Beach area one development plans should NOT be a secret!

For those who simply don’t know what’s going on but you support our Council, pay attention. This could sway your support.

For those who oppose this Council, and wish our Council would share more, pay attention. This will reinforce your desire to dig deep to understand the “big secrets”.

So, here is the scoop. We are getting a roundabout. Where? Well I’m guessing right at the north end of the Main Street Bridge. Before we look at this project, let’s look back a few years.

During Brian Smiths first kick at the can he had Andrew McNeil hired as his Economic Development Director, or Manager, or whatever they called it back then. There was a BIG plan to build us a Downtown! Our arena was going to be part of a hub they couldn’t find a way to talk FRAM into building, so they peeled it off of their plan and called it a Campus Style Hub at Main and Beck.

All kinds of Wasaga Beach homeowners were going to lose their property for this project through expropriation and one of the features that they started selling this on was… you guessed it, a roundabout.

The catch phrase they had heard with all the big urban planners they were emulating was “walkable space”. I believe it was Economic Development Officer McNeill who said it might even help cure diabetes.

So… what’s happening with that project now that Brian and Andrew had to go play elsewhere for four years?

Well, quite simply, they are resurrecting SOMETHING at that corner. Now they have not shared with us (the tax-payers who pay their inflated salaries) what that “something” is, but it’s definitely something. The thing is, we shouldn’t have to guess what plans our Council is acting on. THAT should be public knowledge. But, we are forced to piece things together with what we know.

Fact- Our Archives are closed. Why? They claim it is because it cost too much to keep open.

Fact- Three properties that adjoin the archive building at 140 Main presently get used by the Town for parking and summer events like roller-skating.

Fact- Those properties have been declared surplus by the Town, opening it up to sell these properties to a single developer.

Fact- Stonebridge has been announced as the RFP winner for Beach One Development.

Fact- FRAM previously offered to build at BOTH of these sites in different phases.

Fact- Our Council passed a motion agreeing to have staff create a report about building a new Town Hall a block east on Main Street saying it would be less confusing for visitors and staff could even walk out for lunches in their new “walkable space”.

Fact- results of that “report” have never been shared publicly, but if it has been completed, Council MAY have heard the report in camera.

Fact- Well this one is actually just an “I heard”. But I have heard from a few people that there are still talks about having a developer build a new town hall on Main Street and lease it to the Town for a long term lease. Sweet deal if it’s true! I’m guessing just before lame duck for that commitment.

Personally, I don’t care where they put a Town Hall “IF” we actually needed one. Bottom line is… we don’t.

But before all of the Mayors supporters say I am just stirring things up, this Council IS moving plans forward without sharing with the public. Beach area one development plans should NOT be a secret! Why hasn’t the town thrown a party and shared their plans to build a Roundabout at the junction north of the bridge. Why aren’t we invited to see the architectural designs of the new street 1.5 meters higher than where it is now?

I think I know the answer to that. The last time they announced a roundabout “downtown”, the public objected loud and clear. THIS council has learned and like Brian Smith says, they will do things so fast they will be done before anyone realizes what’s happening. (Yes, there is video of him saying it.)

So, recently they have voted to begin the expropriation process of two properties on Main St. north. These properties are being taken to accommodate road realignments, including… yep- a roundabout.

But before the supporters say this is necessary for the hotel being planned, they knew they were going to force a roundabout on us long before that.

– one of the properties being expropriated appears to have been under construction to improve their appearance. Months ago… they stopped that process. It’s possible (based on whispers) that the Town ordered them to stop their work because they knew long ago they were taking this property.

– but back to the planning of a roundabout. Is it possible this entire process is simply to feed the ego of certain circular planners? Which developer has said they need a roundabout to complete their project? The hotel? The townhouse builder?

– Some think the first talk of a roundabout was just recently when they announced the expropriations, but the Town issued an RFPQ (Request for Pre-Qualification for contractors) for the Beach One Development on December 13 , 2024. Planning to form that RFPQ would have been approved long ago. I’m guessing, when FRAM was still in the game.

– So, By January 10,2025, we will know who will build the roundabout, maybe even build the Beach Drive re-build and some other inclusions.

– This explains the need to demolish NOW.

SO…. Council knows what our Main end will experience over the next 12 months, but have they CLEARLY shown the public what they are planning? I’m not talking about the FRAM pretty pictures, as they are gone. I’m not talking about the “letter of INTENT” signed with the hotel developer.

I’m talking about sharing what they are going to ask these contractors that are winning these tax-payer funded bid opportunities to modify our Main End to look like. What will the traffic flow be? What will the parking space count be before and after?

Rest assured, they have probably talked about these issues with Stonebridge and with Sunray, but what have they told YOU!

Are we getting a roundabout to nowhere?

Are we getting a new Town hall to lease from someone?

Beach Drive being raised 1.5 mètres- what will that look like? Where will it start and end?

Is second drive actually being converted to private property to maximize developer profit?

Don’t get me started on the proposal for what was “possible” at the old arena property. We heard that months before we declared it surplus. I’m sure that will be one of next year’s stories.

Images attached are from the Town website.