Several legislative amendments have been discussed by the committee for the establishment of an eel production facility on Blueberry Hill in Chebogue by Jason Lee of Red Ocean Inc.
Last November, residents packed the Arcadia School auditorium to express their concerns about the potential development that would overlook the scenic and historically-rich Chebogue River.
At that time, municipal senior planner Brad Fulton proposed allowing aquaculture operations in Rural Industrial (RI) zones (with environmental concerns addressed.)
The next step that the potential developer would have to apply for would be to have the Rural Development (RD) zoned Chebogue property changed to RI.
Inland aquaculture is presently only allowed in a marine industrial zone.
AT the Feb. 19 meeting, citizen rep Ann Jones commented on the lengthy amount of time devoted to discussing zoning amendments for the possible Chebogue enterprise.
“My understanding is that this land has not yet been purchased. We’ve been spending a lot of time on this, like three months,” she said.
Fulton replied that he understood that the developer has an agreement for purchase of sale of the property.
“But he’s not going to purchase it unless he can be successful (in rezoning),” he added.
After lengthy discussion, the following motion proposed by Jones was carried unanimously: that properties zoned RI, and business and industrial park, allow land based closed-containment aquaculture by development agreement and that applicants be directed to areas already designated as RI.
A recommendation for another amendment, to notify adjacent property owners within 305 metres of subject properties in cases of proposed development agreements and land use by-law amendments, was approved at the same meeting.
The next step for the amendments is to be presented before municipal council.
