The following are briefs from the Sept. 27 regular council meeting:
Growing water connections: Twenty-three new connections will infuse $754,951 into the indebted Cove Bay Water System system. Council passed three readings of a bylaw to expand the water system to include the new Grafton Lakelands development as well as the new water treatment plant (source of the aforementioned debt). The Lakelands (John Reid’s development) is in the midst of the subdivision process to create 21 residential units: 11 separate family strata lots and 10 duplex units on one lot. Two of the new water connections are already existing residences.
Community gifts: A property owner in Bluewater has offered up a public trail easement over their land. The well-established but informal 650-metre stretch of trail connects Schooner Lane to Crown land and Schooner Lane to the Arbutus Ridge trail network, said a staff report. Bonny Brokenshire commended the property owners’ generosity in allowing the public use of the trail over the years. “However, the land that supports this vital trail is likely to be sold in the foreseeable future.
“Not proceeding with the easement at this time could be at the risk of losing the trail route for many years.”
The legal and surveying cost to the municipality to establish the easement is estimated at $5,000 to be funded from the parks operating budget.
On Evergreen Lane, another property owner offered up an easement around a small public viewpoint. The lot doesn’t have any buildings at the moment but the current owner worried that future owners may build hedges or structures that would obstruct the view from the bench in the little stretch of municipal parkland. “The proposed covenant restricts building or structures within the covenant area, or the planting of vegetation above a certain height,” said the staff report. While the covenant process was under way, the need for a development variance permit to modify setbacks was identified – the covenant was lumped in with the DVP process, indicated the staff report.
The DVP will be considered by council Oct. 25.
