By Jeff Carter

Over the years, I’ve covered many stories about the response of communities to unwanted developments. Now the proverbial shoe is on the other foot.
York1, a company with millions upon millions in assets, has come to Dresden in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent – or more accurately has come to a location less than a mile from the community. The company has plans to open a recycling centre for construction waste and a landfill. They’ve purchased an 85-acre site, the former location for a little business that ground waste wood into mulch and recycled a few other things with a handful of employees, along with another 150 acres of agricultural land adjacent to the 85 acres.
There have been reports, as well, that the company has offered to buy other nearby properties.
So far, they’ve spent about $8 million, all tolled. Two public meetings have been held and yet the community, which is up in arms, remains inadequately informed.
I needed to make a decision. Would I cover the story as a journalist or use my expertise in such matters to support the community? Perhaps a bit of both is in order.
The site lies within the watershed of Molly’s Creek, a little stream that runs into the environmentally-significant Sydenham River. Around the midpoint of the 19th century, a woman by the name of Molly Blakesly farmed there. She took her water from a natural spring, as did everyone else who passed by. Hence the name, Molly’s Creek. 
I’ve already suggested to Dresden folks opposed to the project (most of the population) that this tidbit of information may be useful in their fight. Where once the waters ran clear, a development that would take waste from across Ontario has been proposed.
I’ve offered other suggestions, outlined in a column that will appear in The Herald, the little newspaper that serves the Dresden-Thamesville area on a monthly basis. These, I feel, may be useful for other communities facing similar threats.
Perhaps the first consideration for people looking to put a stop to such developments is commitment. Large corporations like York1 have the advantage of having laid their plans well before community members become aware of them. They also tend to have ample financial resources and the ear of government. Or, if not the ear, are at least familiar with such government ministries as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and how to negotiate the regulatory measures that are in place.
Successful opposition to such projects requires months, if not years of effort, and those opposed or who simply wish to minimize the potential harms need to present a united front. Already there is division in the ranks over the Dresden proposal – good for York1, bad for the community – evidenced by a sentiment recently expressed to me, “It’s a done deal. There’s nothing we can do.”
The second consideration is information, facts not supposition. While the company in question has held two public meetings, both of which I attended, community members feel far from being fully informed. Pertinent questions that need to be answered include: what is the long-term intention of York1 with this project; what, in detail, is the design of the recycling facility and landfill; what specifically will be landfilled; why and to what purpose has York1 acquired 150 acres of agricultural land adjacent to their initial purchase; what are the details of the approval process and will it involve public input; is the landfill area to be restricted to just eight-hectares as maintained by York1 or are there plans for an expansion; what happens if the site is sold to another interest? The list goes on and on.
The community will need allies. Foremost among them, in this case, should be the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, of which Dresden and area is part, and any legal advice it can provide. As such, any past communications between York1 representatives with administrative personnel or elected officials, informal or otherwise, should see the light of day.
In this regard, the municipality’s past record bears examination. While I could go into details, suffice to say Chatham-Kent in the past has sided with corporations rather than the local citizenry when big projects have been proposed, even to the extent of sharing revenues. My suggestion is to watch for carrots being dangled before the municipality this time around.
Other potential allies include other municipal jurisdictions, notably Lambton County, which is likely to bear much of the cost of damage to municipal roads. According to the roads’ expert with Good Roads Ontario, the heavier the load, the greater the damage and it has been estimated as many as 170 heavy trucks will be traveling to and from the site each day when it becomes fully operational.
A spokesperson with the former MPP’s office, incidentally, suggested those opposed to York1’s plans write letters to the provincial government, a flood of letters, expressing their concern. This is a good idea. Send letters and, more importantly, demand answers.
Finally, an admission. While I’m opposed to York1’s project, I am not yet convinced it is entirely a bad idea. Certainly, positive implications can be attached to the recycling of construction waste, lumber, asphalt and soil. Still, the proposed location of the project is, at best, problematic and the spokespersons speaking for the proponent, while genial in their demeanour, have been hired to push this deal through – no matter what.
If any readers have suggestions of how our community can successfully respond to the situation, please them to me at jeffreyallencarter1 @outlook.com. I will forward them to the appropriate people. ◊