The site is located on the adjacent lands of 40217 Big Hill Springs Road.
NW-36-26-4-W5M (quarter section) and 41055 Big Hill Springs Road | NE-35-26-04-W5M in Rocky View County.
Hillstone Aggregates | 40217 Big Hill Springs Road
HI THERE!
We are submitting an application for a Master Site Development Plan Update and Land Use Redesignation and we would love your feedback.
PROJECT LOCATION
ABOUT HILLSTONE
Hillstone Aggregates is a progressive gravel operation meaning that as extraction proceeds the lands are reclaimed behind the active operation. Hillstone has reclaimed the majority of Phase 1 and is currently operating within Phase 2 of the development plan. A development permit application has been made with Rocky View County to proceed to Phase 3. The site has been used for sand and gravel operations since the late 1970s and expanded its operations in the 1980s under the name of Airth Gravel Pit. In 2007, 1189677 Alberta Ltd. purchased the site and continued operations initially as Big Hill Springs Gravel Pit, and currently as Hillstone Aggregates.
LAND USE AMENDMENT APPLICATION
Hillstone Aggregates is applying for land use amendment application for all phases from Agricultural-General District, Agricultural -Small Parcel District and Special-Natural Resources to a Direct Control District which addresses both the required uses for an active gravel operation and appropriate uses post-reclamation of the lands.
MASTER SITE DEVELOPMENT
PLAN (MSDP) UPDATE
The MSDP update application addresses the addition of Phase 6 and land use change. This update aims to support the continued development of the site, ensuring it aligns with the County’s growth objectives and community needs. Detailed information about the proposed changes is available for review.
ESTIMATED TIMELINE
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Virtual Information Session
The information session is an opportunity to meet the Hillstone team and learn more about the application and how gravel extraction works.
In the meantime if you have any questions, please send us a message using the form below and we would be happy to discuss the project.
Date: Thursday May 8, 2025
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Location: Digital Information Session via Zoom
Please sign up HERE. Please note registration is required to attend the information session.
FAQ
What effect does the Hillstone Operation have on groundwater?
Hillstone Aggregates is considered a “dry pit”. That means that using groundwater monitoring wells the operation can determine the elevation of the water table and maintains a 1m minimum distance from the table during the extraction process. As the operation moves forward the overburden (clay and sand) is placed behind the equipment maintaining the pit elevation and providing additional distance from the water table. At no time does Hillstone Aggregates operate within the groundwater table.
What is the “Active Area”?
As a condition of its development permit Hillstone Aggregates is permitted 40 acres of “Active Area” this term refers to any area on the site where the sod, top soil and sub soil has been removed. Hillstone Aggregates Active Area is maintained at 40 acres to accommodate both the sales area and extraction operation.
How is Hillstone addressing impacts on it’s neighbours?
DUST
Hillstone has 3 monitoring stations on site which measure the amount of particles in the air and provide notifications when exceedances have been noted allowing the operations to respond appropriately. Some of the ways we address dust is by spraying water on internal roads and in times of high wind shutting down crushing operations.
NOISE
Hillstone’s monitors also measure the sound generated by the operation and provide notification of exceedances. The berms located along the perimeter of our operation and placement of our storage piles help mitigate the sound traveling from our parcel and we have installed multi-frequency back up alarms on our equipment to reduce noise pollution.
TRAFFIC
Hillstone Aggregates maintains a traffic management plan and provides haulers with updated information and requirements yearly. Performance is monitored and infractions result in consequences up to and including termination.
GROUNDWATER
Hillstone Aggregates does not operate within the groundwater table. To ensure that a 1m minimum distance is maintained during extraction, Hillstone maintains a groundwater monitoring program with levels being checked monthly and additional monitoring wells being drilled when necessary as the operation progresses.
WE ARE LOOKING
FOR YOUR FEEDBACK
If you have any questions, concerns or comments please contact our project team.
