CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The City of Charlottetown has decided to hold a public meeting over a proposed floating dock in Victoria Park.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel, chairman of the parks and recreation committee, made the announcement at council’s regular public monthly meeting on Monday.
There will be an open house starting at 6 p.m. at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel on Monday, May 27 followed by a public meeting at 7 p.m.
The structure was supposed to have been installed last summer but was put on hold when concerns were raised that it might increase traffic with people off-loading things like canoes from their vehicles.
The city was initially reluctant to hold a public meeting on the issue, explaining that it wasn’t a permanent structure. But, after a legal opinion was sought on the matter, council and the city had a change of heart.
The city has already paid for the floating dock, coming in at a cost of $51,000. The money was actually spent before it had a formal agreement from the Charlottetown Harbour Authority to install it in the harbour but that issue was eventually ironed out.
Tweel said in April the city was in the process of formalizing an agreement with the authority.
One resident, who attended a parks and recreation committee meeting in April where the issue was deferred, said she is concerned the dock will only exacerbate what she already considers a major parking problem along the boardwalk.
“The temptation to be at the dock is going to be so heavy,’’ said Stella Newman.
Mayor Philip Brown said he has received numerous emails with regards to the floating dock and that all of them were opposed to the plan.
Tweel believes the boardwalk users will prove the primary users of the floating dock by trekking out onto the structure to enhance their stroll. He does not expect heavy use of the dock by people using water crafts like kayaks and paddle boards. Motorized crafts will not be allowed to access the dock.
Newman, however, said she expects some people will simply ignore the rules.
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