Bristol council has decided to form a resident committee that will be charged with exploring the various options for the future of the municipality’s waterfront property in Pontiac Station.
The 95-hectare wooded lot with frontage on the Ottawa River has been owned by the municipality since 1994 when it bought the property for $60,000 from Stone Consolidated.
Last fall, the municipality received an offer to purchase the land from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Now, after some public discussion of the future of this lot, council has decided to bring residents in, in a more formal capacity, on deciding what to do with it.
Meaghan McConnell, the councillor leading this committee, said it will be formed of approximately 15 Bristol ratepayers including herself, councillor Remo Pasteris, and Brent Orr, the newly elected councillor for Seat 4 which covers the Pontiac Station area.
“Council is looking for individuals with a variety of backgrounds, knowledge, and experience, including, but not limited to, life in Bristol, environmental stewardship, land use planning, heritage, community development, business, recreation, and other areas that may contribute to thoughtful discussion about the property’s future,” McConnell said.
“All viable options will be considered, including continued municipal use, redevelopment opportunities, partnerships, preservation, and the possible sale of the property.”
She said the committee will be tasked with submitting a recommendation to council that reflects, as much as possible, the wishes and long-term interests of Bristol’s ratepayers.
Orr, for his part, said he thinks the municipality should retain ownership.
“It is a beautiful beach. It’s quite a few years since anyone was in there and logged it, so I’d imagine there are some very mature trees that could be harvested, but there is a lot of protected area in there also so I don’t know, with the new regulations now, how much we could do,” he said.
“It is a good question for the public to comment on I think. [ . . . ] The committee will be a very small percentage of the population, so I think we’ll have to do some kind of a broader survey. I know a lot of people don’t respond to them but we’ll still have to try.”
Residents interested in serving on the committee will soon be invited to submit an application outlining their background, experience, and interest in participating.
Council will select committee members to bring a wide range of perspectives on the matter. McConnell said the call for applications will remain open for about two weeks once it is opened, and advertised in local newspapers and on the municipality’s website. The committee will begin meeting shortly thereafter.