Discourse became heated around the design of Lantzville's Legion Plaza, previously referred to by the mayor as "hodge-podge," as a community member was prevented from speaking on the issue after allegedly threatening violence.
Earlier this month, the plan for the plaza was changed, following criticism from members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 257 who argued the Legion "very clearly articulated" its vision, which the proposed plan didn't match. The design for the plaza included a log sign, flower planters, an anchor, a canoe and a ‘beach scene’ with grass, stones and logs.
Following the delegations from the Legion at the meeting on Nov. 6, District of Lantzville council moved to replace the log sign with two plaques worded by the Legion, and replace the canoe with planters.
During a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Legion executive Barry French spoke, calling the beach scene an "eye-sore" and suggested the district still wasn't listening to the Legion.
"Our proposal was straight forward with enforcing our wishes with a bollard perimeter with a limited seating arrangement to allow the visitors to the plaza the opportunity to rest before they go on their way," French told council. "We did not want and do not want any provisions made for public gatherings in front of our Legion, as presented in early meetings with council. Today we want to express our disappointment in the motion passed at the last council meeting providing approval for the perimeter of the barrier of the plaza."
At one point, Coun. Jonathan Lerner had to call a point of order, saying that "threats of physical violence are not allowed in this chamber" after hearing one gallery member tell another, "you hold him down and I will punch him." The gallery member was not permitted to speak due to the alleged threats, which prompted a recess to be called.
Despite the opposition, council decided to continue with the plaza plan with the Nov. 6 amendments.
Mayor Mark Swain was one of two council members voting in opposition. He advocated to "give it back to staff, let staff deal with it, bring a design forward the community can actually look at."
"It really troubles me that here we are, we have a design that's moving forward and it, in my opinion, doesn't reflect even the public feedback we have to date…" the mayor told council. "When I started looking at, is the community being truly represented in the design that's being pushed forward? I would have to strongly disagree with that."
Lerner argued the current design is a culmination of a year's worth of public input.
"I would disagree with the idea that we didn't give a fair shake to public input," he said. "We put it in the community update … we put it in the website, it was put in a news article, probably by chance. I believe we directed the chair or the mayor and staff to also talk to the Legion. This was an ongoing thing, but I think it dragged out for a year and it just isn't working. I know where I stand on this, and it is supporting I think what is right for the community."
He added that in the future, he would like to see the process done differently, referencing some communities having a design committee.
"There are options, but at this point I feel it has dragged on and become animus and that was never the intent, I don't think, of anyone."
The other vote opposed was Coun. Rachelle Mundell. She said it was a tough to weigh in because she didn't like any of the options, and wished the district had contracted the project out from the beginning.
"Part of me wonders if we should have really ventured this part of the project into the Legion at all, or just should have left it alone…" Mundell said. "Now we're in a situation where we're kind of pitting residents' input and Legion input and council, and it's just turning into a giant mess … If I could pick neither of these options, honestly that's what I would do."
Those in favour included Coun. Joan Jones, Ian Savage and Lerner.
