Support for Bill Twolan, but not for rezoning
Mo Laidlaw
Over 40 residents attended the public consultation meeting held in Luskville on May 11, 2004 at 7 pm, for the Pontiac council to explain and receive comments about the draft bylaw to add commercial (C5) and industrial (I2) uses to zone A7, to allow car-repair and a welding shop. From the council, only acting-mayor Roger Larose and Bill Twolan, councillor for ward 7, were present, as well as secretary-treasurer Sylvain Bertrand.
Brian Middlemiss, councillor for the affected zone A7, in ward 6, was unable to attend, but came later to the regular meeting.
Councillor Twolan wants to continue to operate his car-repair and welding business, located in A7, an agricultural zone. The CPTAQ suggested rezoning as a solution, hence this draft bylaw.
According to Mr. Larose, industrial uses include recycling centres and chemical plants. Commercial uses include car- and big-machinery-repair. Individual changes of use would still require authorization from the CPTAQ.
Zone A7 lies between Elm and Smith-Leonard, bounded on the east by Terry Fox, and on the west by highway 148 and the Ottawa River, and includes Braun road and the Breckenridge Creek Nature Preserve. Alan Aldred pointed out that A7 covers much of the Breckenridge Creek watershed, including the preserve. “Industrial uses are totally incompatible with the aims of the nature preserve.”
In reply to a question about where car-repair is allowed in the municipality, Mr. Larose replied that there is an area near Quyon that is zoned commercial and industrial on the MRC’s master plan. It has not attracted businesses and is 30 km from Elm Rd.
Rhoda Scott explained that Mr. Twolan does not have acquired rights because he came after 1980 when the law to protect farmland came into effect. Mr. Twolan stated that a CPTAQ tribunal told him he was OK if his workshop was within the acre around the house. Ms. Scott said “There is no loophole, Mr. Twolan bought the property knowing it was farmland.”
André Richard asked how many car-repair businesses are operating in the municipality, both with acquired rights (in business before 1980) or illegally. Mr. Larose will find out.
James Riordan asked if the council's vision is a “body shop in everyone’s back yard”, and contrasted the lack of leadership with that in Chelsea, where Mayor Perras is “going organic”, and Chelsea is booming.
Jamie Laidlaw made an impassioned plea to “protect farmland. Only 2% of Quebec is arable land. The threats are highways, subdivision and industrial uses.”
Like many others, including Janet Jury, Mr. Richard, and Russ Allen, Ms. Scott said she found Mr. Twolan’s business to be clean and tidy, and had nothing against it, but was opposed to rezoning such a large area. Ms. Jury echoed Judith Glandon in her description of the spectacular views along highway 148, that may soon become “views of roof tops and industry. If the municipality is concerned about tourism and beauty, it cannot let one person get a toe in the door. Who wants to ride a bike past junk yards?”
Ray Young summed up, “There’s got to be a solution, don’t shut Mr. Twolan down.”
At the regular meeting that followed, acting-mayor Roger Larose withdrew the second reading of the bylaw from the agenda, explaining to council that the public consultation had raised issues that council should discuss further before continuing with the bylaw.