Chatham-Kent will have a hand in zoning the area around the York1 landfill project at Dresden after all. That’s according to C-K legal services director Dave Taylor, who spoke to the matter at the Aug. 25 council meeting.
Chatham-Kent will have a hand in zoning the area around the York1 landfill project at Dresden after all.
That's according to C-K legal services director Dave Taylor, who spoke to the matter at the Aug. 25 council meeting.
Taylor told council the municipality received a "good" letter from the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, in response to a query made to York1 and the province from planning director Ryan Jacques earlier this summer.
According to Taylor, Jacques' letter was an attempt to clarify the municipality's position in relation to applications made by York1 to allow waste processing, storage and landfill use at the former dump that was once used to dispose incinerator ash.
"What York1 had argued in the past was that their property enjoyed the right of prior non-conforming use," Taylor explained. "We disagree with that and we firmly told them it was not the case. Mr. Jacques reflected that in that letter.”
Taylor said the ministry's response indicates that zoning changes will need to come back before C-K council for approval.
"Whether to approve land-use changes, zoning changes and official plan changes lies with this municipal council,” he said. "It tells us, from the province's perspective, according to that letter, if York1 wants to expand that property use and change that property use, they have to come and ask council for approval through zoning, official plan and other land-use planning approvals."
However, he did say any decisions could be subject to appeals.
The fight against the York1 project located north of Dresden at 29831 Irish School Rd. has hit the 18-month mark. Opposition from a wide array of environmental agencies, opposition leaders and municipal governments – including Chatham-Kent, Dawn-Euphemia and Lambton County – has coalesced against the proposed expansion.
A comprehensive environmental assessment had been placed on the project by former Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin in 2024. But in June of this year, it was removed through the passage of Bill 5 – Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act which empowers the government to create special economic zones.
It remains unclear how these special economic zones could affect zoning or planning decisions regarding the landfill.
