Wasaga Beach has the…

Wasaga Beach has the potential to be a world class tourist destination. Instead of looking like an inviting place to visit, much of the Town looks in disrepair. Most of the hotels are not fit for a dog. Blue Mountain and Collingwood are great examples of towns that have done an amazing job with tourism Revitalization is long over due in Wasaga Beach.

The beach is the jewel of Wasaga Beach and we agree that something needs to change. We have owned a cottage for four years near Beach 3. I am shocked at how poorly Ontario Parks has managed the beach. The washrooms are gross, one needs to plug their nose. What an embarrassment for the jewel of Wasaga. The beach often has about four feet of mud in it. My kids wouldn't even go in on Canada Day. Every other beach I have been to is sandy and you can walk along the water. It seems like at some point mud was brought to the beach, as it is definitely not sandy near the water and is not natural. They have destroyed the beach. They mechanically rake the area, drive heavy machinery and the natural look is gone.

Many of the residents and cottagers have dogs. I get in trouble for walking my dogs at 7 am. I also got whistled in with a small dog on a paddleboard. Staff told be to go beyond the buoys, which would be very unsafe. Responsible dog owners should be able to walk their dog before 10 am and after 6 pm (non prime time hours). Perhaps ban them at Beach 1 and 2, which are busy. Instead of focusing on dogs, staff should spend time fixing the park. This is a poor allocation of resources.

Why aren't there any boat rentals or shops? Pinery Park is a very well run park with amenities. Niagara Falls also looks amazing. Perhaps new management or a new government agency needs to be in charge of Wasaga Beach.

Of concern, is that the proposal includes few details about what the Town plans to do with the beach. What happens if a new Council is elected that does not have the same vision. Will it remain public? Will areas beyond the beach be turned into parking lots or single unit townhouses? I do not support solely residential use, there are plenty of areas for housing beyond the beach. Only tourist type uses should be permitted such as trails, picnic pavilions, boat rentals, cafes, shops, public squares, a water park or theme park . Mixed use like Blue Mountain would also be good.

Perhaps the Province should lease the land to the Town with an agreement on what the lands can and cannot be used for. At a very minimum, conservation easements should be applied to lands containing natural hazards and significant wildlife habitat including the sand dunes. Environmental studies should be done first. If one looks at historical imagery, the Town has destroyed the majority of forests and wetlands between the Nottawasaga River and Georgian Bay. This is not good for wildlife or natural hazards. The Town has a horrible track record of protecting natural areas.

Also of concern is that the Town has not promoted short term accommodation. A Superior Court Ruling (Puslinch vs. Monaghan), ruled that prohibiting short term rentals is ultra vires the Planning Act. Whether my family uses my cottage for going to the bathroom, cooking, sleeping and going to the beach or someone else's the use remains the same. It is dissimilatory to allow owners to stay for a few days but not a renter. If the Town wants to support tourism they need accommodation. Renting a cottage has been a long standing tradition in Ontario. Many cannot afford a cottage and those that can, need a little income to help with ongoing maintenance. Many families prefer a place with separate bedrooms, cooking facilities and a backyard with a firepit. The majority of adults seem to have a dog and houses are much more suitable than a hotel where dogs may bark.

We agree Wasaga Beach needs to become a world class destination and change is needed. We would love to one day retire here and see so much potential for the area.

However, with few details, it is difficult to determine if I support the proposal. It is recommended that this be posted with more details on what the intended future use it, will there be any restrictions on it having to remain public or will the current Mayor or any future Council be able to do whatever they want with the beach.