Concert idea panned

Members of downtown residents group say they weren’t aware of city’s plans for shows this summer at Confederation Landing Park

“CDRA was unaware of the planning of these concerts. We knew nothing about them and we learned of it last night at city council, so it came as a total surprise to us.’’ Laurent Beaulieu

It’s time to stop having concerts at Confederation Landing Park, says the spokesman with the Charlottetown Downtown Residents Association (CDRA).

Laurent Beaulieu said he and other waterfront residents weren’t impressed at all to learn at Monday’s city council meeting about plans for two weekend concerts at the park this summer.

Beaulieu, who is also running for the Ward 1 seat in November’s civic election, said Tuesday that downtown residents had no idea this plan was cooking until it was announced at council.

City council voted 7-1 in favour of holding two concerts at the park, June 29-30 and another with the dates to be determined.

Actual names of performers haven’t been released yet, but a general description of the performances is adult contemporary and modern music.

“CDRA was unaware of the planning of these concerts,’’ Beaulieu said.

“We knew nothing about them and we learned of it last night at city council, so it came as a total surprise to us.’’

Coun. Kevin Ramsay, chairman of the city’s intergovernmental affairs and events attraction committee, told the media after the council meeting that a meeting would be held with CDRA and the promoter.

Ramsay also noted that the two concerts will be forced to wrap up at 11 p.m. each night.

However, Beaulieu said this is like putting the proverbial cart before the horse. The decision has already been made.

“I find this discouraging beyond words . . . but it is a done deal. It’s too late. The taxpayers have been forgotten.’’

Beaulieu said the concerts are not sitting well with residents who thought shows at the waterfront park ended with the 2015 Canada Day show.

The CDRA will hold a public meeting on the issue on Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Parish Hall.

Confederation Landing Park is the venue of choice in this case because the shows this summer are being aimed at a maximum audience of 5,000 people, a size considered far too small for the Charlottetown Event Grounds, which was designed to hold shows attracting upwards of 27,000.

Beaulieu said downtown residents have lots of questions they want answered by the city and the promoter, what types of artists will be playing and what will be done about parking.

The CDRA spokesman said he’s already been told by Ramsay that the city will pay for policing costs and any cleanup required.

“How will they recoup this (cost)?’’ Beaulieu said.

“We don’t want these one-off crazy weekends.’’