Neighbours are breathing easier after a request to start a 51-hectare gravel pit operation in Red Deer County east of Markerville was denied last week by the subdivision and development appeal board.The operation was originally denied by the municipal planning commission in September, but Wendell Miller of 6M Holdings Ltd. appealed the decision in November.The appeal board meeting was postponed after the opposition presented detailed lists of reasons not to allow the pit to be constructed.In January, the board met again and last week released its decision, citing 10 reasons to deny the appeal.ìWe are ecstatic,î said Pat Hanson, who lives directly across the river to the east of the proposed operation.ìWe personally are so happy that this application was denied, as now our children will be able to live the healthy country life that we work so hard to provide for them,î she said.Hanson was one of the neighbouring residents opposed to the pit because of the noise, dust and general nuisance they said would be associated with it. They said in total 13 children lived in the area, including some with severe health issues such as a chronic lung condition and autism.The group also voiced concerns that some of the homes would be too close to the operation, with one home that is within the same quarter section.The board agreed and in their reasons stated that the proposed hours of operation ñ Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. ñ would be intolerable for the people residing on adjacent lands.The board also cited concerns over the environmental impacts and felt the removal of gravel would cause a significant depression over the area that is close to the Medicine River and Dickson Creek that could eventually spill over the banks and be directed to residences in the area.ìEven if environmental issues were resolved Ö the board would not approve the application due to the nuisances that would be created by the development to the adjacent property owners,î wrote the board in its decision.Miller could not be reached for comment.
