Tensions between Three Rivers councillors and some residents spill over at planning meeting
‘The divide between rich newcomers and poor Islanders has never been as wide’
Tensions are spilling over in the municipality of Three Rivers over land use, draft development bylaws and concerns about foreign ownership connected 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 chair of the town's planning board during a nearly three-hour meeting — a meeting that saw one person walk out.
That was Blair Sorrey of Brudenell, a pastor at the United Pentecostal Community Chapel in Montague, who started his presentation talking about how he is "appalled and sickened" by the state the community is now in. He then proceeded to talk about the increase in immigration in the region.
That touched off an exchange between Sorrey and Anne Van Donkersgoed, chair of the planning board with Three Rivers.
Van Donkersgoed made it clear at the start of the meeting that the discussion had to be focused on proposed changes to the development bylaw, not immigration or land owned by the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) or the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI).
"So you are not going to let me speak?" said Sorrey.
Van Donkersgoed responded: "If you have something to contribute to the bylaw changes, go for it."
"Well, there you have it folks — shut down."
Many of the 25 or so people in attendance then began to applaud, and Sorrey left the room.
Security in place
Two security guards were posted outside the meeting, which was held at Three Rivers Town Hall in Montague.
Last week, the town moved one of its full council meetings online, instead of holding it in person, after somebody posted on social media that it was "time to get the guns out and sharpen those knives" with regard to land issues in the municipality.
RCMP have confirmed that they are investigating that online post.
At the planning meeting, Victoria Cross resident Janice MacBeth rose to speak about zoning issues — in particular, concerns about institutional zoning in areas where the Buddhist monks and nuns are living in communal settings.
"Our provincial government and our municipality is supporting the development of gated communities not open to the general public," MacBeth told planning board members.
"The divide between rich newcomers and poor Islanders has never been as wide, as homes and property values continue to rise and undermine our young families' ability to live in Three Rivers in the future."
Tone of debate deplored
Joseph Spriet, also of Victoria Cross, said he was "disheartened" by the level of discussion that's been happening in the town lately.
"'Knife and guns,' 'your bylaws are garbage,' 'all councillors are idiots,' that's what I'm hearing — that kind of rhetoric, is that community? Does that take us somewhere? I don't think," said Spriet.
"The toxic vitriol on social media by certain groups out of Charlottetown and here in Three Rivers and elsewhere, I believe that this rhetoric has resulted in encouragement of violence to council members and by extension to those of us who don't agree with these people."
Brent MacKinnon of Newtown Cross said he was born in P.E.I., moved away, and decided to come back to the Island 13 years later.
Zoning regulations that allow for the creation of a separate community within Three Rivers... where my family and yours wouldn't be allowed... would have been anathema to our forefathers and foremothers.— Brent MacKinnon
"It hurts me to say that if I was in that same situation today, seeing what I am seeing, and have seen happening in Three Rivers and beyond, I would probably not make the same decision," said MacKinnon.
"Zoning regulations that allow for the creation of a separate community within Three Rivers, a separate community where my family and yours wouldn't be allowed, wouldn't be welcomed, would have been anathema to our forefathers and foremothers."
Some at the meeting did stick to concerns about the development bylaw.
Geraldine Johnston of Three Rivers said she's concerned about the height of buildings, specifically changes to bylaws that would allow developers to plan six-storey buildings in certain areas of town without having to go to planning board for 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 who want eight storeys — and we want six storeys now," 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 council for a full vote in early December.
After the meeting, Van Donkersgoed said there are no plans to increase the current institutional zones to include more of the property held by the Buddhist monks and nuns.
- Link to current development bylaw for the Town of Three Rivers
- Link to maps on Town of Three Rivers document 'Development Bylaw Schedules 2024"
She added that based on public feedback, the board has amended the proposal to say any new development in these institutional zones – including on land owned by the Buddhists — will have to be approved by the Three Rivers board and council.
Van Donkersgoed also said that while the proposed bylaw changes allow for certain types of development in institutional zones, including hospitals and police stations, there are no applications before council to construct these types of buildings on land owned by either GEBIS or GWBI.
"Contrary to popular opinion, I am interested in what the residents have to say about the issues," Van Donkersgoed told CBC News.
"I'm not very interested in the personal stuff, whether it's personal against me, or whether it's personal against, you know, certain groups in our community.…
"I don't control immigration. I'm not going to discuss immigration. That's not me. I don't control who buys land. I'm not going to discuss that."
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