Concession confusing, frustrating

David Calnan, of Victoria Road, was looking for a little relief from council during the Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday afternoon at Shire Hall.
Calnan had requested the conveyance of a concession road allowance between part lots 98 and 99 to a parcel of land he wished to sell in May of 2010.
The parcel of land Calnan wanted transferred is part of the original concession road allowance system in Ameliasburgh  and is Part 2, Plan 47R-8399. Although the circumstances cannot be confirmed, it appears that by mutual agreement a portion of the travelled Victoria Road was constructed on other lands currently owned by the Calnans in lieu of using the concession road allowance.
However, the concession road allowance was never closed. Victoria Road has been assumed into the road system and the County’s ownership of these lands in not at issue.
The Calnans purchased the property in the early 1940s and, in 1973 with the permission of the former Township of Ameliasburgh, they built a home on the property.
The barn on the property was built sometime in the early 1900s and is almost entirely within the unopened concession road allowance. Approximately half of the house is also within the unopened road allowance, as well.
Surveying the land proved challenging, Calnan said and resulted in very high survey costs. The survey was completed on March 10 but, Calnan said it was like the issue fell into a black hole.
“Nothing happened, literally for months,” Calnan said.
The municipal election came along nine months later, they are still waiting for the process to be completed even though they are well beyond the original three month time frame and the closing of the sale of the property has been jeopardized several times.
“I am simply looking for a quick approval. I’m asking that the fee be waived and that the County pick up a share of the survey costs,” Calnan noted, adding this issue will affect countless other properties along Victoria Road.
Staff recommended that because the parcels of land in question are similar in size and that there appeared to be a past road alignment arrangement, that the County participate in a land exchange with the applicant to correct the title.
After discussion by council over the matter of waiving the fee and whether they would pick up all or a portion of the survey costs, councillor Bev Campbell proposed an  amended motion that the issue be referred back to staff to again be brought before council with staff recommendations. Also, a public meeting is to be held to consider that the concession road allowance described at Part 2 registered plan 47R-8399, Ameliasburgh ward, be closed, declared surplus and conveyed to Calnan, the abutting owner.