October 20, 2010
2010 FORT ERIE MUNICIPAL ELECTION CANDIDATES’
POSITION ON WATERFRONT ISSUESCandidate Name: Shirley Cordiner
Position Sought: Regional CouncillorThe Ontario Shorewalk Association is seeking comments on your position regarding our public waterfront lands. Shorewalk is a non partisan association and does not endorse candidates, however your comments will be shared with the public via our website and local media.
1. Shorewalk’s priority goal has been & remains the public’s Right of Passage (walking rights) along all of Ontario’s Great Lakes shores. To that end our current FE & Niagara Regional Councils have unanimously endorsed MPP Kim Craitor’s Bill 32 calling for Right of Passage on Ontario’s Great Lakes.Will you support Shorewalk’s Right of Passage efforts during your term of office?
Yes I will. I believe we all have the right to walk the beaches of our waterfronts
2. Regardless of the direction that the Bay Beach property goes, will you vote at every opportunity to ensure that public access on & thru the property continues to exist?
As a Regional Councillor I will not get that vote but I certainly will do all I can to speak to those with the vote to ensure public access.
3. We welcome your comments regarding construction of a condo on Bay Beach property.
I personally feel there are other options than a condo on the beach. It should be across the street, with the waterfront developed as a public partk including volleyball courts and any other event that will attract the public.
4. Shorewalk worked tirelessly with staff to develop a Waterfront Road Allowance by-law that was enacted by Council. It calls for:
i removal of encroachments (fences, hedges, landscaping works, etc) from public road allowances.
ii prohibition of any future encroachments.
Will you continue to uphold the bylaw?
Again as a Regional Councillor I do not have that vote, but I certainly support the bylaw.
5. The Town staff, with council support and funding, have initiated a waterfront road allowance enhancement program that includes;
a) welcome signs
b) directional signs from the Friendship Trail
c) line of sight demarcation
d) prohibition of vehicles on road allowances except for boat launch suitable sites
e) benches & bike racks where appropriateWould you continue to support these initiatives with adequate funding through the budget?
Yes I would.
6. Through the support of council, money has been allocated to review surveys of all road allowances to identify encroachment situations (private residents utilizing the public road allowance as addition to their property). All surveys have been completed but require staff time to review and identify encroachments.
Would you identify the completion of these reviews as a priority so that access to our waterfront can be increased?
Yes I would and if it is waterfront property that the Region at this time controls I would support going to staff at the Region to have access to any waterfront available.
7. Full public access by road to Point Abino lighthouse continues to be denied by the Point Abino Association.
What are your thoughts on this situation?
My thoughts of course is that we should have access but I think it is always going to be an issue with the Association, and may never receive approval for this access.
We thank you for your participation & invite additional comments on waterfront issues.
I totally support all you’re your association are trying to do, I would like to see the Region continue to be involved in purchasing waterfront across the Region so that full access can be given to the public.
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