CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Chapman Brothers Construction in Souris is proposing to build an asphalt plant on Sherwood Road in Charlottetown.
But, to do so means rezoning the property and that means a public meeting is necessary.
The public will be able to have its say today at 7 p.m. at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel.
Brian Gillis, real estate consultant acting as spokesman for Chapman Brothers, said the company has optioned 21 acres of land and wants to rezone 16 acres of the property.
“It’s currently zoned residential, but it’s vacant land,’’ Gillis said. “It’s a family-owned business. (Chapman’s) wants to invest and not just put an asphalt plant there but to have a year-round maintenance facility for their equipment.’’
Part of the equipment he talks about is the snow-clearing machines it uses for the City of Charlottetown. The city passed a resolution earlier this year that says Chapman’s must vacant its property on Ralden Avenue by May 9.
Gillis said the company plans on having a tree buffer surround the property.
The proposed plant isn’t sitting well with some businesses in the area.
“We’ve all bought land here in the last 10 years. If we had known they were thinking of putting an asphalt plant here then we definitely wouldn’t have bought here."
-Warren Phillips
Warren Phillips, who owns Phillips Auto Sales on Sherwood Road, said he’s worried about the dust, dirt and noise levels.
“We’ve all bought land here in the last 10 years. If we had known they were thinking of putting an asphalt plant here then we definitely wouldn’t have bought here,’’ Phillips said.
If the city approves Chapman’s request, it would be the second asphalt plant on Sherwood Road. Island Construction operates the other one.
However, Phillips said the Island Construction plant has been there 62 years and is set back off the road.
Jamie Brown, who owns Brown’s Volkswagen on Sherwood Road, said Sherwood Road is busy enough with traffic.
“My biggest problem is truck traffic — big, heavy, truck traffic,’’ Brown said, adding it will affect sales because people will simply avoid Sherwood Road altogether.
“Sherwood Road will develop a dangerous reputation. I’m 100 per cent against this proposal.’’
Brown added that changing the zoning means Chapman’s could put anything it wants on the property.
Jennifer Harkness, development co-ordinator with the P.E.I. Humane Society on Sherwood Road, said their concerns would centre on whether the plant affects the quality of air and soil and also the noise pollution.
Gillis said the plant won’t be noisy and that it will have stringent emission standards.
“A lot of the stereotypes that there is going to be smoke coming out of the stacks is not the case,’’ Gillis said. “It gets recycled. The vapors get extracted and go back through the plant and get burned internally.’’
Gillis added that it’s an ideal location because of its proximity to trucking routes (Sherwood Road, Brackley Point Road, Malpeque Road and the arterial highway).
If the city approves the proposal, the plant could be up and running this year.
