The president and CEO of BioVectra says allowing an apartment building to go up 83 feet away from a chemical plant is like building a prison for pedophiles next to an elementary school.
Ron Keefe gave passionate testimony this morning at the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission hearing into BioVectra’s appeal of an apartment building currently under construction next to the chemical plant.
Under cross examination from Matt Bradley, counsel for Paramount Construction, the developer responsible for the 18-unit apartment building, Keefe blasted the City of Charlottetown for not doing research into whether it was safe to build so close to the plant.
“When they go to the wakes of people dying (if there is an accident), people are going to say ‘are you kidding me, why would you allow them to build 80 feet from a chemical plant’,’’ Keefe said. “We tried to tell them (it was too close) and they wouldn’t listen.’’
Keefe said it won’t come back to haunt BioVectra, a chemical plant that has been there since 1970 (formerly known as Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd.), it will fall on the city.
Keefe said the plant operates on the strictest of safety standards but nothing is 100 per cent certain — there are no guarantees.
Keefe said there are also plans to build more apartment buildings, one 50 feet away from the plant.
“When they go to the wakes of people dying (if there is an accident), people are going to say ‘are you kidding me, why would you allow them to build 80 feet from a chemical plant’,’’ - Ron Keefe
The City of Charlottetown approved the project because the land is zoned for apartment buildings. The city felt the development met all the guidelines, according to testimony given this morning, including national fire safety guidelines and that it had no choice, and no evidence that there was any risk, but to issue a building permit.
Bradley also revealed in the hearing this morning that Scott Linkletter, who owned the adjacent property in question, approached BioVectra about purchasing the property.
Keefe said Linkletter did approach the chemical manufacturing company.
“If you are so concerned about safety why not acquire the property and control what it's used for?’’ Bradley asked Keefe.
The president and CEO of BioVectra said the company could have and perhaps should have bought the property itself.
“We have no use for the property,’’ Keefe said, “and I’m not sure what our financial circumstances were at the time (the property was offered to us).’’
Keefe then went on to say that he didn’t see the relevance of the question.
“The fact is I never would have dreamt someone would build an apartment building there.’’
The hearing continues this afternoon.
sounds like another bohpol in the making, thanks to the planning dept and silly devlopers.