• A proposed seven-year fill operation at 5783 Bloomington Road would see 1.9 million cubic metres of fill imported to restore former aggregate lands.
  • Residents of Thornbay Drive, adjacent to the property, have voiced concerns about water contamination, noise, dust, and impacts to their quality of life.
  • The operation would generate up to 300 truck trips per day at peak, with dust and noise mitigation measures proposed.
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority assessed the site and raised no objections, including regarding man-made ponds set for dewatering.
  • Soil quality will be monitored to protect groundwater, the plan states, with criteria for rejecting contaminated loads.
  • A public information meeting is scheduled for June 25, with formal feedback due by July 9 and a Council decision expected this fall.
  • While the Government of Ontario is the approval authority for fill permits, a Council decision regarding agreement terms is expected this fall.

 

A seven-year fill operation is being proposed for a 34-hectare former gravel pit at 5783 Bloomington Road. The property is located just west of Ninth Line and would be operated by Bloomington Soils Inc. It’s the property owner’s second attempt to move ahead with the plan, after a previous proposal failed to materialize in 2013.

Aggregate extraction activity on the lands concluded in the 1980s, and the site has since remained in a partially rehabilitated state. While much of the property is currently being used for agriculture, some areas show land depressions as deep as 20 metres.

The parcel sits within the Oak Ridges Moraine Natural Linkage system, and the proposed project aims to restore historical land grades and prepare the property for continued agricultural use. To do so, Bloomington Soils will need to import approximately 1.9 million cubic metres of environmentally clean fill into the site.

Delivery of that fill volume would generate between 120 and 200 truck trips per day, with peak days seeing up to 300 loads. Tailgate slamming, a loud noise produced when truck tailgates drop after dumping fill, will be strictly prohibited to minimize noise impacts.

During dry conditions, dust will be controlled through the use of water and other approved suppressants, applied by water trucks, sprinkler systems, or drip irrigation. To further reduce airborne dust, trucks and heavy machinery will be limited to a speed of 25 km/h, and dry or fine materials will be moistened before handling.

Routine street sweeping is also planned to prevent mud and dust accumulation offsite, and monitoring will occur throughout the project’s duration. Bloomington Soils has committed to taking corrective action if dust levels exceed acceptable thresholds and will establish a hotline for residents to submit complaints

While the mitigation measures are clearly outlined in the fill plan, Bloomington resident David Thomas expressed skepticism that they will be properly enforced. He pointed to a nearby fill operation at 5511 Bloomington Road, which he said made similar promises, but has failed to address ongoing noise and dust complaints.

“What teeth is the Town going to have to ensure that they’re following the rules? How can residents be confident that there’s not going to be excessive dust, excessive noise, and tailgate banging from dump trucks?” Thomas said.

He also cited persistent mud and dust issues at the Lafarge site on York Durham Line, just north of Bloomington Road. “They have a water truck out there, they’re washing the road and sweeping, and every time you drive by your vehicle gets covered with silt and dirt,” he said. “With 5511 and Lafarge, the Town has proven that they can’t control the sites.”

The Town says it is actively enforcing compliance measures at the 5511 Bloomington site. Remediation and corrective actions are currently underway, and penalty notices under the Clean Yards By-law are being prepared. Development Engineering staff continue to conduct inspections to monitor and enforce conditions of the approved fill permit and agreement, Bullet Point News was told.

“The Town takes resident concerns regarding fill operations seriously, and we do have enforcement in place to ensure that all permitted sites operate in full compliance with applicable regulations and agreements,” said Jack Graziosi, Stouffville’s Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works.

“We acknowledge the challenges associated with managing dust, noise, and road cleanliness at large-scale fill operations. These issues are taken seriously, and enforcement actions are pursued when non-compliance is identified,” he added.

To shield neighbouring residents living on Thornbay Drive from noise and other impacts, a seven-metre-tall berm will be constructed along the eastern property line. Before berm construction begins, which will be done gradually during the project’s early stages, a 2.4-metre wooden fence will be installed against the adjacent properties.

Thornbay residents expressed mixed views about the berm. Some welcomed the noise reduction aspect, while others raised concerns about visual impacts, shadowing, and the potential for altered wind patterns increasing dust and snow accumulation on their properties.

All fill must meet Provincial standards for agricultural lands and potable groundwater protection. Soil will be tested for petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, inorganics, leachate, and other contaminants. Discoloured, odorous, or visibly stained soil will be rejected.

Any truckload found to contain unacceptable material will be inspected at the gate. If contamination can be removed, the truck may proceed after cleanup. Otherwise, the load will be sent back to its source, and further shipments from the offending site will be suspended pending investigation.

Clean fill would come from qualifying construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. According to the plan, the added layer of fill will help protect the underlying Highly Vulnerable Aquifer and Well-Head Protection Area.

Fill quality and its potential impact on the community’s water supply is top of mind for Anthony Iuorio. “I want a 100% guarantee that there will not be contamination,” Iuorio told us. “You cannot put a price on our children’s health or our health.”

The fill plan includes a baseline groundwater monitoring program for homes within 200 metres of the site, to be completed before any work begins. Once operations are underway, ongoing testing will continue, with a focus on detecting any changes in water quality near the fill area and at the site’s southwest boundary.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) conducted an environmental review of the site, including two man-made ponds located on the eastern portion of the property. While breeding bird and amphibian populations were found, TRCA raised no objection to the fill proposal.

The ponds were formed during past aggregate operations and are not naturally occurring. Though initially flagged for assessment as potential wetlands, TRCA determined they do not qualify as formal wetlands or key hydrologic features. Dewatering of the ponds will be required to allow for fill activities.

“Since moving here two years ago, we’ve worked really hard to make our home what it is today. The view is beautiful, we love looking at the ponds, and it’s just really peaceful here,” Pamela Calderone told us. “The fact that those two beautiful ponds are going to be destroyed? It’s just heartbreaking.”

An Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the applicant concludes that, with mitigation measures in place, the fill operation will not significantly affect natural heritage elements of the site. Eastern Meadowlarks, a threatened species, were observed on the property, and site work will be limited during their May 1 to Aug. 15 breeding season.

“Any site work within this period will require a qualified avian ecologist to conduct a nest survey and implement protective measures if active nests are found,” the site alteration and fill management plan states.

A Public Information Centre is being held tonight, June 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Council Chambers at 111 Sandiford Drive. The applicant, their consultants, and Town Staff will be present to answer questions and discuss the proposal, and formal public comments are due by July 9.

Given the concerns and frustrations shared by Thornbay Drive residents, the Town should expect a strong turnout.

“We have a right to our peaceful enjoyment of life,” Lijun Liang said, questioning whether the project would truly be complete in seven years. “I bought this property in 2021, I love the location, and I want to die in my home. I don’t want to die looking at berm dirt.”

While Bloomington Soils can secure a fill permit directly from the Province, Stouffville is working with the applicant to finalize agreement terms at the municipal level. A report is expected to go to Council this fall for a final decision.

*This article has been updated to further clarify the approval process