Regarding the January 29, 2026 planning meeting, Tony Sevelka was the resident who most vocally voiced precise, in-depth concerns.
Since relocating to Cataract in 1999 for retirement, Mr. Sevelka has become into an authority on the dangers of the proposed blasting quarry. “Response to January 29, 2026 Public Meeting and the Planner’s Presentation,” a thorough criticism he issued right after the public meeting on January 29, contained a 20-page critical study of the planning process.
His precise concerns about the meeting and the application are outlined below:
Residents Tony Sevelka brought up concerns related to certain categories. 📋 Professional accountability and the planning process• There are “significant structural shortcomings” in the framework developed by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI).
- There are no restrictions on planners’ independence or protections against conflicts of interest.
- Reports are “advocacy documents” with no duty to present impartial or objective evidence.
- Remarks made at the meeting on January 29 sparked questions about their veracity and authenticity.
💣 Physical safety and blasting • Flyrock mitigation is inadequate. - It is insufficient to have a blast notification radius of 500 meters.
- The potential for harm from low-frequency vibration and recurrent blasting.
Land Use and Property Effects• There was no consideration of land-use compatibility. - The preservation of property values is not mentioned or evaluated.
A definition or evaluation of “adverse effects” is lacking. - No evaluation of the effects on the economy and tourism.
- The Provincial Planning Statement and Caledon’s Official Plan both state that the quarry is incompatible with nearby land uses.
The meeting’s context:
Many people that evening voiced similar worries to those of Mr. Sevelka. Prior to the meeting, he distributed a “Community Briefing Notice” outlining topics that still needed to be addressed. His issues were “absolutely not” addressed, he said after sitting through the whole four-hour session. This displeasure was shared by fellow homeowner Debra Wilson, who said that she felt a lot of issues remained unanswered and that the material presented was essentially the same as what had been submitted before.
Present Situation: In light of peer and technical evaluations, the Town of Caledon is awaiting a staff recommendation subsequent to the public meeting. The planning and development committee will consider this proposal before the council makes a final decision about the application’s approval or rejection. “This is not a done deal” is what Mayor Annette Groves has noted.
