Pan Pacific Aggregates (PPA) is taking issue with the process for its planning applications with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) relating to its mining compound. But the SCRD maintains a proper public process needs to be followed.After the SCRD filed a writ in B.C. Supreme Court last fall against PPA claiming land use violations, the two parties agreed to deal with the matter out of court by submitting two applications with the planning department. The concurrent applications were for a temporary industrial use permit - with a two-year renewal option - and for temporary non-farm use in an Agricultural Land Reserve for storage and use of a weigh scale, mineral core samples, vehicles and equipment. The compound is near Mason and Heritage Roads in electoral Area B overlooking Porpoise Bay, where PPA holds a provincial mines permit.One of the requirements of the applications was to hold a public meeting. PPA advertised a May 10 public information session without giving enough time for public notice, SCRD head planner Judy Skogstad said at the May 11 planning committee meeting.Also, PPA had placed the ad without confirming the date with planning staff, who are required to attend to gather public feedback, she added. In addition, it was supposed to be a meeting, not an open house format so the SCRD cancelled it, she explained. In an interview, PPA project manager Cal Mark said the SCRD is changing the rules along the way by requiring a public meeting format instead of an information session."We're prepared to go back to a public information session but that's it, that's as far as we're prepared to go," Mark said. "I'm not going to do a forum so they [the public] can get on their soapboxes again and start going on about all the different aspects of the project. This is a very, very specific item that we're working on and we're putting it together to keep the SCRD happy. As far as I'm concerned the SCRD staff have just been pushing our buttons."The issue came up at Pan Pacific's community advisory committee meeting May 17, where SCRD Area B director Garry Nohr sat in as an observer. PPA was blaming the SCRD for the public meeting mix-up, Nohr told Coast Reporter."They did mention that they are concerned about the process the SCRD put them through," Nohr said. "As I pointed out to them, our job is to make sure things are done right. For them to say the SCRD is causing them problems, it's because they didn't do the right process."Mark maintained PPA was led to believe when it made the applications the process would be expedited because it was only for temporary use of the land."We would file the applications and the SCRD would just put it through," Mark said. "They came back and wanted to treat it the same as a regular rezoning."But SCRD chair John Rees said PPA was always required to go through a normal planning process which includes public input. As well, temporary permits tend to have a long life because they can be renewed, he added."That's their opinion that the regional district are being awkward with the situation," Rees said. "I think the planning staff are doing the job that they have to do."The normal process involves a public information meeting and a public hearing, he added."The public hearing is an opportunity for the public to state their side," Rees said. "It's a two-sided, fair system; one where the proponent has their say and one where the community has their say. Why would the proponent not expect that the public could have their say also?" Mark is also disputing why PPA should pay a $25,000 performance bond to the SCRD since PPA is also paying a provincial bond.Rees was unsure exactly how planning bonds are established but noted, "It certainly doesn't seem to be excessive in lieu of the risk from a large mining operation."
