Cathy Dobson/The Independent

Today Lambton county council threw its support behind Cargill’s campaign to stop Tricar from developing a 14-storey high rise near its Sarnia operation.

Tricar, a London-based development company, with several residential buildings already on Sarnia’s waterfront, wants to build within 300 metres of the Cargill grain terminal, which has been operating at the end of Exmouth Street since 1927.

Tricar reps told county council that the company wants to have open conversations with Cargill to ensure the two can be compatible with measures such as double-glazed windows that don’t open and specialized building materials to mitigate noise and dust concerns. 

But council sided with the gallery full of local farmers and ag reps who said they believe Cargill’s Sarnia operation is too important to the regional and provincial economy to allow any development that may jeopardize it in the future. 

Debate became heated at times when city/county Councillor Bill Dennis accused Mike Belan, President of the Lambton Federation of Agticulture of fear-mongering. 

“It’s unproductive and sneaky to suggest Cargill would close down,” said Dennis. 

Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Al Broad said he never heard anyone say Cargill is going to close as a result of complaints from the proposed high rise residents. 

“But the game is going to change for them,” he said. 

If any farmer is fear mongering, it is because they are scared as hell and passionate about their business and want to feed their communities,” Broad said. 

Sarnia council has voted to support an amendment in the Official Plan to allow the Tricar building to go ahead. 

But Lambton County’s lack of support is a setback for the company, which is also waiting on a provincial decision about the project. 

Tricar planner Katelyn Crowley said it is likely Tricar will appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal so there will be two provincial bodies involved now that county council voted against it.