PROHIBIT DOKIS RESERVE ROAD ZONING CHANGE

TO ALL SUPPORTERS!! THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER YET!!! ALTHOUGH THE ZONING FROM RURAL TO COMMERCIAL HAS PASSED FOR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, THERE HAVE BEEN PROVISIONS INCORPORATED INTO THE ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT. WE MUST MAKE SURE THESE PROVISIONS ARE MET AND IF THEY ARE, WE STILL HAVE HOPE THAT THIS RIDICULOUS DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT GO THROUGH. PLEASE KEEP THE SIGNATURES COMING, THEY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!! AND PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR CONTINUING UPDATES! http://www.savemarshalllake.homestead.com/
Also, there is an article online regarding an overview of the results of the Municipality Meeting of June 16th 2009. Please check out http://www.nugget.ca/Community/NewsDisplay.aspx?c=19498
or Google 'Residents Standing Ground on Campsite Dispute'
The media is noticing our issue and is giving us avenues to spread the word about our very worthy cause. We will not disappear and we will not give in! This is an era where precious lands and lakes must be preserved, not developed and it's time for action to preserve these remote areas of our beautiful Province, not destroy them!

Thanking you all for such amazing and continuing support! Original Petition Letter Follows

As residents, visitors, frequent campers and/or environmentalists with passionate interests and concerns for the Ontario Lands and Lakes of the French River Settlement area, we are vehemently opposed to the amendment of area zoning by-law 97-01 in regard to the application recently brought forth, zoning by-law amendment 2009 ZBLA/91 lands for application Lot 8, Con.3 Reference Plan 36R-12354, Pt Township of Falconer in the Municipality of West Nipissing.

We have great concern for the environmental impact that a Resort Commercial Special Zone (57) property will have on Marshal Lake and the fish stock. There is already a public landing and boat launch on this lake. Erecting another boat launch will bring on more boats and fishing and inevitably deplete an already dropping fish population of the lake.  The proposed site for the launch is on a rocky shoreline, which would require destruction of the rock and treeline. Pollutants from gas and excessive boat usage on the lake along with the impact of sheer numbers of people will have a dire effect on this beautiful lake.

If this amendment is successful, it will mean the death of this lake and a body of water that is vital to the survival of fish and wildlife in the surrounding area.

The proposed camping site would also jeopardize the state of a natural creek running through the land which empties into a marsh providing a habitat for many species of wildlife. The proposed site does not have enough space for facilities to accomodate campsites or any resources to control the pollutants, including sewage, garbage and other toxins that would inevitably be introduced to this prestine environment, not to mention the dangers of contamination to the drilled wells of the tax-paying residents of the area. 
One of the most dangerous of all potential hazards is fire. The fire restrictions in this area are issued for good reason. The summer months are hot and dry and a careless act will have disasterous results to the properties, homeowners and surrounding forests and wildlife of the area.
We also have a concern for the issue of the atmosphere that is created by a campsite where it is common knowledge that there is drinking and other forms of entertainment where the surrounding neighbors will be affected by excessive traffic, sound and activity as well as the risks involved with heightened theft and vandalizing of property. 
As far as interested campers are concerned, there are plenty of camp sites and campgrounds in the surrounding areas, situated on lakes which can tolerate the amount of tourist traffic and fishing. Marshall Lake and the properties backing onto the lake CANNOT tolerate or sustain such abuse. An amendment to the existing zoning by allowing such a development would only invite catastrophic events to occur, including high ecoli counts to the water table, and environmental hazards harming the natural springs, marsh and lake waters, as well as creating an upset in the balance of the delicate flora and fauna of the area. In addition, such an allowance will only lead to complaints and/or law-suits against the owner and developer of the site from adjacent residents, who pay high taxes to enjoy the serenity of the area.
We strongly oppose this amendment and find the proposal detrimental on all accounts. On April 28, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., the residents and landowners of the area, were present at the Municipal Meeting in Sturgeon Falls to express our discontent and opposition to this application. A decision has been deferred until MAY 26 at 6:00, due to the poor planning of this proposal and the information provided to council convincing the members that there is a great concern for the health of this lake. The premise of this amendment request is nothing short of an investment in future irreversable problems. It is simply disturbing to think about the consequences that would be brought about by changing the existing zoning by-laws which protect the area and have been abided by the residents of this rural community their entire lives. 

UPDATE! There is an ad posted on Kijiji.ca selling lots on the property in question and the meeting to protest the proposed zoning amendment hasn't even occured yet!
UPDATE! The link is no longer active, however, the orginal ad is copied and pasted below. It's rather interesting how this ad showed up on international Vacation Rental sites, and as of April 14th, the links were removed. There was also an ad created for our cause on the same online classified site, which received a complaint and subsequently was deleted from the system.

UPDATE  May 09/09 As per the request from the applicant of the re-zoning amendment, a copy of the add featured on Kijiji promoting the commercial campsite and the early reservation of camping sites and lots on the said property,  has been respectfully removed from this petition.
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http://sudbury.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-RVs-trailers-NEW-CAMPING-PARK-W0QQAdIdZ119522270

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In our opinion, there is nothing 'Environmentally Friendly' about proposing over 80 sites on less than 54 acres of land. This is the real truth behind the proposal. It is too small of a land parcel and too small of a lake for a campsite of this magnitute. What 'environmentally friendly' campers would WANT to be here with all the sites and sounds of an amusement park? We are not against campers or camping. There are many campsites in the vicinity where campers can enjoy the outdoors. We are against re-zoning a RURAL area to allow a COMMERCIAL campsite to operate on a small lake that is very narrow and shallow.  To allow commercial zoning in this area will change everything forever. Once it is gone, it is gone. We must preserve the Rural zoning of Dokis Reserve Road and in doing so, preserve the lake and it's natural values and resources.

Below is the address of the West Nipissing Council. Please write and register your objections to this amendment, based on logical concerns, such as poor planning and environmental concerns, backed up with any expertise information and data you can provide.
(Thank you, Alex, for your suggestion to include this address.)

Melanie Ducharme, Municipal Planner         Tel: (705 ) 753-2250

Municipality of West Nipissing                      Fax: (705) 753-3950

225 Holditch Street                       

Sturgeon Falls, Ontario P2B 1T1

E-mail: mducharme@municipality.westnipissing.on.ca

SAVE MARSHALL LAKE WEBSITE www.savemarshalllake.homestead.com
SUPPORT OUR CAUSE BY SIGNING THIS PETITION  AND HELP SAVE THIS NATURAL TREASURE!

NOTE! Due to a pending non-profit organization registration application, and to avoid any lawsuits against individuals opposing this proposal, there will be no association with any named coalitions or groups.  Our supporters will act in alliance to protest this application under no title or name association.