Nature group worries about development

The Island Nature Trust has its concerns over a development planned next to the Greenwich portion of the P.E.I. National Park. It hopes the objection, and two pieces of provincial legislation will stop the plan.

Phil Ferraro and Nancy Willis, want to subdivide their land into 40 lots, and are asking the government to relax the rules it imposed when they originally bought the land.

From Jan. 21, 2003: Development plans receive positive reception From Jan. 22, 2003: Concerns expressed over development

Most of the property is within the Greenwich special planning area, which means the land can only be split once. That's in addition to the the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission recommendation that the original sale be approved no-subdivision clause.

Kate MacQuarrie says her argument is based on a buffer zone the nature trust would like established around the park.

"Part of it relates to the ecological sensitivity of the area, like the forest, wet lands and sand dunes there that would certainly be off limits for development. A parallel concern would be the level of visitation to the park."

MacQuarrie says Parks Canada may be lobbied to increase the cap it has placed on visitors to the park.

The cabinet will decide if the plan to subdivide the land will go through, it will be based on information gathered by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.

IRAC has received 10 letters of concern about the project including one from the Nature Trust.