Compassion not an option in trailer park dispute: IRAC

Residents of a Charlottetown mobile home park lost their appeal Thursday to prevent rezoning that would clear the way for condominiums, and now must move.

'There should have been strong consideration and sensitivity and compassion.' Coun. Mitchell Tweel

The proposal was originally turned down by city council but approved on appeal by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission. The appeal to IRAC to change that ruling ended in failure Thursday.

Residents have been told they will be given at least a year to move.

The IRAC ruling said it "sympathizes" with the residents, but compassion cannot play a role in IRAC's decision-making process.

"The idea that IRAC has said they don't have the capacity to look at mitigating circumstances, I don't think they contemplated that the mitigating circumstances would be as extensive as they are in these particular circumstances," said Coun. David MacDonald.

The residents complained to IRAC that rezoning would mean uprooting an entire community. There are 19 trailers in the park, though some are empty.

No errors or new information

In its 12-page decision, IRAC said the only way the commissioners can change an original decision is if errors were made, or new information was provided, and that didn't happen.

Coun. Mitchell Tweel has been lobbying for the trailer park residents.

"The concerns of the residents fell on deaf ears," said Tweel.

"I think there should have been strong consideration and sensitivity and compassion. There was absolutely no compassion whatsoever."

MacDonald said it's too soon to say if the city will appeal to the courts.

The developers have to give residents at least six months notice to pack up their trailers and move them off the land.