The owner of two property lots on Seaside Drive in Kippens is upset he can't sell some of it because the Town of Kippens may someday decide to build a road in the area.
Charles Wiesemann purchased the former Abitibi-Consolidated mill manager's home and property in May 2006 and now he's ready to sell some of the adjoining property, which includes two large building lots to the south of his home.
"It's broken my heart because we've waited all these years since we purchased the property to do something with it. It's such a nice home and we enjoy it, but I can't upkeep everything, so it's easier to sell the land and have a minimum amount of houses on it," he said.
Mr. Wiesemann said he already has buyers for the two lots and has sold another block just south of his house, which there is no issue with.
He doesn't believe the road, which the town has a concept plan for, will ever be built.
"It won't be built as just the environmental issues alone that can be established against it would prevent it from being done. It's too close to high banks near the seashore that are unstable, for one thing," he said. "I don't believe they've taken one step to find out whether or not it could be done."
Mr. Wiesemann said the town would have to have a substantial amount of money to construct the road.
"It would take provincial and federal money and I feel there are too many towns without proper drinking water and that's where such money should be spent," he said.
The day he went to get information about his permits is the day he said their drawn concept plan was "hot off the press."
"I looked at it and there were no stamps, no benchmarks or anything required to make it an official town document."
It was his understanding this concept plan was devised in the 1990s by the town.
"It's such a nice home and we enjoy it, but I can't upkeep everything, so it's easier to sell the land and have a minimum amount of houses on it." - Charles Wiesemann
Mr. Wiesemann said the road is different from one devised by the provincial government towards the west end of the community and shouldn't be confused with that one.
This is a town concept as a collector road, which according to documentation, the town says is to ease the amount of traffic on Route 460 and to connect up a number of feeder streets going towards the bank near the shoreline.
Mr. Wiesemann said other residents of the town that own property towards the end of these feeder roads should be concerned as well because they could be affected.
It's his hope that a third-party settlement won't be needed on this matter but he said you never know.
"Anyone with concerns can contact me on this issue at 643-4502," Mr. Wiesemann said.
Mayor Cator Best, who is a member of the town's planning and development committee, said the town is currently in the process of renewing the town plan, which is currently more than 10 years old and is required to be reviewed every 10 years.
He said the planner, Arvo McMillan, met this week with the town's planning and development committee and the planner will be looking at different options and bring it back to the town.
"We'll be having a public hearing on the proposed plan sometime in August and we won't be moving on anything until that time. Anyone who wants to move ahead with development of their land in any of the planning areas affected, we won't be making decisions on it until sometime after this meeting," Mayor Best said.
He said the town would be advertising a public meeting when the plan is completed by their planner and is ready to present to the community.
