but a hearing is to be scheduled by the county.
Century Group president Sean Hodgins told the Optimist via e-mail that his company was approached about its potential needs and it's likely it won't require much from the Point Roberts property, that's been historically used for gravel extraction.
"The fill we need is to raise the level of the ground by up to two metres for flood proofing, which all new housing must do in Boundary Bay," he explained.
"This is different than fill for pre-loading which is when there are poor, compressible soils, particularly for larger buildings."
It's expected final civic approval for the Southlands development will occur by the end of this month.
Hodgins recently noted it will be at least a couple of years before construction begins on the first phase of housing.
