Tensions between Three Rivers councilors and some residents spill over at the planning meeting

Tensions are spilling over in the municipality of Three Rivers over land use, draft development regulations and foreign ownership concerns related to a group of Buddhist monks and nuns who have settled in eastern Prince Edward Island.

Words were exchanged again this week between residents and the chairman of the city’s planning board during a nearly three-hour meeting — one in which one person stormed out.

Blair Sorrey of Brudenell, a pastor at the United Pentecostal Community Chapel in Montague, began his presentation by talking about how he is “appalled and sickened” by the state the community is in now. He then went on to talk about increasing immigration to the region.

That sparked an exchange of fire between Sorrey and Anne Van Donkersgoed, chair of the Three Rivers planning board.

Van Donkersgoed made it clear at the start of the meeting that the discussion must focus on proposed changes to the development bylaw, not on immigration or land owned by the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) or the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI). .

“So you won’t let me talk?” Sorrey said.

Van Donkersgoed replied: “If you have something to contribute to the status changes, go ahead.”

“Well, there it is, folks—shut up.”

Many of the 25 or so people in attendance then started cheering.

Security in place

Two security guards were posted outside the meeting, which was held at Three Rivers Town Hall in Montague.

Last week, the city moved one of its full council meetings online instead of in person after someone posted on social media that it was “time to get out the guns and sharpen the knives” regarding the issues related to lands in the municipality. .

The RCMP confirmed they are investigating that online post.

At the planning meeting, Victoria Cross resident Janice MacBeth rose to speak about zoning issues – specifically, concerns about institutional zoning in areas where Buddhists and nuns live communally.

“Our provincial government and our municipality support the development of gated communities that are not open to the general public,” MacBeth told planning board members.

“The divide between wealthy newcomers and poor Islanders has never been greater as homes and property values ​​continue to rise and undermine the ability of our young families to live in Three Rivers in the future.”

The deplorable tone of the debate

Joseph Spriet, also of Victoria Cross, said he was “disheartened” by the level of discussion taking place in the city recently.

“’Knife and guns’, ‘your status is rubbish’, ‘all councilors are idiots’, that’s what I hear – that kind of rhetoric, is this the community? Is it taking us anywhere? I don’t think so,” Spriet said.

“The toxic vitriol on social media by certain groups in Charlottetown and here in Three Rivers and elsewhere, I believe that rhetoric has led to encouraging violence for council members and by extension for those of us who disagree with these people. .”

Brent MacKinnon of Newtown Cross said he was born in PEI, moved and decided to return to the Island 13 years later.

Zoning regulations allowing for a separate community in Three Rivers…where my family and yours would not be allowed…would have been anathema to our forefathers and forefathers.— Brent MacKinnon

“It pains me to say that if I were in the same situation today, seeing what I’m seeing and seeing what’s going on in Three Rivers and beyond, I probably wouldn’t make the same decision,” MacKinnon said.

“Zoning rules that allow for a separate community in Three Rivers, a separate community where my family and yours would not be allowed, would not be welcome, would have been anathema to our forefathers and forefathers.”

Some at the meeting guarded against concerns about the status of the development.

Geraldine Johnston of Three Rivers said she was concerned about the height of the buildings, particularly the bylaw changes that would allow developers to plan six-story buildings in certain areas of town without having to go to the planning board for a special permission.

“We’re a rural town. We’re not a city, we’re not Toronto, we’re not Charlottetown. We’re not competing with Charlottetown that wants eight storeys — and we now want six storeys,” she said. “People come to Montague because it’s rural, because it has a rural charm.”

Full vote in early December

The Three Rivers Planning Board will discuss the draft development bylaw at its next meeting, set for Nov. 28. The proposed changes will then go to the council for a full vote in early December.

After the meeting, Van Donkersgoed said there are no plans to increase the current institutional areas to include more of the properties owned by Buddhist monks and nuns.

She added that based on public feedback, the council amended the proposal to say that any new development in these institutional areas – including on Buddhist-owned land – would have to be approved by the council and Three Rivers council.

Van Donkersgoed also said that while the proposed bylaw changes allow certain types of development in institutional areas, including hospitals and police stations, there are no applications before the council to construct these types of buildings on land owned by either GEBIS or GWBI.

“Contrary to popular opinion, I’m interested in what residents have to say about the issues,” Van Donkersgoed told CBC News.

“I’m not very interested in personal things, whether they’re personal against me or personal against certain groups in our community…

“I don’t control immigration. I won’t discuss immigration. It’s not me. I don’t control who buys land. I won’t discuss it.”