Not In My Backyard

An Alberta developer wants to build a large RV park in Big Pond, Cape Breton. After a lengthy proposal process, the development was approved however an appeal was launched by seven people and there is a three-day hearing taking place this week to determine if the development will still go forward.

There is no website for Ceilidh on the Lakes. They do have a Facebook page. And they made this post in May:

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Due to the OVERWHELMING number of inquiries and requests for seasonal sites, we will be releasing the seasonal applications this week!

A few things to note:

– Deposits will be held in trust until opening, with deposit amount deducted from first season’s rate

– If for any reason the development does not proceed, deposits will be returned within a specified time frame

– 170 seasonal sites will be available

– Choose from lot sizes 30 X 45 or 30 X 60

Stay tuned to the page for details and application in the coming days!

No word on pricing or timing. This development might take a year or two before it is open for business which makes it a bit dodgy to request a deposit at this stage.

The population near this proposed RV park is very small, literally a couple of hundred people.

They have raised a lot of concerns. A pretty disgruntled lot if I might be so bold. Here are a few of the comments from the 50 or so people that are participating in the appeal:

“The appellants say that the CBRM planners and the CBRM council did not adequately evaluate the zoning amendment proposal with respect to several provisions of the MPS, including visual compatibility, dust or fumes, traffic and noise. The appellants also say the project runs counter to agricultural land protection.”

“If you have fire pits near a barn full of hay, it wouldn’t take too long to burn a barn down.”

“I enjoy the privacy I have now, and I don’t think I’d enjoy having people watching me all day — I enjoy looking at the trees but I don’t know how many trees will be left after this.”

“I am concerned about pollution coming to our vegetables. I am not an expert, but during the time of the public hearing I submitted some research that I had done that indicated both air pollution, especially particulate matter in the air, can affect the growth of vegetables, which is of great concern to me because our main income generators in the garden are leafy greens such as salad mix, lettuce, Asian greens, spinach and kale.”

“It will change the landscape of our community.”

Obviously I love the RV lifestyle and especially the RV parks that cater to Class A motorhomes — not that we have any of those in Canada but there are more than enough in the United States.

Evidently, this love of RVing is not shared by the community of Big Pond.