SARAH WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

The viability of a recently proposed wine and beer tour that would have six-seater utility task vehicles (super-sized ATVs) ferrying people along the Millennium Trail to various wineries and breweries in the County has been left in abeyance as Prince Edward County Council await a report from staff.

Councillor Brad Nieman spearheaded the request for a report regarding amendments to the bylaw pertaining to use of the Millennium Trail.

Possible amendments to the bylaw include clearer definitions of “recreational purposes” and “recreational use” along with adding provisions on permitting commercial services and associated licensing/agreements at the discretion of council.

One of the UTVs that could be utilized in the Zip and Sip wine and beer tour proposed by West Lake Watersports. (princeedwardcountyvacation.com)

Nieman’s motion seems to be a response to West Lake Waterpark’s proposed Zip and Sip Wine Tours.  According to the company’s website “Zip n sip wine tours will chauffeur (guests) in vip style to and from your favourite wineries, breweries and cider houses while aboard a thrilling 6 person UTV.”

The owners pledge the tour will travel along these trails with respect to the other nature lovers, dog walkers and other ATV vehicles while enjoying the outdoors with the “wind blowing through your hair!” and that the Millennium Trail is “not the major part of this tour” but a way to connect to various locations.

“We can travel off the trail to visit numerous breweries and wineries such as Norman Hardie, Garage Time Brewery, Hinterland Estate Winery and Sugarbush vineyards.  We will use the Millennium Trail as it is an amazing way to see Prince Edward County but we are not restricted to the trail as Prince Edward County is a big and beautiful place to visit.”

Several members of the public voiced their concerns about this operation to council. Many were concerned not just for the short-term ramifications of allowing this type of venture on the trail, but also the longer-term effects.

One such person was Barbara Mason. Mason is a volunteer who has helped build and maintain a portion of the trail from Johnson Street to Talbot Street in Picton.

“I’m a very passionate person but I’m not here for me. I’m trying to fly higher and look at the bigger pic. I’m trying to be the person who plants the trees under whose shade I will never sit,” said Mason, before asking council to consider several questions concerning the issue at hand.

A top concern for Mason is the environmental repercussions of this venture when considered through a sustainability lens.

“We no longer have the luxury to be able to do things the way we’ve always done. Our consumptive patterns as a species have got us to a climate crisis,” stated Mason. “We’ve been asked to view future endeavors, including this one, with an eye to sustainability. So, I’m asking you to think about that for a minute and what that implies right here, right now.”

Mason also expressed concern for wildlife, for which the Millennium Trail has become a vital, green corridor-especially since development has encroached surrounding areas.

“We need to be mindful of the total cost of our decisions regarding any use of the trail,” she added.

Brad Nieman

Patrick Maloney, Chair of the PEC Trails Committee and Co-Owner of Pedego Electric Bikes also spoke to council, noting he has been “inundated with concerned residents regarding these commercial tours.”

Maloney was careful to note that concerns being raised were not just from walkers, but also from ATV users and cyclists.

In speaking to council, Maloney stressed the need to consider the size of the vehicles to be used by the commercial tours and emphasized that the trail is bi-directional.

“The Bylaw states the trail is a multi-use, recreational trail with no mention of commercial use. It’s a bidirectional trail and I think that’s important to understand,” expressed Maloney. “These vehicles will have to go both ways, not just one direction.”

Maloney stated that the trail was not intended to withstand the size of vehicles proposed.

“The resurface project was not designed to take commercial vehicles of this size and weight. They weigh about 2000 pounds, or 2700 with passengers and are about the same size as a Toyota Corolla. There’s just not room on the trails,” said Maloney.

In closing, Maloney stated the principal concerns of the PEC Trails Committee involve setting a precedent for further commercial ventures on the trail, the safety of trail users, and degradation of the trail caused by large vehicles.

CAO Maria Wallace. (Submitted Photo)

“Our principal concerns are: where will opening the trail to this type of commercial take us? We feel the safety of all users will be compromised with these vehicles,” said Maloney. “Wear and tear on the trail will impact the County’s maintenance budget, along with added work hours form trail volunteers.”

Speaking to the resolution calling for a staff report, Nieman made sure to clarify no decision regarding commercial use of the trail would be made until receiving the report.

“What the motion is asking for is not a decision on who gets to use the trail. What we’re trying to do is collect information on what the bylaw says right now and how it affects the commercial entities using it,” Nieman clarified. “The trail is one that is a multipurpose trail to be used by all. I think what we’re looking at is the commercial aspect and how that affects the trail moving forward.”

CAO Marcia Wallace also provided some clarity as to why the resolution put forward by Nieman is one that calls for a report rather than a decision to be made.

“The bylaw does not say anything about commercial versus non-commercial. There’s nothing that would prohibit this activity the way the bylaw is written right now,” said Wallace. “It was our staff recommendation to make this be a report. I think this is a complicated issue…certainly there are a lot of opinions. I would caution council not to make a quick decision.”

A staff report on this matter can be expected to come back to council by June at the latest.