article on demolition of meech lake shed

June 25 - July 1, 2014

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Shed on Meech Lake:"a-thorn in -th·e lakeside 'By Anastasia Philopoulos

Owning a:beautiful piece ofwaterfront property is a dreamfor many, but the reality is thatit increasingly comes with a re-sponsibility to the environment- at least in theory.

A shed .that was built just afew feet from the shoreline onMeech Lake will be moved backby early July, according to themunicipality of Chelsea.

The LowDown became aware-of the violation in early Junewhen Jean-Paul Murray broughtit forward at a regular sitting ofChelsea council. According to

Murray, the by-law that was set f

up to protect the shoreline andstart the re-naturalization pro-cess along Meech Lake is largelyignored by waterfront residents.

"This is the magicbuUet in try.ing to.:iaustrate the prob-lem."-Jeom-Paul Murray

"This is the magic bullet intrying to illustrate the prob-lem," Murray said. "Not onlyare residents.violating the by- "

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Taken from the lake, this photo shows the shed In question. The structure"'was bullt'wlthout p.ermits and the municipality has ordered the owner to,"move'lt bacidtom 'the shoreline.. '

Photo courtesy Jean-Paul Murray

law, they're building new struc-tures ... the one in question isthree feet from the shoreline."

George Ritchie is the ownerof the shed in question. He livesin Vancouver and stays at hissummer home at Meech Lakea few times a year. Ritchie sayshe built the small dock shelterto prevent patio furniture fromflying into the lake, which is acommon problem for him. Headds that he got 12 signaturesfrom local residents who don'tmind the structure in question.

"I'm very sensitive to wantingto keep Meech Lake ecologicallygood," Ritchie said. "I built itout of necessity."

According to the by-law, resi-dents are not allowed to buildstructures within 15 metres ofthe shoreline, unless they havethe proper permits or have adeeded grandfather clause. Andwhile the municipality has dealtwith the infraction in question,it does raise the question of howit was built without a permit inthe first place.

According to Chelsea MayorCaryl Green, the municipalitydoesn't have a full time inspec-tor, but does hire a student in-tern who visits different shore-lines each summer by boat witha camera and GPS in hand. Notesare brought back to a permitsofficer who then checks withmunicipal records and with theresident in question for permits.

"I'm very sensitiveto wanting to keepMeech Lake ecologi-cally good, "Ritcniesaid. "J built it outof necessity. "

-George Ritchie

. Green says the municipal-ity doesn't have the resourcesto check every lake and rivereach summer, but maintains.that shoreline health is a prior-ity.The municipal approach is toeducate homeowners on water-front health and, while residentswill be given the chance to moveor teal' down illegal structures,Green says fines may also be is-sued.

"If the situation doesn'tchange," said Green, "then we'llhave to act."