Back to the Docks
Reuel S. Amdur
It was SRO at the Chelsea Council meeting on April 12. The reason for the crowd? Two reasons. The docks bylaw was scheduled to come into effect on April 15. And Councillor Rita Jain told the Post that the docks were on an earlier version of the agenda.
The docks bylaw was intended to do two things: to define the rights to docks on the Gatineau River and to ensure public access to the river. There are three categories of dock owners addressed: 1) those with a private lot adjacent to the Voie Verte trail; 2) those with a private lot adjacent to River Road; and 3) all other docks “completely or partially on municipal land.” The last are subject to removal, though they may be retained if they meet certain criteria.
Part of the problem is that some dock owners own the land up to the dock and others don’t. In any case, dock owners must pay $400 a year.
The bylaw was originally scheduled to come into effect on annuary 1, 2022. While some Council members patted themselves on the back for coming up with a solution to the problem of private rights and public access, this bylaw has been a hot potato, perhaps more divisive than any other issue before the municipality. The Council’s approach has been to kick it down the road. Instead of the 2022 date to come into force, the matter was set back to April 15, 2024. Now, Director-General Sheena Miano Ngalle says that the act will be enforced beginning April 25 and 26. However, there will be no removal of docks before 2027.
Many people signed up to address Council that evening. After a number expressed concerns or asked questions, Mayor Pierre Guénard asked for people with matters of concern other than the docks to speak, with further dock questions to be addressed after the regular meeting was finished. This would allow Council to deal with the agenda. At that point, Tineke Kuijper began shouting her objections to the postponement of discussion of the docks. She charged that Council was not being open and accountable. When she persisted in her tirade, the mayor called a recess and left the room, along with some councillors. Kuijper told the Post that she was unable to stay until the end of the meeting. When the mayor returned, the meeting resumed.
Other speakers wanted to express their unhappiness about the location of the new school on Chelsea Foundation land. Before the outburst, two people were asking for assurance that the planned railing along the Gatineau River would have openings to allow them to park their cars on their property along the river. There was no clear assurance at that time.
When the meeting ended after 10 p.m., no one was left who wanted to return to the subject of the docks. Perhaps the matter had been successfully kicked down the road to 2027.
Aside from the question period. Council addressed other matters. Mayor Guénard reported that the province was giving the MRC des Collines more than a million dollars to address climate change. He anticipates some of that money for Chelsea.
A proposed minor variance came up for approval, but instead it was rejected. Vice-mayor Kimberly Chan argued strongly against a request by Pharmaprix to install a large sign. The drug store is on the business site with the IGA. Chan had several objections to the proposed sign. It is too large. Pharmaprix already had permission for one sign and knew that the one sign was all that was permitted. The sign would detract from the view of the natural scenery. Besides. customers would be well aware of the pharmacy’s location. Her speech convinced her colleagues, who voted to reject the request, all except Councillor Rita Jain.
Photo caption: Vice-mayor Kimberly Chan
Photo credit: Reuel S. Amdur
