SHUNIAH, Ont. — Council in the Municipality of Shuniah must try to determine how best to control and manage a historical road allowance that's caused some friction among lakeshore property-owners.
The Silver Harbour road allowance includes a site which owners of five camps on Mary Island have traditionally used to launch and store their boats, and park their vehicles.
A report prepared for council notes that "municipal staff have made several visits to the road allowance over the past three years to deal with issues of concern from both mainland residents and those with seasonal cottages on the island. All of the stakeholders have different interests and concerns from various perspectives concerning the use of the shoreline road allowance."
The same report states that while there is a long history "and plenty of documentation of Mary Island residents using the road allowance...there is no written agreement that details the terms, use and rights" to use it.
Some of the island campers are seeking improvements to the access point, saying multiple encroachments (from adjacent properties) and obstacles should be be removed.
Petition objects to proposed exclusive use of access road
However, a petition launched by Jo-Ann Marceau, one of the mainland property-owners, objects that the islanders are demanding that the access road be designated for their exclusive use, and demanding that the municipality make improvements.
"Those residents have been using the access for decades without having to pay any user fees," the petition states.
Marceau argues that no tax dollars should be spent on a private access road, and says there is a boat launch at Silver Harbour Conservation Area, 1/4 mile away, which Mary Island campers could use.
She told Tbnewswatch she wants to buy about 52 feet of the shoreline property, which she says would still leave room to launch a boat, but would no longer leave room to park vehicles.
Island residents Mark Arvelin and Terry Wirtanen, in a proposal to the municipality, say no part of the access point should be transferred to either adjacent property-owner.
Furthermore, they're asking that the boat launch be upgraded.
"Our boats are currently crammed together on the shore...Each boat owner needs to have no less than 10 feet for each boat to be able to move around" and be safely launched in all weather conditions, their submission states.
They're asking council to come up with a plan under which "the last few years of unwanted signs and ropes across our boats, being threatened and bullied" come to an end.
Report to Shuniah council supports formalizing use of road by island residents
Shuniah CAO Paul Greenwood's recommendations for handling the situation favour the position of the island residents.
His report says the muncicipality should not sell any portion of the remaining road allowance that leads to the water's edge.
Greenwood is also suggesting the boat launch be designated for the use of the Mary Island residents, but only if encroachment agreements are negotiated, requiring them to pay an annual fee or improvement tax to compensate the municipality for the cost of maintaining the property as a launch site.
To help alleviate some of the concerns of the adjoining property-owner, Greenwood proposes the relocation of boat skids and rollers farther away from the water, thereby providing more manoeuvring room and taking the boats out of sight from Marceau's residence.
Marceau, however, is threatening legal action against Shuniah, accusing municipal officials of trying to change a public access road into a private access road.
Council will consider Greenwood's report at its meeting Tuesday evening.
