The Council had a public meeting regarding a plan to implement a zoning by-law amendment to permit four new camp-sites at 165A Pinemount Rd, in preparation for Council to make a ruling in June.
CAO Robert Trembley gave the report, done by Forbe Simon.
The application was submitted by Jo Ann Blomley.
Trembley said that they had received ‘numerous’ public comments, pertaining to an environmental impact assessment, concerns about a new assessment.
“The Planner has noted that site plan would likely be required for this to be allowed, and that a number of studies would be required including an environmental impact statement, an archaeological assessment, an aggregate impact assessment due to the zoning, as well as hydro-G assessment based on some of the comments regarding potable water on the lake.” he said.
He said that the purpose of the meeting was to hear from the community.
Julie Wensel spoke on their concerns, saying that there were already two campsites on the ‘very small lakes.”
“There’s already some algae forming at the bottom of the lake.” she said. “I know there’s always some, but it seems like there’s more and more every year. The traffic on the lake has gotten just crazy with the people already there and the campsites – there’s got to be ten to fifteen pontoon boats there, and causing erosion.”
She said they were “not quite sure if they believe” that only four campsites will be implemented, and asked who would police environmental rules for Pinewood and Yonder hill.
“From what we’ve heard and what we’ve seen, this person has been aggressive to other people who have been viewing their lots. I don’t think it’s the other cottagers responsible for reporting anything other than many concerns. Who’s going to make sure there’s only going to be four there?”
“What’s going to stop anyone who has a good chunk of waterfront from setting up campsites.”
Arlene Anderson, who owned several properties along the lakeside for thirty years with her husband, said that they had tried to keep the waterfront ‘as rough as possible’, and was concerned that this decision would set precedents for all waterfront areas.
“Previously, we haven’t had waterfront camping at Jeffrey Lake. All the trailer parks are well back off the water, similar to most provincial parks.” She said. “None of them would be described as a ‘tourist establishment’. So this is really a big change.”
She asked what would prevent anyone with waterfront properties to open a campsite should this amendment be allowed.
“We understand people wanting to mitigate some of their task burden.” She said. “We understand people wanting to do that. But it would have to be done carefully. We think there really needs to be more studies done, and in particular a baseline study to determine the water quality of the lake. And if this negatively impacts the lake, and causes problem, can the zoning be revoked? What recourse do we have in this area.”
She asked what kind of insurance would be necessary for this kind of usage.
“It will result in an increased burden for the township to monitor the site. What liability will the township of Whitewater be taking on here? If an accident or fire or damage to the environment results, not only will the other property owners suffer. But the township will also bear a burden.
“We consider that a decision on this would be premature. We’re not in favour of the zoning bylaw amendment in as much as we might want to do the same thing across the way. I think that everyone can agree that Olmstead-Jeffrey Lake is a wonderful place. Most of us have put our life savings into it and only want to the best of it.”
Debbie MacDonald, a 5th generation resident of Jeffrey-Olmstead lake, said that there was ‘no public access’ to the lake, with 151 dwellings, with 91 cottages.
“Some of them are pretty old. I don’t know . I know I’ve seen laundry soap and foam floating down the lake. I know we do water testing every year, and there’s been pretty good result.”
She said the Muskrat Watershed Council tested the lake regularly.
She expressed concern that the adjacent lank, Cunningham lake , was inaccessible to workers, and cited potential problems with firetruck access for the lake, as well as problems with disposal of human waste and trash at a potential campsite beyond the two already present.
“There’s a danger that lakes are just going to get overpopulated.”
Doug Peterson said he filed several concerns by email, echoing concerns on who would ‘police’ the number of campsites.
“As we all know, a zoning change like this is transferable to a new owner, and I wonder if this will open the floodgates.”
He also said there was no running water down by the lake, or any other amenities.
“I think the municipality needs to be very concerned of
Joanne Hiob also spoke against the amendment, expressing that the ‘small and narrow lake’ could not support more campsites.
“We have already two large campgrounds; adding another one is not healthy for our small lake.”
Tara Dobec, who said that they built their property in 1952 on Lot 165B Pinewood Road, said that the amendment originally including their property along with Lot 165A, which “caused a lot of mental anguish’ for her mother.
Their property, which was situated on a peninsula next to the lot to be amended and access “Could only be achieved through a deeded access road.”
She criticized the applicants’ drawn map as “so basic as to be practically useless.” and said that they had ‘Major concerns”
“We were aware of a campsite that was being operated illegally next to our property, and they have done clearing of land at an area that is not indicated on their map.”
“Our road access goes all the way through 165A. The campsites that operated last year used this access and blocked our access . We have extraordinary concerns about fire access. Frankly, if we were to suffer a fire, we would be entirely stuck on our property. There would be no way that fire could attend to us.”
She accused the applicant and campers of directing harassment and threats at her and her family regarding the property, claiming campers and their animals continuously trespassed on their property.
“Since these illegal campsites began operations, for reasons I do no understand, Martin Robilliard, who i believe is the spouse of the applicant, has launched a campaign to terrorize us, and has created a situation where it increasing troubling to attend our property.”
She said that Martin Ronillard and Jo Anne Blomley had started the illegal campsite with Hipcamp, providing screenshots advertising the seven campsites on the website, allowing ‘trucks, RVs,” on the campsite.
The images showed pictures of the sites as well as descriptions of the site, including a review dated May 23rd of 2021 for Blomley’s North Star Camping listing.
“That should be noted that was during the COVID lockdown.” She said. “Pinewood Park and Yonder hill were closed during that time because they were abiding by the lockdown protocols.”
She also claimed that Hipcamp has a rules and expectations of their hosts, and claimed the property was “allowing fires in contravention of fire restriction.”
She said that she understand from the Fire department that “there were no fire permits for that property at that time” and pictures from Robillard’s facebook showed fires “too large to obtain a fire permit for at that time.”
She also claimed that the property received two notices that the property infringed the by-law.
She also said that Robillard made several threats and aggressive statements, providing screenshots of Facebook posts, including one from Jo Anne Blomely from 2010 saying that she would buy a gun to “keep trespassers at bay”, specifying a bear that walked on her porch at night.
Dobec also provided a picture of a dead bear, saying it was left on their property on July 29th of 2022, alleging it was done by the Robillard or Blomley, as well as claiming Martin Robillard blocked the deeded access road with a tractor on August 6th of 2021, and alleged he ‘approached their property with a firearm, including a picture dated April 15th of 2022, to ‘wows’ from the council chamber.
Gayle, president of the Olmstead-Jeffrey Lake Association, said they asked for a lakeshore capacity assessment for the lake, and said she’d submitted her comments in written form.
Jo Anne Blomely responded to the allegations, saying that they affiliated with Hipcamp, and that she and Martin had only five sites, though they ‘both maintained pages.”
She also claimed they only intended to add four ‘green’ campsites on the property.
She said that Hipcamp “provides all of the liability assistance for every camper.”
“Due to the impressive surge in interest in camping during the pandemic, and the subsequent decreased availability of provincial campgrounds, we decided to offer up our beautiful property so that other might experience the beauty and diversity the Ottawa Valley has to offer.” She said. “To say that it was a resounding success would underscore the people’s overwhelming satisfaction with their experience.”
“I appreciate al1 lof the input received over this zoning request and I trust I can allay some of the concerns. At this point I would add we are willing and fully intent to comply with all of the townships bylaws pertaining to this venture. My page on Hipcamp allows me the freedom to stipulate what is permissible during their stay. My most important message is that of respect – that of my land, and the sensibilities of others. To that end although no noise bylaw presently exists in our region, I specify no excessive noise at any time and nothing after 10pm. All garbage is taken away by the campers to disposed of elsewhere. We do not allow anyone to bring a motorized water craft, and we do not have to intend to have a boat launch. People are permitted to bring kayaks or canoes only. Personally, I strongly believe that any motorized boat should not be allowed on the lake, because of the detrimental environmental impact that they have. There are far too many boats on the lake given its size.”
“We have built an outhouse, and we push potable water 1200 feet to hydrants easily accessible to our campers. Parking is available at each site. My farm boasts 2300 of pristine, untouched shoreline, and I intend to keep it that way. It isn’t I who erode the shoreline. I wasn’t me who filled in several hundred feet of swamp in order to sever a lot in order to put yet another home on the lake. My farm is teeming with an abundance of wildlife and we strive to maintain and support all of the flora and fauna.”
She said they had planted 7500 trees on the farm in the last five years.
“This venture brings in a small amount of revenue to allow us, who are mere temporary custodians, to maintain this diversified and one-of-a-kind property, my personal piece of paradise.”
She did not acknowledge the allegations of threats and disruption claimed by Dobec.
CAO Trembley said that the reports would be provided in the June meetings of the Council, and the motion was carried.
