Five Mile Beach: Floating dock a good solution says dock designer, but residents say 'no'
By Nelson Daily Staff
By Suzy Hamilton, The Nelson Daily
A revised plan to float a dock off a summer residence at the popular Five Mile public beach area on Nelson’s North Shore is a good solution for the public, says the dock builder.
“It’s not a negative thing, it’s a good concept,” said Nelco Marine owner Gordon Burns. “The plan has been reviewed by the neighbours and a majority of them approve,” he said.
Burns is the agent for Calgary residents Jane and Mark Andreychuk who own the property next to Toddler Beach, as the locals call it — so named because it’s where residents take their kids to learn to swim in the warm, shallow water on the wide sandbar.
The Nelco Marine owner has designed a floating nine by nine meter dock that will be anchored in the deep water off the sandbar. A float on a 60-metre cable installed on the beach will access the dock, he said.
“It’s like the old days when the cowboys rode their horses to the river and someone on the other side pulled them across on the raft,” he said.
This way there is no dock to intersect the sandbar, which is the issue for the public, he explained.
Powered by solar energy, the cable will move the float to the dock from the beach and back. “They just have to push a button,” he said.
But Area F Director Ron Mickel is skeptical. “It sounds pretty iffy,” said Mickel. “Nothing should be in the swimming area.”
“It flies in the face of what the whole public area is all about. I’m going to be objecting to it.”
In fact, Mickel is going to talk to the decision makers in Cranbrook about designating the area as a marine park, similar to the recent park designation at MacDonalds Landing, he said.
“It’s important that we protect this area.”
This is the second dock application for the Andreychuks. Last year they applied to build a 56-metre-long wharf in front of their home for their boats that would intersect the sand spit, effectively cutting off the public’s access to the entire sandbar and running through the swimming area.
Running their boats and sea-doos in the area was also a concern.
But they withdrew their application after a public outcry and went back to the drawing board.
This October the Andreychuks advertised a revised plan as required by FrontCounter BC in Cranbrook.
The cable and floating wharf would be located somewhat upstream to the original plan, according to the new plan (4405308 Land Act Management Plan.pdf/ on www.arfd.gov.bc.ca)
This revision has not appeased the residents, however.
“I don’t know of anyone in favour of this,” Mickel said.
“The issue is, it’s a public beach, period,” said Five Mile resident Marg Newell. “Wherever they put it, it’s going to ruin the beach.”
Newell also said most residents are against any structure in or on the public land/water. (Facebook page: Friends of Willow Point/Five Mile Beach)
The public has until November 22 to file comments about the application at AuthorizingAgency.Cranbrook@gov.bc.ca or by mail at FrontCounter BC, 1902 Theatre Road, Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1.
According to a communications officer with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the public review and comment period is still open, the Ministry has referred the plan to other agencies and “is awaiting feedback.”
However, the Planning office at the RDCK said it has not received the referral yet and had no comment. The referral process allows other agencies such as the RDCK to comment on the proposal.
Mickel said that although he is against it, the RDCK would likely not oppose it as the plan does not contravene any present by-laws.
“I can sympathize with the Andreychuks,” he said. “But it is likely that there is a better option that would protect the swimming area,” he said, without giving specifics at this time.
According to residents, the Andreychuk’s four watercrafts were tired up in the middle of the swimming area last summer.
“They say they are trying to get along with their neighbours, but actions speak louder than words,” said Mickel.
The Andreychuks did not return calls from The Nelson Daily.
See previous story:
http://thenelsondaily.com/news/willow-point-dock-hold-22674#.UnxtWo0bwhc
