Planning staff address campground concerns
Planning and Development Services manager Laura Mosher said many concerns have been expressed by members of the public regarding the proposed campground.
These include traffic infrastructure and generation; pedestrian safety; impacts on neighbouring farming
trespassing; operations such as spread of avian flu from waterfowl to nearby chicken barns; pollution from septic systems; pollution of a nearby salt marsh; impacts on neighbouring wells and septic systems; and the
Kings County Federation of Agriculture expressed concerns over the loss of agricultural land.
There are also concerns over negative impacts on property values; increased noise and light; and an increased number of people visiting the community’s beaches. Mosher said the beach across the road from the subject site is a provincial park.
She said the subject property has two access points. A member of the public commissioned a traffic impact analysis that noted “access limitations.”
Mosher said the report was forwarded to Nova Scotia Public Works (NSPW), the authority with jurisdiction over road access, and “they did not agree with the findings of the traffic impact assessment and an access permit for the proposed use has been issued.”
The independent traffic analysis also raised concerns over pedestrian safety in the area, but Mosher said NSPW didn’t comment on that.
She said staff heard from the Chicken Farmers of Nova Scotia highlighting sensitivities around chicken barns and recommending
distance. increased separation
Staff investigated best practices to prevent the spread of avian flu. The development agreement
accessory wouldn’t allow any use with an open water feature so waterfowl wouldn’t be attracted to the subject property.
Mosher said the Department of Environment, which has jurisdiction, was contacted about water and
associated septic system usage in campgrounds. Staff from the department didn’t express any concerns.
She said staff reviewed local well drilling reports and didn’t find any indication that drilled wells are inadequate. Most had “good flow” and staff was satisfied there wouldn’t be any negative impacts.
Mosher said the subject property is in the A2 zone, which doesn’t have the same levels of protection as the Agricultural (A1) zone. Rezonings and a variety of development agreements can be considered.
The A2 zone has been applied to parcels where less than 60 per cent of the soils fall into Class 2, 3, or active Class 4, in accordance with a provincial statement of interest.