Rocky View Forward wants residents to speak out against allowing gravel pit applications to continue under existing rules that are in midst of being updated by Rocky View County (RVC).

The citizens' advocacy group is encouraging residents to contact their councillors to voice their concern after they were denied the opportunity to ask RVC council for a moratorium on any further approvals until the new plan is in place. Currently there are four gravel pit applications in process and the group fears they will come before council prior to the new framework is adopted.

The long process of developing the Aggregate Resource Plan (ARP) has been extended beyond the original target of this fall. That deadline evaporated after a series of setbacks were faced by the county. The original project consultant left the project in November 2016, the legal review of the first draft took longer than anticipated and it took time to digest the considerable feedback from over 1,800 written submissions received from an extensive public and stakeholder consultations.

At its June 13 meeting, RVC council adopted a new timeline of having a revised draft release later this month and will be followed by two open houses. RVC's planning department anticipates having the final draft presented to council between November 2017 and March 2018, depending upon the feedback received.

The extension will allow the public greater opportunity to respond to the next draft of the plan and will provide administration the time to fairly address the feedback received, RVC planners told council..

At that same meeting, Rocky View Forward and Rocky View Gravel Watch attempted to speak to the issue, but were denied by a 6-2 vote with only councillors Liz Breakey and Jerry Arshinoff in favour

The groups say they wanted to provide a couple of different solutions that would satisfy residents in the interlude. They believe there is a need for a moratorium on any potential applications; or failing that require applications approved prior to the completion of the ARP to adhere to the new rules.

Rocky View Forward questions the rush to get applications through the application process. Even if they are approved, it will take several months to get the necessary development permits, they point out.

"Since the ARP will be completed no later than March 2018, what's the rush?" they state. "The negative impacts of gravel on residents' health is huge. The county has admitted that its current performance standards are weak. Rushing any application through at this time is not only unfair to residents but to the process itself."

In its executive summary on terms of reference change, RVC planning services expressed concern over the impact of extended timelines on applications now in process. They stated the current county plan lacks performance standards and detailed application requirements for aggregate development.

While voting in favour of the new timeline, RVC councillors Eric Lowther and Bruce Kendall said they don't want it to interfere with any gravel pit applications now in process, especially since the timeline has been extended.

"I have good reason to believe that they will respect the work that has been done and will do their best to comply where they can and ask for variances if they are unable to and provide reasons for that," stated Kendall.

Councillor Lois Habberfield, who was the sole opponent of the change, said there had been plenty of consultation already and further delays wouldn't make a difference. She said she's not opposed to public consultation but finds the process continues to be dragged out by the hesitancy to hold the public meetings in the summer, when youth are returning to school and in the Christmas season.

"It isn't going to make a difference how long we consult on this, we are going to have people who don't want gravel pits in their area," she said.

Councillor Arshinoff took some offence to her comments and agreed with the additional time allowance for further public consultation.

"I don't see how anyone can disagree with administration's recommendation," said Arshnoff. "It is not only the best choice, but the only choice."