Council defers plan to remove decks, docks, sheds from Little River — again
CBC News | Posted: September 19, 2017 12:14 PM | Last Updated: September 19, 2017
Council put the plan on hold in June so city staff could consult with impacted homeowners
Windsor council voted Monday night to defer voting on a staff recommendation calling for the removal of 'obstructions' inside Little River Channel within 60 days.
A public meeting hosted in July laid out the reasons for the removal of the obstructions, which "can impede the flow of the river during high volume flows," according to a report.
"Under the worst circumstances there is a possibility that all 6000 homes located within the floodplain could be impacted," said the report prepared by the city's engineering department.
Fifty eight people attended the meeting — including Tammy Kapsalis, who addressed council with a petition from residents.
"I'm happy they deferred it," said Kapsalis, who has a small steel dock on Little River connected to her backyard.
"I think if they just work with us we can probably accommodate everyone and just come to a mutual agreement."
Kapsalis said that she didn't receive enough information during July's public meeting.
Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac made the motion to defer after hearing that Kapsalis and another speaker who owns property that backs onto the dike were not consulted by city staff. It is the second time council has deferred acting on the recommendations.
"During that July meeting we suggested to residents that lived on that corridor that we would pay a visit to each of the homes to identify any of the encumbrances that might have to be removed," said Gignac.
"I distinctly remember telling people at that meeting that we would be out to each of the individual properties and if I'm hearing that we haven't been to each of those properties then Mr. Chair I have a motion for deferral if I can get support."
The motion was supported unanimously by council.