January 18, 2018
To: SLCO Members
Re: Status Update #2 – Proposed Lippa Pit and Quarry
With 2018 underway, I wanted to send you an update on the actions the SLCO Board and our lawyer, David Donnelly, have taken with respect to opposing the proposed Lippa pit and quarry.
We have retained a number of experts to help us prepare our case for the OMB hearing. We have already received a preliminary report from a traffic safety expert, who has identified a number of issues that would arise on Aspdin Road as a result of the heavy truck traffic that would be generated by the quarry operations.
We are also meeting this week with David Pink, Director of Planning for the Township of Muskoka Lakes. As you know, Township Council unanimously rejected Lippa’s re-zoning application for the quarry, and we are working with David to co-ordinate our opposition.
A reminder that a pre-hearing conference will be held on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. The purpose of this conference is to determine the issues, parties, and participants prior to the actual Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing, which is expected to take place later this year or early 2019. As David has advised, a strong turnout from residents and cottagers who are opposed to the proposed pit and quarry is important at the pre-hearing conference. Thus, please mark Wednesday, February 21, at 10:00 am at the Township of Muskoka Lakes Council Chambers in Port Carling on your calendar, and plan to attend if possible.
In the interim, we encourage all members to go to the SMP website (stopmuskokapit.ca) and sign the petition opposing the Lippa quarry. The petition represents the voice of many in the community. There are now almost 2,000 signatures on it!
As communicated last month, SLCO has sufficient funds to meet both the legal and expert costs it is currently incurring, up until the pre-hearing conference. However, substantial additional monies will be required if we are to succeed at the subsequent OMB hearing. Our intention is to launch a fundraising effort over the next few months.
We will continue to keep you informed on this important issue. We appreciate your ongoing support as we work hard to keep Skeleton Lake the special place we all enjoy.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Scott May, President
Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization
e: scott@skeletonlake.ca
c: 416 559 2839