Battle for Hastings Drive by Jean Hamel
- 2016-08-01
- By admin
- Posted in Latest News
Earlier this year, the OLA eNews was contacted by Jean Hamel who owns a lot on Hastings Drive, Long Point. She and her family are being prevented from building on this lot, which was zoned as Hazardous in 1986 following a severe storm which destroyed or damaged dozens of houses on Long Point. Some rebuilding has happened but Jean’s lot is still restricted. She has set up a GoFund me page https://www.gofundme.com/BattleforHastings to assist with applying to the Ontario Municipal Board to have her lot rezoned to permit building. This is her story.
In December 1985 a storm hit Long Point, located on the north shore of Lake Erie. Some homes were damaged on Hastings Drive and one of them was ours. We were told by the authorities to tear down what remained, that the road would be closed, no rebuilding would be allowed, and the area was re-zoned Hazard Land.
My father wrote to his MP, MPP, and anyone else who would listen about this situation: no insurance pay out, and harassment for even visiting our property. He eventually gave up ever seeing this situation put right.
In August 2013 we visited our property with our two children to go for a swim. Someone called the police on us and we were asked to leave.
This has to stop. This is our land.
We are calling upon Norfolk County to re-zone this road. It has been over 30 years. Other parts of Long Point, with the same issues as Hastings Drive, were deemed Hazard Land after the storm but have since been re-zoned! The Hazard Land designation is expropriation in all but name.
But it goes beyond money. This land represents much more to us: our childhoods, and our memories, of long lost family, enjoying summers at the beach, exploring and respecting nature, and taking care of our land. It is who we are, and it is where our hearts remain.
Imagine if the people affected by Hurricane Sandy were told they could not rebuild? That they could never again do anything with their land? The County has added insult to the injury of the storm by preventing us from using our land as it was intended. They have callously disregarded us for decades. It is time to right the wrongs.
If you own land and believe you should have some say in what happens to it, please help us get this zoning changed back to what it was. All of Long Point was affected by the 1985 storm, but Hastings Drive continues to be unfairly stigmatized.
Thank you.
Note: The OMB has forced Norfolk County to re-zone other properties in Long Point. It can be done.
Help spread the word!
Search:
Categories
Archives
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- June 2013
- April 2013
- October 2012
- May 2012
- September 2011