Message From The Editor
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MARINA GETS SOLD - JACKSON'S POINT HARBOR REDEVELOPMENT
You may recall from earlier this summer, we reported on the Jackson's Point Harbour redevelopment plan for Lake Simcoe. The experiences that the local residents, the cottage owners, the municipal government, and the land developer are going through serve as a great example for what could happen in your area.
The Bonnie Boats Marina came up for sale. The property was worth far more than the value of the business itself. The land development company was quick to see the opportunity of new waterfront property for development that was only an hour commute from Toronto. Also, the York Region Police saw the opportunity to gain a permanent location for their patrol boats and SAR facilities. The police bought a part of the land parcel that would suit their needs for patrol and policing on the lake.
The developer saw great opportunity, but also has had previous experience dealing with various levels of government, zoning issues and all the other hurdles that are an inevitable part of putting up a townhouse or high-rise condo development. They know this won't be easy.
The Jackson's Point Harbour is close to the famous Briars Resort and Golf Club in the community of Sutton, Ontario and the surrounding community is already built up with homes and cottages, some of them very high-end. In addition, there's a small Ramada Hotel on the east side of Bonnie Park. The park is in the middle between the hotel and the former Bonnie Boats property. It's one of the few parks with a little beach on the lake where people can take their children. It certainly gets busy on summer weekends.
Then, the municipal government gets caught in the middle with the developers on one side and a very vocal group of local residents on the other side. The residents want to ensure that the area remains as nice as it is today and that nothing happens to degrade the value of their properties.
On the evening of November 21, 2017 in the Council Chambers for the Township of Georgina, yet another meeting was held to discuss the situation. It seems clear that the municipal government wants what is best for their area but the thorny question they have to tackle is, to determine which is best; maintain the park and beach unchanged for residents, or develop a facility with a smaller beach and add a boat launch, and then, should it have fuel sales and a pump out? Incidentally, what about the existing harbor area and the slips there? Some have been held for transient boaters, some are rented out seasonally to residents, and some are used by a club called Sail Georgina.
Recent research indicates that the majority of people using the facility are not actually residents in the area, yet if the residents lose access to the park, or if the park and beach are compromised by the addition of a launch ramp, turning circle and trailer parking, who will benefit?
It seems that non-residents will benefit from that, although there are less expensive private ramps in the area. Perhaps the ramp will not be extensively used. Also, the ramp would need to be placed in the beach area where power boats will be very close to children swimming - that seems like a bad mix.
So, what if this was your marina or your neighbourhood? What solution would you want?
We know there are marinas on the market now and we expect that more owners will need to sell and retire. Given that most marinas are on larger lots and that the land is often worth more than the business might be, what will happen to boaters' access to the lakes and to services like fuel sales?
In this scenario, the boaters seem to be under-represented.
Andy Adams, Editor aadams@kerrwil.com
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