Danby

Development

Danby Appliances and Upper Canada Forest Products want to build a 1 million square foot facility to house their headquarters and production facilities, plus build secondary buildings for other companies.

Project Highlights

  • 4 driveways (3 off Concession for 4 all within a 1 km stretch of road & 1 off Sideroad 20N which is violation of the recent official plan amendment

  • 36 transport bays

  • 24 hour shipping & receiving operations

  • 1500 vehicle trips/day during peak hours (plus all the other traffic during non-peak hours)

  • Heavy ground water use (up to 90,000 L/day)

  • Self serviced (private septic and wells)

This 1 million square foot facility will take over 54 acres of secondary agriculture land that is currently leased to a local farmer.

It will be a large scale “prestige industrial campus” (a fancy term made up for this project) that could employ up to 600 employees and bring over 1,500 vehicle trips during peak hours only to the area. That doesn’t include the traffic during other times.

With 36 transport bays and operations that run throughout the night, there will be constant truck traffic on our rural roads that have weight restrictions and are not built for this kind of traffic.

Despite the Puslinch by Design Study recommending these lands are not suitable for industrial developments, Estill is still seeking Provincial approval to push his agenda through.

We cannot allow this to happen. It would set a dangerous precedent for the entire area permitting developers and land speculators to go above local government and erodes the democratic and comprehensive planning processes.

Key Concerns:

  • Traffic and Road Safety: Township roads and intersections are not designed for projected volumes, and this is the only option as there is no direct access to the Hanlon Expressway.

  • Loss of Agricultural Land: The site is zoned secondary agriculture and supports local food production.

  • Water Resources: This development is not suitable for an area without municipal services. This is not a “dry industrial” facility and demands heavy groundwater use and pressure on this common resource with 90,000 L of wastewater per day being directed to a leachate bed

  • Noise and Light Pollution: 24-hour operations will disrupt the rural character and natural environment.

  • Environmental Impacts: Wetlands and endangered species at risk.

  • Community Fabric: Rural quality of life will be negatively affected.

  • Not Aligned with Puslinch By Design study: Recently completed planning study identified suitable lands to accommodate industrial development to 2051 and beyond. This location was not recommended, confirming there is no demonstrated need