October 20, 2010
2010 FORT ERIE MUNICIPAL ELECTION CANDIDATES’
POSITION ON WATERFRONT ISSUESCandidate Name: Tim Huggerty
Position Sought: Councillor Ward 5The 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.
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?
Yes.
3. We welcome your comments regarding construction of a condo on Bay Beach property.
Should only be 3 stories high as per cause study 1996. Any development should be on the north side of Erie Rd.
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?
I will. But current council didn't abide by their own by-law.
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. Also suggest partnering with the community similiar to the "adopt a road program" - call it "adopt a beach/waterfront".
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. One of councils' role is to give directions to staff.
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?
A) The town could appeal the court ruling on who owns the road. I believe it was 1927.
B) Try to negotiate a better access between the PALS and PA Assoc.
C) Keep the lighthouse & lighthouse keeps house and have access from the water; build a dock. The land is priceless, once gone the town will never get it back.
We thank you for your participation & invite additional comments on waterfront issues.
I believe if the town were to sell the lighthouse keepers house.
1) It be sold only to a Canadian - no foreign ownership.
2) A reversal clause in event the owner trys to sell other than a Canadian - the property revert back to the town.
3) There be an easement plus access to the lighthouse
4) No waterfront land rights go with house!
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