Port Colborne council will ask an outside agency to take another look at the application for a quarry.
The contentious quarry has sparked local protests, despite representatives from Port Colborne Quarries insisting they would be dumping only 'clean fill' into the gravel pit.
Residents worry the ground water could be impacted by contaminated fill.
While discussing the timeline, Councillor Ron Bodner says he doesn't want staff to feel pressured to make a decision before they are ready.
"This needs to take as long as it takes. I don't think any of us want to see this rushed, I think we want to see it done as good as we can get it without cutting any corners on anything."
The decision to seek outside advice was met with applause from the assembled crowd in council chamber