Private Roads Policy

Pictou, Nova Scotia

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot a64250ac5f9b · verified 2026-06-05 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

Page 1 of 18 POLICY #2012-11-40 MUNICIPALITY OF THE COUNTY OF PICTOU PRIVATE ROADS POLICY PURPOSE To establish rules and procedures to be followed for the migration of a private road to a road owned and maintained by the Municipality of the County of Pictou. OBJECTIVES 1. To set forth the administrative procedures for the transfer of ownership of the private roads to the Municipality. 2. To set forth the administrative procedures for the implementation of an area rate to a neighborhood or service district, for any required upgrades to bring the private road up to the municipal standard. 3. To set forth the administrative procedures to be followed by the Municipality upon implementation of the area rate. PRIVATE ROADS 1. This policy applies only to private roads that are in existence as of the date of adoption of this policy. A list of roads eligible for consideration is attached as Schedule "A". 2. An owner(s) of a private road may make application to the Municipality to have their private road ownership assumed by the Municipality. 3. In order for a private road to be considered for adoption as a municipally owned road the following conditions precedent must be met: (a) The Municipal Council must allocate the appropriate financial resources as part of its annual operating budget to finance the related expenditures for the capital upgrades and the annual maintenance costs of the road. (b) The private road parcel must exist as a separate parcel of land at least 66 feet in width. (c) The road parcel must be able to be registered, or have been officially registered in the Nova Scotia Land Registry System. Page 2 of 18 (d) The road parcel must be unencumbered and free of any liens, mortgages, judgments or any charges or title disputes as of the date of transfer, excluding any rights of way for travel which will be subsumed into the public road. (e) The private road must have a minimum of six (6) civic address points assigned by the Municipality. 4. All costs associated with the defining of the 66 foot road parcel and/or any transferring of road ownership to the Municipality, shall be borne by the owner(s) of the road parcel or those with rights-of-way across the road parcel. These costs shall include any survey costs and all legal costs required to transfer ownership to the Municipality, including the cost of migration. All such costs must be fully paid before the subject private road transfer takes effect. 5. In order for a private road to be transferred to a municipal road it must meet the municipal standard for road construction, as described in Schedule "B". 6. The owner(s) of the private road shall be responsible to conduct an assessment of the current state of construction of the road. (a) This assessment report must be completed by an engineering firm with geotechnical reports, comparing the construction standard of the private road to the municipal specification. (b) The assessment report shall provide a cost estimate for any upgrades required to the private road. (c) The assessment report shall be provided to the Director of Public Works & Development for comment and approval. (d) The Municipality will reimburse 50 percent of the cost of the assessment report to the owners only upon completion of the transfer of ownership of the road from the owners to the Municipality. (i) The owners shall be required to provide proof of payment to the individual or firm completing the assessment report. (ii) The owners shall be required to provide proof of payment that supports their individual claim that they contributed to the payment of the person or firm completing the assessment report, referenced in this section. 7. The Municipality will only accept ownership of the private road, if 75 percent of property owners abutting the private road are in acceptance of an area rate to pay for the required upgrades identified in 6(b). Page 3 of 18 8. A lawyer representing the owner(s) of the private road shall coordinate the transfer of road ownership through the municipal solicitor. GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING THE AREA RATE 9. Area rates may be used to finance all or part of the cost of any municipal service or facility that Council deems to be for the benefit of an area. 10. The Council may provide a subsidy for an area rate from the general rate in the amount or proportion approved by the Council. 11. An information letter shall be provided to all property owners within the area to be affected, either by Canada Post or door-to-door delivery. 12. The letter shall contain detailed information on the area rate being proposed, the need for the expenditure and an estimate of the area rate charge. 13. The property owner(s) shall be requested to provide their opinions and return a form provided by the Municipality indicating whether they support the implementation of the area rate and the manner in which the rate shall be implemented. 14. The property owner(s) will be provided a minimum of 14 days from the date of mailing of the information letter to return their opinions and comments on the proposed area rate. 15. If no response is returned, Council will conclude that the owners are in agreement with the area rate. 16. The Municipality shall provide an envelope with postage prepaid for residents to return their form described in section 13. 17. The results of the information received from property owners shall be presented to the Municipal Council by the Chief Administrative Officer. 18. The Municipal Council will examine the opinions received from property owners and will determine if an area rate should be implemented by a resolution or motion of Council. AREA RATES ADMINISTRATION & CALCULATION 19. The cost of the capital improvement project will be cost-shared evenly (50/50) between the owners and the Municipality. Page 4 of 18 20. For the purpose of this policy the capital improvement cost shall be the net cost of the project, should the Municipality be able to secure cost-sharing from any other sources. 21. All area rates shall be subject to financing or administration charges. 22. If the Municipality is required to finance the capital improvements borrowing through the Municipal Finance Corporation or its lending institution, financing and administration charges shall be calculated at the actual rate of interest incurred by the Municipality for financing the loan. 23. If the Municipality finances the capital improvements through its own reserve funds or operating budgets then the financing and administration charges shall be calculated at the lesser of rates that the Municipality would normally have incurred for such a borrowing from the Municipal Finance Corporation or the Municipality's lending institution for a debenture or loans of similar term and principal. 24. An area rate shall continue from fiscal year to year fiscal year up to a maximum of 10 years or until such time as all debt relating to the project is retired or Council passes a resolution canceling the area rate. 25. An area rate shall be based upon an annual uniform per lot charge and shall be applied to all properties including residential, resource, or commercial lots that have frontage on the road. Page 5 of 18 SCHEDULE "A" MUNICIPALITY OF THE COUNTY OF PICTOU PRIVATE ROADS (as at November 5, 2012) STREET LOCATION 10Y Rd Braeshore 5100 Rd Marshville 5107 Rd Big Island 5138 Rd Eden Lake 5157 Rd Mount Thom 5824 Rd Riverton 6027 Rd Marshville 8704 Rd Fox Brook A Joe MacConnell Lane Meadowville Abram Tattrie Rd Marshville Aikens Lane Little Harbour - Addie Lane Abercrombie Alex Dr Lismore Allan Dr Seafoam Amber Lane Toney River Amet Dr Marshville Ametview Lane Marshville Andersens Rd Marshville Angel Point Rd Marshville Annes Dr Baileys Brook Apple Lane Caribou Island Archibald Lane Marshville Archibalds Lane Caribou Island Archies Lane Caribou Island Arrow Head Cres Waterside Ash Lane Abercrombie Ash Lane Greenhill - PI B Prest Lane Caribou Ballantyne Dr Woodburn Balodis Dr Westville Road Bayberry Lane Caribou Island Baywatch Lane Caribou Island Beach Rd Chance Harbour Beachcomber Lane Chance Harbour Beachfront Blvd Braeshore Beachview Dr Melville - PI Bellamy Lane Woodburn Bergman Lane Mount Thom Page 6 of 18 Bezanson Lake Rd Mount Thom Birch Hill Lane Caribou River Birch Lane Braeshore Birch Lane Pictou Landing Birch Lane Chance Harbour Birch Water Dr Big Island Black Point Centre Rd Black Point - PI Black Point Exten Black Point - PI Black Point Lane Black Point - PI Blackhall Lane Woodburn Blaine MacKeil Rd Caribou Blue Haven Lane Abercrombie Blue Heron Dr Black Point - PI Blue Heron Lane Caribou Island Bonny Rd Caribou Bradley Rd (West Section) Greenwood - PI Break Water Lane Toney River Bridge Lane Kenzieville Brook Rd Brookville - PI Brookland High Rd Dalhousie Brooks Crt Greenhill - PI Buba Tyler Lane McLellans Brook Burke Rd Sunny Brae Burns Dr Waterside Cameron Farm Lane Hillside Cameron Lane Chance Harbour Camilles Way Marshville Campbell Rd Chance Harbour Campbell Rd Chance Harbour Capt Jonahs Rd Melville - PI Cariview Lane Waterside Carlson Lane Marshville Casablanco Crt Chance Harbour Ceilidh Brae Rd Kings Head Ceilidh Lane Lismore Cemetery Rd River John Centennial Dr Abercrombie Chance Harbour Wharf Rd Chance Harbour Chis m Trail Lismore Christie Point Lane Pictou Landing Colquhoun Rd Little Harbour - Condon Lane Pictou Landing Connors Lane Priestville Cooke Lane Linacy Corbett Rd Central Caribou Cottage Lane Toney River Page 7 of 18 Cove Lane Pictou Landing Cul Cala Rd Kings Head Culton Lane Riverton Damery Lane Little Harbour - Danas Lane Ponds David Simpson Lane Merigomish Davidson Lane Waterside Dawson Dr Ponds Delaney Quay Abercrombie Demont Dr Linacy Dewtie Ave Greenwood - PI Distraction Lane Ponds Don MacEachern Dr Baileys Brook Douglas Cres Marshville Douglas Lane Abercrombie Dora Lane Merigomish Dragon Fly Lane Three Brooks Driftwood Dr Toney River Driftwood Lane Marshville Dunvegan Lane Marshville Dylans Dr Egerton Eden View Rd Eden Lake Eds Lane Caribou River Edward Ave Greenhill - PI Elliot Lane Toney River Elliott Lane Black Point - PI Eric Romkey Lane Seafoam Ernies Lane Caribou Island Evan Rd Greenwood - PI Ever Green Lane Hillside Factory Cove Lane Caribou Island Fairview Lane Pictou Landing Fairway Dr Abercrombie Falconer Dr Caribou River Fenwick Rd Eden Lake Ferns Lane Abercrombie Fernwood Dr Braeshore Fifth Ave Chance Harbour Fire Tower Rd Dalhousie First Rd Linacy First St Central West Riv First St Central West Riv Fisherman Rd Caribou Five Trees Lane Braeshore Fleurys Lane Lyons Brook Forbes Beach Rd Marshville Page 8 of 18 Fortune Lane Bridgeville Fraser Lane Chance Harbour Frasers Lane Pictou Landing G & B Williams Loop Barneys River St Galt Pond Lane Ponds Gary Williams Dr Baileys Brook Generation Lane Marshville Goble Lane Chance Harbour Golspie Dr Braeshore Goodman Lane Little Harbour Gordon Rd Caribou River Graham Lane Central West Riv Grandview Dr Alma Grant Rd Kings Head Gunns Cove Lane Caribou Island Halara Way three Brooks Harbour Dr Merigomish Harbour Side Dr Caribou Island Hardwood Grove Merigomish Harley Kellock Dr Baileys Brook Harmony Hill Rd Big Island Harmony Lane Riverton Harriet MacDougall Dr Baileys Brook Heather Lane Waterside Heightons Lane Cape John Hemlock Ave Plymouth - PI Hemlock Ave Plymouth - PI Hemphill Lane Little Harbour - Henry Lane River John Heron Dr Caribou River Heron Drive Exten Caribou River Heron Loop Caribou River Hidden Meadow Dr Westville Hidden Reef Lane Caribou River Hillcrest Lane Eureka Hillcrest St Central West Riv Hilltop Lane Caribou Island Hines Lane Plymouth - PI Holmes Lane Hamilton Road Hooterville Lane Black Brook - PI Hummingbird Lane Caribou River Hummingbird Lane Seafoam Hummingbird Lane Riverton Impala Rd Abercrombie Indian Point Dr Caribou Island Island View Cres Caribou River Page 9 of 18 Island View Dr Seafoam Island View Rd Caribou River J A Mckay Lane Toney River Jackson Lane Black Point - PI Jacob Dr Baileys Brook James Way Caribou River James Willie Dr Black Point - PI Jim Peckham Lane Elmfield John Colquhoun Lane Toney River John Mason Rd Big Island John V Dr Baileys Brook Johnson St River John Johnson's Lane Chance Harbour Jordan Lane Pictou Landing Jordans Rd Eden Lake Joyce MacKinnon Lane Seafoam Kelly Dr Linacy Kennedy Dr Abercrombie Kennedy Lane Ponds Kenneth Point Rd Caribou Island Killickdown Lane Bay View - PI Kimball Lane Eureka Kingfisher Lane Toney River Kingfisher Lane Black Point - PI Kings Rd Egerton Kirk Lane Thorburn Krista Lane Braeshore Lacewood Lane White Hill Laceys Lane Cape John Lake View Dr Chance Harbour Lakefront Dr Black Brook Landfill Rd Mount William Landry Lane Three Brooks Lane Rd Avondale - PI Langille Rd Toney River Langille Yard Rd Abercrombie Lauras Lane Ponds Lawson Lane Little Harbour - Lewis Rd Chance Harbour Lighthouse Dr Alma Lighthouse Lane Lismore Lighthouse Rd Kings Head Lilac Lane McLellans Brook Lillians Way Waterside Little Guy Lane Caribou Island Lloyds Landing Marshville Page 10 of 18 Loch View Lane Lyons Brook Loganville Dr Loganville Lowdens Lane Braeshore MacCarthy Lane Caribou Island MacDonald Dr Linacy MacDonald Lane Westville Road MacGillivray Lane Ardness MacIntosh Dr Sylvester MacKay Lane Toney River MacKeans Lane Caribou River MacKenzie Branch Rd McLellans Brook MacKenzie Dr Pictou MacKinnon Dr Dalhousie MacKinnon Rd Pictou Landing MacKinnons Point Rd Toney River MacKnight Lane Seafoam MacLane Lane McLellans Brook MacLean Dr Kings Head MacLean Lane Hillside MacLennan Lane Bay View - PI MacLennans Memorial C Chance Harbour MacLennen Dr Blue Mountain - MacLeod Lane Toney River MacLeods Lane Cape John MacMaster Lane Seafoam MacNeil Point Rd Little Harbour - MacPhersons Lane Plymouth - PI MacQuarrie Loop Lorne MacQueen Dr Kings Head Macs Lane Eden Lake Maggies Lane Churchville Magpie Dr Kings Head Maland Dr Springville Manse Road West Side Kenzieville Maple Estates Dr Abercrombie Maple Lane Bridgeville Maple Leaf Lane Eden Lake Maple St Sylvester Marinus Dr Baileys Brook Marsh Lane Cape John Masons Rd Ponds Matheson Lane Scotch Hill Mayflower Dr Kings Head McCara Rd Plainfield McLeod Lane Marshville McQueen St Eureka Page 11 of 18 McVicar Lane Egerton Meadow Breeze Lane Kings Head Meadow Green Rd Frasers Mountain Meadow Green Rd New Glasgow Melmerby Crt Kings Head Memory Lane Caribou Island Memory Lane Caribou River Memory Lane Seafoam Mill Rd Loch Broom Mill Rd Barneys River St Millbrook Place Rd Central Caribou Miller Lane Salt Springs - P Miller Point Rd Eden Lake Mingo Rd Brookville - PI Miracle Lane Plymouth - PI Mitton Rd Frasers Mountain Money Rd Westville Road Moodie Cove Rd Pictou Landing Morning Glory Rise Caribou River Mort Reid Lane Black Point - PI Munroe Hts Westville Road Munroe Lane Caribou Island Munroes Lane Plymouth - PI Murdocks Lane Caribou River Murdocks Lane Ponds Murray Lane Chance Harbour Murray Lane Hillside Neptune Lane Ponds Nicholas Lane Ponds Norbea Lane Big Island North Nova Lane Bay View - PI Northumberland Dr Caribou River Oak Lane Loch Broom Oak St Sylvester Ocean Edge Way Black Point - PI Ocean Paths Kings Head Ocean View Lane Black Point - PI Ocean Vista Dr Seafoam Oceanglen Lane Braeshore Oceanview Dr Melville - PI Oceanview Rd Toney River Oceanview Rd Chance Harbour Old Bell Lane Millsville Old Farm Lane Granton Old MacBeth Rd Meiklefield Old Millsville Rd Dalhousie Page 12 of 18 Old Orchard Lane Braeshore Old Plymouth Hwy Plymouth - PI Old Pond Rd Kings Head Old Samson Rd Waterside Old Sand Rd Kings Head Old School Lane Alma Olding Lane Merigomish Ollie Lane Granton Orchard Lane Eureka Osprey Lane Caribou Island Otter Pond Rd Chance Harbour Quinns Way Westville Road Our Lane Caribou Island Outback Lane Marshville Park Lane Plymouth - PI Pine St Sylvester Pine St Plymouth - PI Pirates Cove Way Melville - PI Plover Lane Little Harbour - Porters Lane Black Point - PI Private Beach Lane Marshville Private Beach Lane Marshville Propeller Rd Eden Lake Q I Summit Woodburn Quarry Lane Woodburn Queen St River John Randall Rd Little Harbour - Raspberry Hill Caribou Island Rauh Dr Durham Red Cliff Dr Seafoam Red Point Rd Caribou Island Reef Rd Chance Harbour Reid Lane Black Point - PI Reid Rd Little Harbour - River St Eureka River Way Lane Hamilton Road Riverview Lane Riverton Riverside Rd Exten Rossfield Riverton Heights Dr Riverton Rivierra Rd Abercrombie Road to Nowhere Rd Six Mile Brook Roaring Bull Point Lane Chance Harbour Robertson Lane Lyons Brook Rockfield Dr Little Harbour Rocky Reef Lane Melville - PI Roddys Point Rd Caribou River Page 13 of 18 Rogers Lane Greenwood - PI Rose Heath Lane Little Harbour - Rose Lane Chance Harbour Rose MacDonald Lane Alma Rose Path Caribou River Rosehill Lane Lyons Brook Ross Lane Cape John Russell Rd Telford Rustico Lane Pictou Landing Rutherford Rd Cape John Saint George St River John Salty Reef Rd Braeshore Sams Point Rd Caribou River Sand Dollar Lane Black Point - PI Sand Piper Lane Black Point - PI Sandpiper Lane Toney River Sandstone Dr Kings Head Sandy Bay Dr Black Point - PI Sandy Cove Lane Braeshore Scalehouse Rd Abercrombie School St River John Schoolhouse Lane Caribou River Scott Lane Kings Head Sea Oats Dr Kings Head Sea Oats Dr Kings Head Sea Oats Dr Kings Head Seacrest Dr Seafoam Seacrest Dr Braeshore Seacrest Dr Braeshore Seaglass Way Caribou River Seagrass Lane Marshville Seasedge Lane Cape John Seasedge Rd Cape John Seasedge Rd Cape John Seashell Lane Caribou River Seaside Crt Braeshore Seaside Dr Chance Harbour Second St Central West Riv Seniors Dr River John Serenity Lane Big Island Sergeants Lane River John Settlers Pt Lyons Brook Shady Lane Lyons Brook Shady Lane Loch Broom Shady Lane Pictou Landing Shady Lane Chance Harbour Page 14 of 18 Shady Lane Linacy Sheriffs Dr Pictou Landing Shore Lane Little Harbour - Sierra Crt Melville - PI Silly Acres Lane Millbrook - PI Simpsons Rd Pictou Landing Sinclair Rd Chance Harbour Snells Lane Frasers Mountain SOS Lane Braeshore Spring Point Lane Bay View - PI Spruce St Plymouth - PI St Andrews Cemetery R Egerton Stanwood Dr Lyons Brook Sterling Dr Sylvester Stewart Rd Linacy Straitview Lane Caribou River Sugarberry Lane Chance Harbour Sugar Maple Rd Dalhousie Sumac Dr Chance Harbour Summerby Lane Kings Head Sunset Dr Caribou Island Sunset Dr Marshville Sunset Lane Toney River Sunset Rd Mount Thom Surf Cove Lane Caribou Island Surfsong Lane Caribou River Sutherlands Lane Caribou River Sutherlands Lane Little Harbour - Sutherlands Lane Scotsburn Tate Rd Frasers Mountain Terrace St Central West Riv Thistle Lane Braeshore Thompson Dr Ponds Tranquility Lane Ponds Tutty Dr Chance Harbour Twin Cove Lane Little Harbour - Upalong Beach Dr Toney River Ventura Ave Abercrombie Verhagen Lane Linacy Vernavue Lane Marshville Vista Del Mar Rd Caribou River Warrens Lane Caribou River Waterside Dr Waterside Weir Rd Lower Barneys Ri Wentworth Lane Braeshore West Side Dr Ponds Page 15 of 18 West Toney Dr Toney River Wharf Rd Merigomish Wharf View Dr Chance Harbour White Birch Lane Black Point - PI Wieler Rd Big Island Wild Rose Lane Caribou Island Wild Rose Lane Toney River Wildflower Lane Marshville Wildflower Way Marshville Willards Lane Toney River Willas Way Ponds Williams Lane Caribou Island Willow Dr Linacy Willow Lane Ponds Willow Lane Egerton Wilson Lane Toney River Windy Lane Scotsburn Windy Way Marshville Woodside Dr Waterside Writers Lane Merigomish Page 16 of 18 SCHEDULE "B" ROAD STANDARDS Page 17 of 18 Page 18 of 18