Democracy ignored, homeowner says

Verdon Vaillancourt will stop to catch his breath now, but the Cook’s Mills Road resident says he’s still mad North Bay council “ignored” the street’s residents in approving a zoning change request.

Dr. Larry Woodward, a North Bay physician, had applied to have 65 hectares he owns on Cook’s Mills Road rezoned so it can be converted into a seasonal camping ground.

City planners had recommended last month approving the request with certain conditions including limiting the number of campsites to 20, and city council gave final approval to it last night.

About a dozen Cook’s Mills Road homeowners showed up at council, and six gave presentations putting forth concerns about increased traffic, garbage, fires, bears and noise should the campground rezoning be approved.

Cheered or jeered
Councillors were wither cheered or jeered depending on how they said they were going to vote.

When council approved the request in a recorded vote—only Sarah Campbell, Mac Bain and Maureen Boldt were against it—the homeowners got up to leave.

That’s when Vaillancourt, admittedly, lost his cool.

“You’ve ignored democracy in your face of every resident on the road in this room opposing this, without the developer representing himself,” Vaillancourt shouted.

“I heard democracy spoken hear tonight. Shame on you, this wouldn’t have happened on Northshore Road, Viceroy Road, Centennial Crescent.”

Frustration boiling over
Before leaving Vaillancourt said his next step will be “to take a minute and stop being angry and consider my options in calmness with rationale other than my outburst in the chamber, which was my frustration boiling over.”

The only option left to Cook’s Mills Road residents now is an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

“But that’s not a realistic or easy option for residents in our neighbourhood,” Vaillancourt said, adding retaining a lawyer might cost him “half my gross income.”

Jack de la Vergne, of 676 Cook’s Mills Road, pictured above, said 19 of the 27 OMB “judges” were appointed by former Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

“They believe in laissez-faire development and are on the side of the developer, not for the citizen,” de la Vergne said.

Didn't make sense
Mary Ann Weir wondered what Cook’s Mill Road had that would make it a good site for a campground.

“Trails, but also mosquitoes, black flies, deer and horse flies, but no boating, no fishing, no swimming and definitely no convenience stores around,” Weir said.

There were also no fire hydrants around, Weir said, “heaven forbid should a fire break out.”

Boldt said she supported development, but this one didn’t make any sense to her.

“Where are you going to go camping, where there’s no water or amenities and it’s in the bush, and the developer didn’t come before us,” Boldt said.

Unfortunate to start heckling
Coun. Darryl Vaillancourt, who was booed after he said North Bay was "definitely" open for business, voted in favour of the rezoning.

He said anyone who owns a piece of property has the right to rezone it.

Vaillancourt added the presence of the Cook's Mills Road residents wasn't a factor for him.

"They were here and they were passionate, but it won’t sway my decision if someone is yelling at us," Vaillancourt said.

"I think it’s unfortunate in this forum to start heckling people, but that’s what happens."

Want it enhanced
Coun. Dave Mendicino, chairman of the Community Services Committee, said the rezoning has strict site plan controls attached to it.

He also said Woodward will be building a home on the property.

"He's going to be living there, and has got a vested interest in seeing it maintained," Mendicino said.

"He's not going to want his property value decreased, if anything he's going to want it enhanced."

Besides, Mendocino added, council can't make decisions based on "we don’t want it in our backyard."