Remarks for Public Hearing: Elna Strand

Elna Strand has prepared these remarks for the Lakeshore Development Public Hearing.

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My name is Elna Strand---we live at Lac le Jeune.

There are 2 separate questions being considered at this public hearing.

1. The cancellation of an existing restrictive covenant on DL 5739, and 
2. The approval of a proposed residential sub-division to be established on this land once the restrictive covenant is removed. 

I will speak about the cancellation of the existing restrictive covenant.

 In 1978 a subdivision on DL 5739 was approved. As part of that approval the TNRD requested the owner to enter into a restrictive covenant on the remainder of the District Lot which reads “…That the Grantor will not subdivide for residential purposes those lands known legally as District Lot 5739…”. Now that is precisely what the owner of the property proposes to do.

You may say that conditions have changed since 1978. Indeed they have—conditions at Lac Le Jeune have deteriorated. We have been devastated by the pine beetle. Areas around the lake, including the Provincial Campsite have been clear cut in an unsuccessful effort to control the pine beetle. We no longer have the forest canopy to reduce the run-off of heavy rains and to absorb snow melt. Partly as a result of this the quality of the lake water is deteriorating. The lakes are the source for our drinking water.

The pattern of development has also changed. No longer do people purchase land at Lac le Jeune to build “a cabin in the woods” or small homes. The recent development pattern is to clear the lot and build a large suburban type dwelling with out-buildings, paving and lawns. I foresee this type of building pattern in the proposed sub-division unless restrictions on site clearing and site coverage are put in place. Without these the run-off problem will increase.

Further, while you are being asked to remove the restrictive covenant from all the remaining part of DL 5739 you are being asked to establish an LR-1 and P-1 zone on only part of that property. I assume that the remaining property would remain within the AF-1 zone. If so, the proposed large “estate lot” of over 53 hectares could (at sometime in the future) be divided into smaller lots. This should not be permitted.

Public regard for elected officials has sunk to an all-time low. This is because those officials have not kept promises made to the citizens that elected them. If this restrictive covenant is removed it is another promise broken. The TNRD should think long and carefully before breaking its promise to the citizens of Lac le Jeune. The restrictive covenant should not be removed.

Thank you