October 20, 2010
2010 FORT ERIE MUNICIPAL ELECTION CANDIDATES’
POSITION ON WATERFRONT ISSUESCandidate Name: Bruce R Moore
Position Sought: Councillor Ward 1The 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?
Absolutely – (on all town retained/owned lands)
3. We welcome your comments regarding construction of a condo on Bay Beach property.
I have visited the site in question & viewed the aireal photos of the proposed footprint to be deeded to the developer. It is currently a parking lot & not beachfront as many believe.
I am absolutely in favour of this agreement, as it will see the developer put significant investment into improving the rest of the beachfront & amenities – improvements that the municipality may never have the funds to do.
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?
Yes - Providing it meets legal requirements & obligations of our municipality.
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, but I want to note that these initiatives will have to be considered along with the myriad of other budget needs --- so yes, I support the initiatives, but it may require a phased in budget approach.
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?
I would want to hear from staff as to what putting a high priority on this initiative would mean to other priorities before blindly committing to it being one of my major priorities.
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?
Since I have lived in Fort Erie (1967 – now), this has been a burning issue with many of us residents. Including when I was on Council (1985 – 1994), I have been repeatedly told this is a legal issue that the municipality will not win. If elected, I will raise the question again to see if there is any legal recourse the municipality can take to regain access for the public to the Lighthouse
We thank you for your participation & invite additional comments on waterfront issues.
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