flashpoint A plan to build a small cottage on the western end of Long Island sparked off a brouhaha among neighbours, pitting three members of the Crisson family against some of the biggest business heavyweights in Bermuda.

When civil engineer Chris Crisson, daughter Heather Corbett, and brother John decided to build a 600 sq. ft. cottage on land they owned on Long Island off Spanish Point, they aroused the wrath of Charles Collis, David Lines, David Anfossi, and the Gibbons family.

The four parties all unsuccessfully objected to the Crissons plan. While planning permission was eventually granted, the voluminous file of letters the objectors and the Crissons fired off against each other indicates there will be some lingering bitterness over the six month war of words when they congregate in the area for the occasional summer barbecue.

Mr. Collis, Mr. Lines, Mr. Anfossi and the Gibbons, who have cottages in the area, wanted the Crissons' land kept vacant. The Bermuda National Trust, in a letter by conservation officer Cathy Gosling, also joined in the fray by objecting on the grounds that any vacant land remaining on Long Island should be left untouched.

In the end planning minister Irving Pearman stood by the Development Applications Board (DAB) decision to grant permission for the building.

"I am satisfied that the modest structure is in keeping with the general size and scale of existing development on Long Island and that the proposal will not be detrimental to the natural appearance and environmental quality of the rock peninsula,'' Mr. Pearman stated in a June 25 letter.

Mr. Collis, the senior partner at Conyers, Dill & Pearman and former government leader in the Senate, started the war of words by objecting on the grounds that the Crissons had sold him his plot of land on a promise he would find idyllic peace on the island.

In a November 26 letter Mr. Collis claims the "price paid was substantial because of a moratorium which existed and, therefore, the privacy which was to be obtained in consequence.'' Planning department officials deny any such moratorium existed. Mr. Lines, in a March 7 letter, objected on the grounds that the Crisson cottage would disturb a site of archeological significance. He claimed it would sit on the remains of a Boer War prisoners road. The island is the site of a Boer War cemetery. Mr. Lines also took the time to add that since he was refused planning permission to expand his tool shed, the Crissons shouldn't be allowed to build a cottage. Mr. Lines is the senior partner at accounting firm Coopers & Lines.

Mr. Crisson, on behalf of his daughter and brother John, president of jewellers H.S. & J.E. Crisson Ltd., fired back by claiming Mr. Lines was mistaken and in fact there was "considerable evidence of a road across the Collis and Anfossi sites.'' The Gibbons family and Mr. Anfossi said they all agreed with the others in objecting to the Crisson plan. Mr. Anfossi is the former senior partner of accounting firm Deloitte & Touche and now runs Anfossi Management Ltd.

Mr Collis, Mr. Lines and the Gibbons went on to appeal the February decision by the DAB to grant the Crissons planning permission. The DAB decision prompted Ms Gosling of the Bermuda National Trust to write that the organisation was "both horrified and mystified that this proposed development was approved by the DAB.'' Mr. Collis in his letter of appeal repeated his previous arguments against the proposed cottage, and also claimed it would possibly disturb a cave site. Mr.

Crisson replied by claiming Mr. Collis was in fact intruding on his land.

"He has already utilised some of the combined lots by landscaping, building a fence and blocking off an interesting cave with unsightly concrete block,'' Mr. Crisson claimed in a March 19 letter.

Mr. Crisson also claimed Mr. Collis had in fact gone beyond his planning permit when he demolished an already existing wooden cottage and built a "substantial'' building on his site.

`It's my understanding that his permit was conditional that his project would be no larger than the original wood cottage. The plan indicates that this is not the case,'' Mr. Crisson added.

When contacted Mr. Crisson did not want to make any comment on the matter. The Crissons have owned land on Long Island since 1943.

Mr. David Lines Mr. David Anfossi Sir David Gibbons Mr. Charles Collis PLANNING PLN