East end resident doesn’t like the way the Chilli Half Marathon limits her access to Lakeshore Road.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  November 7, 2012  The event won’t take place until March of next year but that wasn’t enough to stop Diane Leblovic, who delegated to a City Council meeting letting them know she had a real problem with the use of the word “limited” in a letter that had been sent by the sponsor of the Chilli Half Marathon and Frosty 5K  Half Marathon Chilli Run.

She also had a problem with the public consultation process as well.  Leblovic explained that she and her “ neighbours were restricted from leaving their homes for over three hours during the event.”  She went on to say that last year the restriction lasted four hours.

Leblovic residence – family is locked into their home for as much as four hours during the Chilli Half Marathon.

Leblovic lives on Birett Drive, a street that exits onto Lakeshore Road where, according to Leblovic, access during the races is far too limited for her liking and that of her neighbours.

Mrs. Leblovic, a former school board trustee and one of the organizers behind the 35 year recognition event for former Mayor Cam Jackson to take place November 18^th at the Performing Arts Centre, took issue with the public consultation process and the change in the route in 2010.

The only way out of their community is onto the Lakeshore which is apparently blocked for as long as four hours during the Chilli Marathon race each March. Diane Leblovic is looking for some relief.

There was a point when the route went out along New Street to Burloak and then back along Lakeshore (we may have the direction wrong) and was changed to using two lanes of Lakeshore because there were fewer problems with people wanting to get to church.  There were 39 complaints on the New Street/Lakeshore route and just 12 when the event went to just Lakeshore Road.

Councillor Jack Dennison, who lives on Lakeshore Road said that while he lives on Lakeshore he was quite prepared to share that road with people who are out there doing something that will benefit the community.

Leblovic focused on two points:  The use of the word ‘limited’ access to Lakeshore by those who live north of Lakeshore and the lack of a fair public input process.

Councillor Dennison thinks the problem for people north of Lakeshore has been resolved. “All they have to do is drive onto Lakeshore, turn right and make another right up the first street they come to and they are clear.”

Also, he added, the race organizers have said they “will pick people up and get them to where they want to go”; they are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep people happy.

Leblovic wants her public input process and Council has gone along with her.  A Staff Direction was agreed upon that will gather public opinion but it won’t have any impact on the flow of traffic next March.  That chilli is going to give Diane Leblovic more heart burn.

“In my view” said Mrs. Leblovic “it is inappropriate to have one area of the city bear the inconvenience resulting from this event every year and that consideration should be given to altering the race route … to alleviate this inconvenience.”

The 4000 people who run the half marathon seem to have a great time – but they land lock people who want to access Lakeshore Road for as much as four hours.

Mrs. Leblovic noted that Pete Peebles, the organizer of the event “has finally put forward a proposal which provides for public consultation … and a consideration of route changes…”  While the suggestions were seen as a good start Leblovic had a “number of concerns with the proposal including, in particular, the manner of, and the short time for, public consultation.”  The proposed exclusion of those living on the north side of Lakeshore Road and the absence of other possible strategies such as earlier start times

The runners that make it to this point in the Chilli Half Marathon may not realize they are keeping people in their homes with no access to Lakeshore Road.

The promoter of the event  had said he would hold a public meeting, more than once, but there hasn’t been a public meeting yet.  The city decided to step in and ensure that a public meeting takes place and staff was directed to “hold a public meeting to gather public input on the routes and timing and other matters related to the Chilly Half Marathon and include the results of that feedback in the festival and events recommendations for 2014”.

Diane Leblovic lives on a lakefront property with a single access to Lakeshore Road.  The runners would limit that family’s ability to get instant access to Lakeshore Road.

Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison, who lives on Lakeshore Road, pointed out that more than 4000 people take part in the event and that the city and its citizens benefit from the event.  Leblovic apparently doesn’t share that view.