Bull Lake resident upset of neighbours gazebo

Harald Mag | Apr 18, 2018

I am writing to communicate my frustration as a property owner on Bull Lake, Central Frontenac. I have been trying to get some action on property violations in our bay from the Township. I have officially complained to the building inspectors both Jeremy Nevin and now Shawn Merriman about illegal building and complete disregard for regulations at the Rommen property. My original complaint in summer of 2016 to Mr. Nevin did in fact result in a visit from the building inspector and subsequent charges being laid. I received the direct feedback from Mr. Nevin that he had laid charges for 2 building infractions. One was on the structure half completed just a few meters from the waterfront (estimate roughly 5 meters away so virtually directly on the water). I continued to phone Mr. Nevin from time to time over a 2 year period to ask the status of the cases. He always told me the cases were still pending and had not yet been resolved.

Last summer, we noticed a sign indicating that an application for a minor variance had been applied for. Myself and other neighbours all made formal complaints and expressed our objection to the township.

Next we noticed signs indicating that 3 building permits had been issued for the Rommen property at 1108 Bull Lake Road (2 separate garages and 1 cottage). I called Shawn Merriman and expressed officially my concern that the cottage building permit had been submitted with false distance from high water mark (shoreline) and important omissions (location of hydro lines and location of hydro right of way). I have felt just plain brushed off by Mr. Merriman who told me he would look into it and get back to me. This seems to have never happened as I never received any return communication. I tried calling at least 20 times and left messages but never got through nor received any call back.

The proposed site of the Rommen cottage is not more than 50 feet back of the waterfront and if built like this would be in clear violation of building regulations. Also the proposed site is directly under hydro power lines and the old road bed is actually a hydro right of way. Clearly additional building violations all of which I communicated directly to Shawn Merriman. How can the township issue such building permits? I am at a loss and clearly the township is determined to just push it through and sweep all complaints under the rug.

Following up on the Rommen minor variance for the structure half built right on the lake front, there was a Committee of Adjustment meeting in Arden on April 12th , which heard the Rommen case. The Rommen application had been put off several times at the request of the Rommen’s, but my request to have the application put off until May so some of the neighbours who have voiced their objections could attend, was rejected.

Harald Mag

(Editors note: The Rommen minor variance, allowing the completion of a gazebo that has been partially constructed about 10 metres from the high water mark – the zoning bylaw calls for a 15 metre setback – was approved by the Central Frontenac Committee Committee of Adjustment on April 12th, under a set of conditions. Quinte Region Conservation was consulted about the application and did not object. The Rommen’s can now apply for a building permit for a gazebo, and in these cases the fee will likely be doubled because they began construction before seeking a permit.)