Garrison Shores saga almost over?

by Jeff Green

---

Twenty-five years after a shady development deal left a group of would-be cottagers on tiny Garrison Lake , near Arden , owning properties that they could not get proper deeds for, their legal limbo seems to be coming to an end.

Central Frontenac Council passed an amendment to their Official Plan that will pave the way for the establishment of special zoning on Garrison Lake . This will enable Frontenac County to approve a condominium agreement at Garrison Shores , which will end the legal limbo for the land owners.

While the plan has the enthusiastic support of the Garrison Shores Association, which was expressed by their lawyer, Julian Walker, one Garrison Shores owner raised questions about the plan. Jeff Dubois argued that one particular change that is included in the plan shouldn’t be taking place. It provides that some of the lots will now become waterfront, where previously all the waterfront had been maintained as common land.

Paul Chaves, President of the Garrison Shores Association, pointed out that the condominium agreement will stipulate an 8 metre buffer zone or ‘ribbon of life’ around the water. “The owners cannot cut trees, cannot build boathouses or docks, cannot do anything within that buffer zone.”

Dubois said he has made some headway with his concerns in negotiations with the association and is hopeful all of his concerns will be met at an association meeting in early October. If not, he said he might appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, which would slow down the process considerably.

In the meantime, council passed the Official Plan amendment, which will be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for approval.

Tryon Road Petition – Glenys Wright and Philip Bender appeared before council, seeking work on the Tryon Road to improve sight lines around four dangerous curves that they identified for council’s benefit. They pointed out that a number of accidents have taken place on the road, which has increased in population over the past 10 years. Mayor MacDonald said staff would look at the road, but that it is only one of many roads in the township that are in need of repair, and will have to be considered along with all the rest.

Economic Development Committee frustrated – Councillor Gutowksi brought back a report from the Economic Development Committee that was submitted to council in May. In it the committee made 21 recommendations for council action, and Gutowski said, “To say I am disappointed that four months have passed with no investigation being done on these recommendations by the staff would be an understatement.”

Given the omnibus nature of the recommendations, which are listed under the headings of Communication, Image, Infrastructure and Taxes, and range from “develop a communications plan to encourage more seniors and artists to take up permanent residents in the township” to “develop Trails” and “strive to upload the costs of Road 38, policing and ambulance service to the province …”, Councillor Logan Murray suggested that the suggestions be taken in chunks and considered by council over time. “That way we could ask staff for specific reports on matters, and then we could consider them and make decisions.” Council agreed with Murray , and passed a motion to that effect.

Cranberry Lake Bridge – The low bidder for the Cranberry Lake Bridge reconstruction was $52,359 over the amount budgeted for the project. Since approvals from Quinte Conservation for the construction are still months away, Council decided to postpone construction and re-tender in the spring.

Arden Cenotaph – Council approved a $2,650 expenditure to rehabilitate the Arden Cenotaph.