Crescent Spur residents are divided over a proposal to relocate a small sawmill in the rural community, 160 kilometres east of Prince George.
Tourism operators in the tiny community say the noise and traffic to the mill, which employs eight people, will drive away clients seeking wilderness experiences. Ornithologist RIck Zammuto has lived in the area for 25 years with his wife, Julie. In addition to disrupting his research, Zammuto said, the proposed saw mill location would impact the bird watching and ecotourism tours the couple offer.
"I bring busloads of school groups and tourists out here to hear the birds," he said.
"[But] I can't do my work anymore. Up to two kilometres away you can hear this [mill] so loud it hurts my ears."
Crescent Spur Hardwoods owner Steve Pelton is seeking to relocate his portable saw mill from a lease site at 8599 Loos Rd. to his own property at 9201 Loos Rd. In order to facilitate the move, Pelton is seeking to rezone a 0.5 hectare section of his 7.6 hectare parcel from small holding zoning to heavy industrial zoning.
The mill is currently located three kilometres from the Zammuto's home on one side of their property. If the relocation is successful, the mill will be 0.5 kilometres from their home on the opposite side.
Zammuto said he has spent 25 years researching and writing about the diverse bird species which nest in the Robson Valley. When the mill began operating at its current site in the fall of 2010, he said, he lost government research contracts to record bird calls because of the high-pitched
background noise.
"It has scared away endangered species that had nested here," he said. "It doesn't make sense. It goes against all the regional district's planning documents. They can't affect the ongoing land use of existing owners.
"We provide a service and we're being treated like it doesn't matter."
Residents submitted a letter to the district with 22 signatures opposing the mill, Zammuto said, but the regional district staff did not include it in their report to the district board of directors.
Outdoor Life Adventure Tours owner Laurella Gabert said the relocation of the mill would threaten the campsite and ecotourism business they operate on their property.
Outdoor Life Adventure Tours is one of five ecotourism businesses in the area of the proposed mill, she said. The properties surround the proposed mill site like a horseshoe, she said, and all would be effected.
"The biggest thing we're trying to do is offer an escape from the urban environment," Gabert said. "We're really looking for an authentic wilderness experience. I don't think they understand that for us ... there can't be a mill humming in the background with equipment backing up. People come here to hear the wind, listen to the river, to just
experience quiet."
Meridian Holdings Inc. owner Carol Fairhurst said while there are plenty of appropriate places to operate a sawmill, there is very few other places like the Robson Valley.
"It's a pretty unique situation and it's all on private land. We can't just up and move," Fairhurst said. "I can't imagine the regional district would have suggested this as a site. They've had to remove it from the [Agricultural Land Reserve], change the [Official Community Plan] and now rezone it, all to accommodate a business that threatens
other businesses."
Fairhurst said she's also concerned that if the land is rezoned to heavy industrial other heavy industries could move to the site if the mill moves.
"They [the regional district] have spent a fair bit of effort and money on sustainable economic development in the Robson Valley. This is actually doing the opposite, it's pushing new people with new ideas and skills away," Fairhurst said.
No tourism impact: proponent
Pelton had not returned phone calls as of press time. However in a form letter to area residents seeking support, Pelton said the mill runs from September to May, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"The noise level is low and we are away from any form of tourism," Pelton wrote. "The proposed sawmill location is out of sight and there is no burning [of waste wood]."
The mill receives 100 loads of birch logs per year, and produces 17 loads of birch hardwood for the Japanese market, he said. The mill itself employs five people, plus three others off site.
According to a regional district report on the rezoning, a public information session was held on the issue on Nov. 22. According to regional district report, 19 people attended the meeting and four letters of opposition were submitted to district staff, along with one in favour.
Pelton provided 13 signed copies of his form letter showing support, district staff reported.
During the meeting, Pelton committed to build a plywood house for the generator and enclose the packaging and chopping portion of the sawmill to reduce noise. Pelton's daughter, Jennifer Pelton, said a noise test showed the sound level at 50 decibels 250 metres from the mill. Fifty decibels is equivalent to a quiet conversation.
Regional district director for Robson Valley-Canoe Ken Starchuck said Pelton has worked to accommodate the concerns of neighbouring property owners.
"Mr. Pelton has made compromises," Starchuck said. "The result is staff made the recommendation to go forward [to a public hearing.] I think if Mr. Pelton hadn't done anything, the odds of if going to a public hearing would have been pretty small."
On Jan. 19 the regional district board of directors approved second reading of the rezoning bylaw and voted in favour of proceeding to a public hearing on the matter. Once the public hearing is held, the board will vote on a third and final reading of bylaw.
As of Friday, a time and place for the public hearing had not been set.
