REPORT TO
LENNOX PASSAGE YACHT CLUB & THE GENERAL PUBLIC
ON
IN
D’ESCOUSSE
By
Angus MacIntyre, Director
Dec. 8, 2002.
The Lennox Passage Yacht Club wanted to receive the opinion of a number of special interest groups and the general public regarding their opinion or suggestions concerning the general development, future management, and use of D’Escousse Harbour including the maintenance, improvements, operations and future plans for the wharf.
The comments received as a result of meetings with property owners and tourist operators at the Clubhouse on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, and at the general public open house held at the Civic Improvement Centre in D’Escousse, Dec.1, 2002, are included as Appendix “A” of this report. Approximately thirty-five people in total attended these sessions. There was much overlap with many of the same people attending two or all three sessions.
The input from these public consultations fall into four areas of concern or themes.
1. The need for a comprehensive plan for the entire area and not just for the harbour and wharf to be guided by a steering committee representative of the whole community.
2. Harbour/Waterfront Development with proper planning of the harbour there could be a designated swimming area; a separate area for the launching of small boats, kayaks, and canoes; a motor free area for small boats; the existing boardwalk should be repaired; easier access for the disabled, especially from the senior citizen’s housing to the shore and wharf; difficulty of getting in and out of boats for seniors; increased safety of the harbour with additional beacons & buoys; and improved clubhouse facilities such as improved bathroom facilities, laundry, more parking, more shaded areas.
3. Basic Infrastructure Requirements such as a breakwater/seawall with adequate facilities for berthing boats, based on the existing wharf or on some new structures; sewer treatment facility for the village with first priority being the central area from the Credit Union to the Church; improved haul-out & ramp; loading & landing platform; holding tank & pump out; fuel services (available at Poirierville Wharf); more moorings; more finger piers; and more electricity on the wharf.
4.
Improve existing services and add new services such
as dive shop with lessons and rentals of equipment; other rentals like canoe,
sailing boats, dinghy, kayaks; advertisement at wharf of services and
facilities elsewhere in the community; instruction in sailing, canoeing, water
safety, and navigation. The community
could benefit from a health club. That facility could be owned by LPYC and
managed by them if no other group in the community wanted to provide this
service.
There were a number of suggestions made about how things should proceed which can best be described as suggested guiding principles. These are in a suggested order of importance:
Ø Use a comprehensive planning process to include the entire area not just project or piece- meal planning;
Ø Respect traditions and the present character of the area;
Ø Do it right the first time without the “quick fix” mentality;
Ø Ensure that everything is sustainable;
Ø Do things in partnership with others, i.e. the business community, especially the tourist operators, other special interest groups, corporations, neighbouring communities, all three levels of government;
Ø Phase development in over several years based on community priorities;
> Build for us and the tourist will come.
In order to proceed in a logical manner dealing with the issues identified at these public consultations it is necessary to identify the purpose or mandate of the proposed “Steering” Committee.
The purpose of this Steering Committee is to develop a comprehensive community plan for the area because harbour and wharf development cannot be considered in isolation from their impact on community development and land use generally.
The criteria for this Steering Committee as identified at the public meeting was that all special interest groups directly affected by the development should be represented on the Steering Committee. The meeting identified the following Special Interest Groups as having to be included in the Steering Committee:
Ø LP Yacht Club
Ø Business operators, especially tourism operators
Ø Waterfront property owners
Ø Community Venture Society
Ø D’Escousse Civic Improvement Society
Ø St. Hyacinth’s Parish
Ø Northside Recreation Association
Ø DIMA (Development Isle Madame)
Ø Other organizations outside the immediate area, e.g. La Picasse, Arichat Boat Club, etc.
This is an unusually large group for a Steering Committee but is required if the work of the group is to have credibility in the wider community. It is also necessary to have these interests represented in order to ensure the final plan that is developed is implemented.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
That the Lennox
Passage Yacht Club take a leadership role in bringing together a Steering
Committee for the purpose of overseeing a
comprehensive planning process for the community and the hiring and supervision
of a professional planner.
2.
This Steering
Committee should be selected based on the criteria identified at the public
meeting on December 1st. in D’Escousse.
3.
The first task of this
Steering Committee should be to develop its Terms of Reference being sure to include such items as purpose
(mandate), membership, method of making decisions, a “plan of action” for
completing individual tasks, and a time frame for completing objectives.
4.
If the Steering Committee appoints sub-committees then each sub-committee should have a written
statement of purpose, mandate, identified
membership, authority, and methods for involving the community in their
deliberations.
5.
The Lennox Passage
Yacht Club serve in a supporting role to the Steering Committee.
6.
The Lennox Passage
Yacht Club consider reviewing it Constitution with a view to changing its
mandate and by-laws to become more inclusive of the different types of boaters
in the area. Another option is to
become a harbour-based community recreational facility serving the needs of the
broader community of which some potential members of the Club may have no
apparent interest in boats at all.
Whatever option is chosen the name should reflect the focus of the
membership.
APPENDIX “A”
Ø Need two (2) breakwaters (seawalls) with or without the present wharf
Ø Repair wharf as first stage of harbour improvements
Ø Repair wharf or replace it – what are the costs of each option?
Ø Accessible loading/landing platform
Ø More finger piers
Ø Better dinghy facilities
Ø More docking space
Ø More electricity on wharf but not to interfere with visibility from boats arriving
Ø Beacon & harbour buoys
Ø Spar crane
Ø Haul-out & ramp
Ø Holding tank & pump out
Ø Encourage the development of fuel services in Poirierville
Ø Tender services for moored boats
Ø Move “fishing boats” (now used for pleasure) to moorings (How many boats?)
Ø Rental moorings – how many? Where?
Ø Coast Guard presence (low priority)
Ø Public place access for picnics, swimming, a safe place for all
Ø Breakwaters could create more mooring space and swimming area
Ø Public funding for serving public good
Ø Club members pay for direct club benefits
Ø Waterfront improvements
Ø Repair boardwalk for safety reasons
Ø Better clubhouse facilities
Ø Improved bathroom facilities
Ø More parking
Ø More shaded areas
Ø Easier access for the disabled
Ø Nowhere to swim
Ø Swimming area with raft
Ø Sandy area in eastern cove
Ø Motor free area for small craft
Ø Encourage private business to deliver needed services
Ø We could have more services
Ø Dive shop – lessons, rentals, air, etc.
Ø Rentals – boats, canoe, sailing dinghy, etc.
Ø Advertisement at wharf of facilities elsewhere in the community, i.e. small-scale business directory
Ø Instruction – sailing, canoeing, water safety, navigation, etc.
Ø Yacht club facilities has to be building block for whatever else happens
Ø How much development is too much?
Ø Do we want D’Escousse to be a major service centre?
Ø Yachtsmen are looking for lavatories, laundry & liquor services
Ø Be careful about what we do and how we do it?
Ø What kind of business? & where do we want them (i.e. food, restaurants, craft shops, entertainment events, etc.)?
Ø Be careful about what services will cost local people
Ø Encourage private business to deliver needed services
Ø Property owners have the right to develop their property as they see fit
Ø Don’t change the things we like about this place
Ø Don’t change the character of the place
Ø Need to study our infrastructure (i.e. water & sewer requirements)
Ø Public road could be used as access road at shallow end of harbour for kayaks, canoes, sailboats, etc.
Ø Whatever we do has to be sustainable
Ø Do it right the first time
ROLE OF COMMUNITY
Ø Create a community structure to represent all interests
Ø Think of entire watershed area, not just the harbour (i.e. impact of clear cutting)
Ø Consider all parts of development (economic, environment, & social)
Ø Do comprehensive planning for the entire area
Ø Need for more coordination between/among community groups
Ø Health club facilities in the community could be at the yacht club or community hall
Ø Yacht club could participate in the 2004 Acadian Congress celebrations and be the organizing group
Ø Yacht club, in cooperation with the 2006 Celtic Maritime Festival group, organize a parallel celebration here in Nova Scotia
Ø During Harbourfest LPYC could involve other groups in carrying out events (delegate to others)
Ø LPYC should take steps to invite people to participate in club activities
(There is a sense that the public is not entirely welcome at the Club)
Ø Less regulation (i.e. recovering hst if less than $30,000. per year business)
Ø Business and non-profit organizations should be put on a level playing field
Ø Government should foster not hinder development. Richmond County Council is a good example of how the local municipality fosters and encourages development.
Ø Government should help with:
- planning
- financial incentives and not disincentives
- infrastructure
- some type of ombudsman when small business have problems with government
Ø Faster service in restaurants
Ø Mussels too expensive
Ø Beer garden tent too crowded
Ø A meal on Saturday night
Ø
Ø Nothing for children to do (i.e. fly cast contest, more entertainment, children’ games, etc.)
Ø A ball tournament
Ø Boat tours
Ø Not enough to do
Ø More live music
Ø Banking machine
Ø Purchase Island & build cabins
Ø Promote Harbourfest in U.S.A. using ECBC marketing support
Ø Unsightly premises in the community
Ø What about the erosion control along the harbour? – What is needed & what are the options?
Suggestion – Need to work with existing property owners and get permission to improve the waterfront with their involvement and consent.
Ø What about beautification of the shoreline (i.e. cleanup of the area)?
Suggestion – Organize annual cleanup campaign & work with property owners.
Ø Do a comprehensive community plan and hire a professional planner
Ø Build two (2) seawalls/breakwaters first