Neighbour files appeal over controversial Scots Bay campground

A woman who lives and runs her business next to a proposed campground in a small Nova Scotia village is appealing the local government's decision to let the controversial project go ahead.

The proposal for a campground in Scots Bay was approved by the Municipality of the County of Kings council earlier this month. The decision followed more than two fraught years of debate within the seaside community on the Bay of Fundy.

Lindsay Steele filed an appeal with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board last week. The appeal documents say the decision by Kings County councillors "does not reasonably carry out the intent" of the municipal planning strategy.

Her appeal cites the strategy's goal of identifying lands where agricultural uses are to be "encouraged, promoted and prioritized over other land uses."

The 40-hectare property that was approved for use as a campground is zoned for a mix of agricultural, residential and resource uses.

Steele and others have argued that using it for a campground amounts to infringement on agricultural land, and that the operation will disrupt farms nearby.

Steele raises show horses and broiler chickens on her property next door to the proposed campground.

The appeal argues that council "ignored or misinterpreted information" provided by a veterinarian and experts on traffic, transportation and agriculture, all of whom presented at a recent public hearing on the project.

Lindsay Steele stands with one of her mares on her property in Scots Bay. She's worried a proposed campground next door would be detrimental to her horse-breeding and farming businesses. (Taryn Grant/CBC)

Julie Skaling, the property owner next door to Steele who wants to build the campground, said she has not yet started any work on the project.

"Other than some minor landscaping around the house and some cleaning up on the property this summer, I will wait to do anything further until the appeal is complete," she said via email.

Steele said in an email she had nothing more to say than what is in the notice of appeal with the provincial regulator, and that the matter is now in the hands of her legal representatives.

The appeal process includes a hearing, followed by a written decision from the board.

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