Newly formed group mounts campaign against Chippawa Shores development

The Current has learned of the formation of a group of residents opposed to the re-zoning of the Chippawa Shores development  because of environmental and safety concerns. This follows the Madawaska Valley Council Meeting of March 3, 2020 when Council approved the draft of the proposed Condominium Conditions to be incorporated in a Zoning By-Law Amendment.

According to one of its founders, Doug De La Matter, (above at public meeting Aug.29 2019) the group calling itself Friends of the Madawaska Watershed intends to circulate a petition in the near future soliciting support from citizens who share their concerns. Because of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, for the time being that petition will only be available online. Their goal is to continue to lobby MV Council to postpone the passing of the Zoning By-Law Amendment that is expected to be received from the County Planning Officer in the very near future, until significant improvements are made.

De La Matter and others spoke about their concerns at the Public Meeting held August 29^th, 2019. Click HERE to read The Current’s report of that meeting.

He told The Current that the opposition stems from concerns about the proposed conditions including:

• setbacks
• size and location of docks
• increases in boat traffic on the river and resulting erosion of the riverbanks
• maintenance of natural vegetation along shoreline setbacks
• inadequate natural buffer zones around wetlands and vulnerable lakes
• lack of recognition of lakeshore capacity on small landlocked lakes

Friends of the Madawaska Watershed also point out the difficulties of leaving enforcement of all conditions to the Condominium Corporation’s Board, whose members would not be sufficiently arms-length from any individuals who may not comply with the conditions.

In describing the group’s motivation De La Matter said:

“A well-designed development can be a true asset to the community. We all would welcome it. Unfortunately, the present design is likely to create more problems than it solves for the residents of the area, the township and the Watershed community.”

 

Readers can click HERE for more background material 
or contact the group by email at mwfriends@bell.net