The residents of Cedar Bay Rd. were out in force at the last TBL council meeting to tell council that they do not want a minor derogation to allow the multiple docking space at the end of their road to be extended by five metres. The boaters association is asking for 12 boats – from 10 now – to park at the end of this private road.
Every summer week-end, the residents of quiet Cedar Bay see their road assailed by vehicles with trailors bringing boats to the lake. The owner of the land, Fernand Barsalou of Boisé Inverness Inc. was granted the right to install a dock at Cedar Bay in 2004. According to the Registre foncier du Québec, more than 70 servitudes of passage to the lake were sold and registered on Cedar Bay. According to the residents attending the council meeting, this is causing a major nuisance preventing home owners from enjoying their property. “Increasing the size of the docking space will simply increase the problem,” said a resident.
Searching for an agreement
Michel Doyon represents a not-for-profit boaters’ association using the facility. He said that “his group wants to mitigate the negative effects of the situation. We all want to enjoy the lake.” As a result of meetings between the residents, the boaters’ association and the town, Doyon promised improvements like the posting of warning signs, the installation of a chain to limit the parking area. When the mayor asked him if that was a guarantee he added “I am not a policeman, but I will do my best to ensure the rules are followed.”
To the residents this is no guarantee. As one resident put it “we had a good discussion with the association, but the owner of the docking space has the last word and we have not heard from him.” When asked by Tempo why the owner did not show up at the meeting to address these concerns personally, Doyon said that Mr. Barsalou was away on a trip.
Urbanism Committee favours the request
Last December, the town postponed a decision on the issue after the Environment and Urbanism consultative committees had decided in favour of granting the minor derogation. At its February meeting, the CCU heard of the strong opposition of the residents of Cedar Bay. The question was put to a vote. The vote was tied, the Committee chair, councillor Robert Laflamme, broke the tie 4-3 in favour of granting the derogation.
At the March council meeting, the mayor assured that council will decide for sure at the April public meeting. In the meantime the parties were invited to further try to come to a satisfactory agreement keeping in mind that the use of a “minor derogation” is to provide a satisfactory solution to all parties concerned when bylaws cannot do it.