Public Hearing on Proposed Changes to Chéticamp Zoning By-law

On Thursday February 18th, Inverness County’s municipal council held a public consultation about proposed changes to a Chéticamp zoning by-law. Following another community hearing in October, the Eastern District Planning Commission (EDPC) recommended to ban new campgrounds from the residential zone RR-1 in Chéticamp. It would be a temporary measure while staff develop a new type of commercial zoning for campgrounds.

The proposed changes were sparked by a new RV campground under construction in Point Cross. Neighbours around the site worried about the size of the project and its effects on the residential area. They also expressed concerns about the aesthetics of having RVs parked on the Cabot Trail, obstructing the ocean view. Residents who support the campground said it would bring economic development to the community.

John Alan Aucoin, who made the official request for the EDPC to amend the by-law, spoke at the hearing. “With unregulated campground use in our community RR residential, we’re not encouraging the interests of tourism,” he said, “because it doesn’t encourage orderly growth and it does not take into consideration the land use in a manner that will preserve, enhance and protect the natural and man-made environment.”

Lucille Timmons, a member of the Chéticamp Area Advisory Committee who also works as a community development officer for the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), expressed her support for campgrounds. She said that every new tourism project such as helicopter tours and development at the Gypsum Mine received complaints from residents, but that ultimately, it would be more dangerous to drive business away from the area.

Timmons also suggested a compromise between the two parties. “I believe a good option, maybe a happy medium to this controversy, would be to keep the campground by-law as is with the addition of design aesthetic beautification guidelines,” she said. “Similar [in] structure to the guidelines I had developed for the Cabot Trail Façade and Streetscape program, phase 2, back in 2016. Each new campground development would have to present their design [and] conceptual plan to the planning advisory committee, or Eastern District Planning Commission for approval before starting, so then it could make certain adjustments.”

She continued, “For any other issues – environmental, sewage, water, etc. – there are governmental agencies that are experts and are paid well to deal with these issues.”

Councillors will be discussing the community’s feedback at the next council meeting on March 4th at 6 p.m.