Kawartha Lakes council seeking more resident input on proposed Lindsay ATV route
by The Standard | June 24, 2021 https://thestandardnewspaper.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/KL-Resident-input-needed-re-ORV-route-June-24th-2021.wav
DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: The City of Kawartha Lakes has decided to get further resident input before approving a route for ATVs to use through Lindsay.
As part of the city’s Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) use of city roads pilot project, councillors had approved a route for ATVs to use through Lindsay, at a Committee of the Whole meeting, on Tuesday, June 1st. The proposed route was from the Victoria Rail Trail (VRT) trailhead, at Logie Street to King Street, then King Street to Lindsay Street, Lindsay Street to Wellington Street, Wellington Street to Victoria Avenue, Victoria Avenue to Elgin Street, Elgin Street to Angeline Street, Angeline Street to Thunderbridge Road and Thunderbridge Road to the other rail-trail trailhead.
However, at a council meeting, on Tuesday, June 15th, councillors felt it would be best to send the route back to the community to get their feelings on it.
“The large majority of people in Lindsay do not want ORVs on their streets,” Deputy Mayor Pat O’Reilly explained. Stating he also feels, “this decision is premature.”
The deputy mayor proposed the route be advertised in local newspapers for a few weeks, a link be included, to allow residents to provide their input, on the city’s online resident consultation page ‘Jump In’ and to have a report be brought back to Council in September.
Ward 3 Councillor Doug Elmslie felt it would be prudent for Council to give this issue more time before making a decision. “I certainly think we have a responsibility to make sure people can have their say,” he said.
But, Ward 5 Councillor Pat Dunn had an issue with the city waiting until September, to make a decision on this route, noting the resident input the city has received so far has been “pretty consistent.”
“I don’t think there’s anything new that’s going to be added to it,” Councillor Dunn stated.
Ward 1 Councillor Emmett Yeo called for Council and residents to come up with a “compromise” on the issue of ORVs in Lindsay. Mayor Andy Letham also weighed in, explaining Council has time to make a decision on this route.
“There’s no rush here. There’s no big rush to do this for the fall. I’m sorry,” he said.
He also took exception with the idea of Council needing to make a quick decision before getting further resident input. “I was always under the impression we were elected to represent our constituents,” Mayor Letham said.
A recorded vote was held on the deputy mayor’s motion, and the motion passed by the slight margin of five to four.