Laneway Closure On Craig’s Island Deferred

Craig Bakay | Nov 16, 2022

A request to stop up, close and convey two road allowances was sent back to the drawing board at Central Frontenac Council’s regular meeting Nov. 8 as neighbours complained that the road allowances are used.

The allowances in question form a lance between Lots 13 and 14 on Craig’s Island in Sharbot Lake.

The request came to Council’s attention at the Sept. 27 meeting when Paul Armstrong made an application to obtain title to the road allowance and then obtain a small sliver of land from a neighbour so that his cottage would be completely within his lot boundary. Because this is considered a plan of subdivision, this would not be done through a consent application but a bylaw under the Planning Act.

Armstrong recently received the cottage property on Craig Island from his brother’s estate. It recently came to his attention that the older cottage is located partly on the ‘lane’ and partly on the neighbouring property.

The subdivision Plan for Craig’s Island was registered in 1912 and the cottage was constructed in about 1934.

Speaking for his 94-year-old mother Isabel, Mark Fowkes said she owns property at the end of the laneway and closing it off would be problematic for them.

“The laneway is important to us for accessing our property whether for clearing trees or taking materials in,” Fowkes said virtually. “These laneways also act as a buffer for us.”

Isabel Fowkes said that to her, “this is a dangerous precident.

“I see no reason why others on the island wouldn’t follow Armstrong’s example and build on the public roadway or accessway.

“You’d be rewarding bad behaviour if you sell it to him.”

“Sounds like by closing this we’re creating a problem for others,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “I think it’s obvious this isn’t going to be approved.”

Smith asked Dep. Clerk Cindy Deachman to investigate an alternate solution and the matter was deferred to the incoming Council.

Heese out at Mississippi

Outgoing Coun. Victor Heese told Council that the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has requested that he be allowed to represent Central Frontenac at its upcoming budget meeting even though a new representative will have been chosen by that time.

“Any new rep won’t be familiar with their budget,” Heese said.

But Mayor Frances Smith essentially said ‘so be it.’

“We’ll have a new member walking into a budget they know nothing about,” Smith said.

Smith thanks outgoing members

Mayor Frances Smith thanked all the outgoing members of Council and added “we’ll remember all the good things about you and when things heat up, we’ll remember all the bad things as well.”

Coun. Sherry Whan said she was a bit sad to be leaving but thanked the community for all its support.

“We haven’t always agreed on everything but I wish those assuming the duties much luck and success,” said outgoing Coun. Brent Cameron.

“Bill (MacDonald) and Tom (Dewey) spoke at the last meeting,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “And Victor (Heese) doesn’t make speeches.”

Fire training

In response to Coun. Nicki Gowdy’s question, Fire Chief Chris McDonough said that for the time being, firefighter training would continue to be farmed out but once the current level 2 training is complete, “we hope to do our own (training) in 12-18 months.

McDonough said they’ve been receiving “numerous calls” on the upcoming Firefighters Santa Claus Parade in December and CAO/Clerk Cathy MacMunn suggested that Council would likely participate by riding in a truck “as we’ve done in the past.”

Mapping error

Council instructed staff to commence a housekeeping bylaw to correct a mapping error in the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw in which the final version of the maps showed an incorrect overlay of EP-1 organic soils.

“This kind of stuff does happen,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “Good that we caught it now and not later.”

Building permits

There were 11 building permits issued in October representing $14,719,995 in construction value as opposed to 17 representing $1,857,620 in October of 2021 and 19 representing $2,243,600 in October of 2020.

To date, there have been 33 permits issued in District 4 Hinchinbrooke, 31 in District 3 Oso, 30 in District 2 Olden and 28 in District 1 Kennebec.