After a 35-minute discussion, Northern Bruce Peninsula council deferred a decision on Cabot Head Road.
Council is looking at what to do with the road which was heavily damaged and washed out by storms in 2019 and 2020.
It’s the only access by land to the Cabot Head Lighthouse and to the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, and it’s been mostly closed to vehicles since then.
The original motion brought before council at its meeting on Monday (June 8) asked what operational plan the municipality wanted to enact after receiving the Cabot Head Road Proposed Operational Plan – Public Project Final Report.
The report, which polled almost 1,000 people, spanned many topics, including what the road would be used for, whether there should be a gate, and what kind of access the public wants (such as vehicular traffic or just a walking trail).
Council decided to have staff to bring forward a report that contains more information about a cost analysis, the legal responsibility for the potential new road, clear levels of service, and access.
During deliberations, a cost analysis was a sticking point for multiple councillors.
“The most important thing we have to do first is a cost analysis,” says Coun. Todd Dowd. “If we are going to allow people to drive back there, we have to take a look at what it’s going to cost to repair the road and ensure it’s driveable and safe.”
You can find more information about Cabot Head Road on the municipality’s website here: https://letstalknbp.ca/cabot-head-road