Developers seek public consultation in West Bolton
Amended proposal for Foster Mountain development to allow public use
Foster Mountain developers have come to a plan that they say, if not accepted by the Town of West Bolton, will impact public access to the land at the summit of Foster Mountain that stretches between St. Etienne-debolton and West Bolton. They want citizens to learn about their new proposal with hopes that the solution will be supported and ultimately end the stalemate that has extended over the last six years. They are looking for the citizens’ position in order to gauge what direction the council will take with respect to the proposed project.
According to Guy Lussier, although several proposals have been presented to the municipality of West Bolton, there has been no interest to come to a compromise. With the most recent proposal being submitted to the town on May 6, Lussier feels that there continues to be little interest. He says that Mayor Donald Badger thinks it should be up to the citizens to decide the future of the top of their mountain. That’s why Lussier has called a consultation meeting for West Bolton citizens at the town hall in West Bolton on Saturday, May 27 at 9:30. There, he will present the current proposal of the privately owned property.
The original plan took into consideration 70 building lots but is currently restricted to 11 because of bylaws relating to roads and residential areas. Lussier says that a lot of conciliation and consideration has gone into amending the original project. This proposal, he says, would benefit generations to come. However, he is clear that at this point it’s become a love it or forget about it situation. And since the council appears not to want to take the lead, he wants citizens to know about the opportunity they have to continue access to the top of the Foster Mountain.
“After all, it is private property right now. Anyone going there is trespassing. And if there can be no agreement, we can just close access to the area. But we don’t want to do that.”
He says that they are willing to let 424 acres (172 hectares) be allotted for conservation zones. One would be a nature park and the other specifically protected for wildlife and fauna. The other would be for a more vulnerable wetland where big animals thrive. That’s if the developers would be granted permission to develop an additional 17 building lots that include two already owned by people who find that they cannot build at this point.
For the St. Etienne side of the property, Lussier says that project accounts for the sale of 310 acres to Appalachian Corridor, who is striving to build its land assets in a quest to protect the wilderness zones of the Townships. The construction of a parking area near the north end of that specific area in St. Etienne would accommodate those arriving from Summit Road and a pathway to link the parking area to the lookout tower on Foster Mountain would serve to create a round-up circuit.
“Our impression is that St. Etienne is amenable for Appalachian Corridor to buy the land that is slated for conservation”
The West Bolton side of the development would see setting up an emergency roadway between Summit and Paramount that would be restricted to access by foot and bicycles and not motorized off-road vehicles. There would be a parking area would be designated over the first 100 metres of Mount Foster Road at the top (extends from Paramount) with the municipality taking over Paramount Road from the main entrance up to the parking area.
Two other pieces of land containing approximately 114 acres/46 hectares would be assigned to Appalachian Corridor for conservation. Another three-acre strip of land would be affected under a servitude of conservation allowing a certain portion to have a building erected on it while leaving the balance under conservation.
Other aspects of the plan pertain to the relationship between roads and emergency measures. With 142 homes whose only access is by Paramount Road, and numerous more building lots for sale, many residents are concerned about an emergency exit plan. He says that this consideration is presented in the current plan.
“It’s been sitting for six years since the project was blocked,” Lussier said. “Now is the time to make a decision on what to do with it. We have invested too much money in this PROOLPIVEIRATYRATNOGBERE-ECNONMS Suttonp’lsebteralyndblnoecwkeadrtliskcehotohli,sh.
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Two other pieces of land containing approximately 114 acres/46 hectares would be assigned to Appalachian Corridor for conservation. Another threeacre strip of land would be affected under a servitude of conservation allowing a certain portion to have a building erected on it while leaving the balance under conservation.
Other aspects of the plan pertain to the relationship between roads and emergency measures. With 142 homes whose only access is by Paramount Road, and numerous more building lots for sale, many residents are concerned about an emergency exit plan. He says that this consideration is presented in the current plan.
“It’s been sitting for six years since the project was blocked,” Lussier said. “Now is the time to make a decision on what to do with it. We have invested too much money in this property to be completely blocked like this. Until we find a solution it is a reminder that the land is private and we don’t want anybody using it. It is private property and we don’t have to let anybody on our land. We have to put a permanent solution to the problem that will be for the generations to come. That’s why we want people to know what we are proposing. It is the people who must take the lead on this matter.”
Lussier reminds everyone that most of the lots were modified from the original status in order to increase the amount of land under conservation. “On top of the seven lots authorized under resolution No. 114-1114 dated November 5, 2014, the new lots to become building lots would be:
• Lots 18 and 19 that were purchased from the developers for building and subsequently blocked because they did not conform to municipal bylaws.
• Lots 04, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16A, 16B, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and 32 that would complete the development with a total of 27 or 28 buildings.
Lussier says that more details of the plan will be delivered at the public meeting to be held on May 27.
The current plan has been presented to the council. There was no response from anyone.