GLENNIE PUSHES TO OUTLAW BUNKERS

Bike gang bunkers could be banned in Bracebridge if Town council can
define the meaning of "excessive fortification."

On Friday, Town councillor Bill Glennie suggested council should pass
a by-law that would prohibit bunker-style buildings from being built
in Bracebridge. Glennie proposed the measure informally before a
special Town council meeting.

"It would be a wise protection," said Glennie. "To my way of thinking,
a bunker is a residence that is reinforced by concrete and Frost
fencing. There is always a possibility [of bike gangs settling in
Bracebridge] and people would be intimidated."

While there are no biker bunkers here, Glennie said that if council
acts first, it could prevent trouble in the future.

"I'd rather be a little foolish about it, than to have it occur to us
in five years time," he said. "Then we'd have a real problem to
overcome it."

Town chief administrative officer Murray Clarke said that there is
authority under Ontario's Municipal Act to pass by-laws that would
prohibit or regulate fortified facilities.

Section 133.1 of the act grants municipalities the right to prohibit
"excessive fortification" of land.

But defining what is "excessive" could prove troubling.

The Town's development services committee chairman, deputy mayor Al
Taylor, does not think it would be a simple task.

"Would you consider a liquor store a fortified thing because it has
steel bars in its back windows?" he asked. Some local buildings are
made with concrete block and some have fencing around them already, he
pointed out.

Taylor also predicted that bike gangs would not likely be candid about
the purpose of a building, when approaching the committee about
re-zoning and site plan issues.

"They are not going to tell you," he said. "It would be 'a store' or
'garage' or a 'warehouse.' Unless someone came out and said 'hey we're
building a bunker,' how would you ever stop it?"

Still, Taylor is not worried. He thinks bike gangs would not want to
settle down here.

"My bigger concern would be where people rent a house, bypass the
hydro and start a marijuana grow operation," he said.

Clarke said that the bunker issue could be tacked onto a future Town
committee agenda for further debate.