Friends of Lanark Highlands
Protecting Lanark Highlands from irresponsible aggregate development
December 11, 2025
Council to Oppose Cavanagh Construction Appeal to Ontario Land Tribunal
(From the Township of Lanark Highlands Clerk)
Good morning,
On December 9, 2025, Council directed its legal counsel to begin preparing to oppose Cavanagh Construction’s appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal regarding the lack of decision on their Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications. This direction follows a detailed briefing from legal counsel. It reflects Council’s careful consideration of the issues, as well as the concerns that have been raised by members of the community.
This step enables the Township to participate in the Tribunal process fully and ensure that local planning policies and community interests are appropriately represented. We understand that residents and other concerned citizens are eager for updates and we are committed to keeping the community informed as the process moves forward. As additional information becomes available, we will share it on our website and through our official communication channels.
Thanks for your continued engagement and interest in this matter.
Kind regards,
Nicole Guthrie | Clerk
75 George Street
Lanark, K0G 1K0
613-259-2398 | Ext. 231
December 10, 2025
Lanark Highlands Council has chosen to support the Township Planner’s recommendation to oppose the Highland Line Pit Proposal
This is significant as it will be the position taken by the Township at the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing.
Council’s decision is both encouraging and important, confirming they recognize the Highland Line Pit Proposal as a bad idea. This is now a legal matter for the Township, and they will work closely with their legal counsel as the Ontario Land Tribunal process moves forward. There is no information yet regarding timelines.
Your efforts played a crucial role in this outcome. The time, research, letter writing, and support helped provide the Township with the knowledge and conviction needed to take this position. The community’s collective voice has been essential.
Friends of Lanark Highlands will be seeking Party Status for the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing. This will allow our issues and evidence to be presented directly to the Tribunal. We remain fully committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with Council as this process continues, working together to protect our land, water, and the future of our community.
Friends of Lanark Highlands sincerely thanks each of you for your commitment and support. We also express our genuine appreciation to Lanark Highlands Council for taking a principled and thoughtful position on this application.
We wish you all a healthy and joyful holiday season,
Friends of Lanark Highlands
December 2, 2025
Download the December FOLH Newsletter
(click on image)
November 26, 2025
Lanark Highlands Twp. Planner’s Report Released
Planner recommends that council reject the Cavanagh Proposal
At the Council meeting on November 25, 2025, Lanark Highlands Council asked that the Planner’s Report related to the Highland Line pit proposal be shared with the public. This report, with the Planner’s recommendation to Council, was to be presented to Council at the October 14 Committee of the Whole meeting for discussion and a vote. The triggering of an OLT by Cavanagh has taken the decision out of the hands of the township, but the report is clear in its stance that the development, as proposed, does not represent good land use planning.
The recommendation of the report was:
“THAT, Committee of Whole recommends to Council that they REFUSE Official Plan Amendment OPA #8 and Zoning By-Law Amendment ZA-2023-02, based on the lack of land use compatibility, and that the protection of the existing Waterfront Communities and agritourism land uses are in the long-term interest of the Township."
Read Planner's full report here
November 24, 2025
Status of the Highland Line Pit Proposal:
The Planner for Lanark Highlands township was scheduled to make a final recommendation at a Committee of the Whole meeting on November 25, with a final decision expected from Council on December 9. Every indication has been that the Township has acted in good faith and followed the process, allowing the applicant more time for revisions and to submit additional information. Despite this, Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd. filed an appeal on November 7 to the Ontario Land Tribunal on the grounds of non-decision by Lanark Highlands Township and Lanark County. Because of this, the application will go directly to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a ruling, rather than allowing the municipality to make a decision. Friends of Lanark Highlands is gathering information and developing a strategy to be a meaningful part of the process moving forward.
What can you do to help?
Write a letter! Details
Sign the petition to support the cause!
Attend public meetings. See upcoming Events
Become a member of Friends of Lanark Highlands
Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date (see below)
Make a donation to Friends of Lanark Highlands. Our Donation Page
Stay informed! Sign up for the mailing list here.
Make all your friends and neighbors aware!
Continue Writing Letters!
Letters of concern are crucial and can still be sent to Lanark Highlands Township, the County of Lanark and to our MPP John Jordon.
Subject: Cavanagh Proposed Highland Line Pit
Township of Lanark Highlands: LHclerk@lanarkhighlands.ca
County of Lanark: info@lanarkcounty.ca
Member of Provincial Parliament John Jordan: John.Jordan@pc.ola.org
Thank you to all who wrote letters of concern to both Phil White, the ARA/MNRF and the Environmental Registry as part of the licence application by Cavanagh. Every letter makes a difference!
Proposed Sand and Gravel Pit on the Highland Line just south of McDonald’s Corners (in red)
The other sites in yellow are existing gravel pits. At present, none of these local pits operate below the water table.
For directions - google maps
Cavanagh Construction proposes a huge sand and gravel pit directly on the borders of Barbers Lake
A Class “A” pit operation with excavation below the water table operating 12 hours a day - 7 days a week (7 am to 7 pm)
Only a 30 metre setback from the sensitive wetland shores of Barbers Lake
Crushing, washing, and screening plants with recycling of imported construction waste and asphalt
Licence to remove up to 500,000 metric tonnes of aggregate annually
A truck every 2 minutes on the Highland Line, and continuing through Lanark Village to points east and south
The technical reports Cavanagh has submitted leave many unanswered questions about: traffic and roads; acoustics; the dark night sky; the impact on springs, aquifers, and wells; the impact on wetlands; loss of habitat and threat to species at risk; pre-contact archaeology; air quality;human health; property values; resource allocation; potential release of on-site uranium; climate change
In short, this proposal is an assault on the environment and the community surrounding McDonald’s Corners
Impacts
Removal and export of the entire hill forming the western shore of Barbers Lake
Potential destruction of important pre-contact artifacts
Loss of wildlife habitat in the vicinity of Barbers Lake and Long Sault Creek
Impact on property values and quality of life for waterfront and haul route communities
Damage to existing and future eco-tourism
Harm to water bodies through warmed water, potential contamination and silt
Threat to residents’ water supply, air quality, peace and well-being
Potential future demands, including a water taking licence, or permission to dewater
Aggregate is necessary for the growth and development of roads, housing and business!
Ontario has 13 times more aggregate than currently needed in already licensed pits
Misconceptions
This is revenue for the Township!
Lanark Highlands Township gets only 13 cents per tonne of aggregate taken away from the Township forever - in this pit the maximum payout possible would be $73,500 (14.7 cents x 500,000 = $73,500 per year), but likely much less - and MUCH MUCH less than the costs of road upgrades, loss of nature-based business and tourism, and the diminished value of properties throughout the area.
Education, Documents and Technical Reports
Cavanagh Construction web site
Lanark Highlands township web site
Township of Lanark Highlands - Official Plan