Columbia Containers Expansion

About the project

The project is an expansion of the Columbia Containers footprint toward the west to include the entire former container storage site known as “terminal dock.” This project will see the company’s leased area increase by 60 per cent. In addition to several yard improvements, the permit considers permanent use of the site for container storage and uses that support container stuffing (the same use on the existing site). Interim use of part of the terminal dock site for container storage was approved under Permit 2011-166 in January 2012.

A number of benefits will result from the proposed project, including:

• Improved traffic safety by eliminating one rail crossing and changing how trucks enter and exit Columbia Containers’ property;
• Reduced number of rail-related noise events per day;
• Improved sight lines for vehicles and trains, reducing the need for train whistles; and,
• Reduced dust emissions by raising and resurfacing land that is currently unmaintained gravel and dirt.

The project will consolidate the existing Columbia Containers site (1) with the site immediately adjacent to the west, formerly used as container storage (2). This requires filling and grading a portion of the land between the two sites (3) that is above the high-water line, closing the existing rail access across Commissioner Street (7a) and using another existing rail crossing to the west (7b). The project includes improvements to existing truck accesses to provide better sight lines for arriving and departing vehicles (4). To connect the sites, existing rail tracks will be lengthened (5).

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