Municipal staff in Chatham-Kent are recommending a one-year extension on the building ban that is in place for properties along Erie Shore Drive.
The one-year "interim control by-law" that is currently in effect started on November 5, 2017, and prevents any development in the area of Erie Shore Drive that requires a building permit -- including enlarging a building or structure -- unless it is deemed necessary for safety, structural reasons, or flooding protection.
That bylaw is set to expire on November 5, 2018, but municipal officials are recommending that Chatham-Kent Council extends it to November 5, 2019.
The ban on construction was put into place so that the municipality can take part in a study that is closely examining the Lake Erie Shoreline, specifically, to come up with a management plan because of increasing concerns about erosion and flooding as a result of high water levels and wave action.
An update will be presented to Chatham-Kent Council Monday night, outlining the next phases of the study, which include investigating damage caused by a recent ice storm in April 2018 and discussions with landowners regarding erosion and flooding hazards.