Wasaga Beach Accomodations

Residents provide vision for beach

WASAGA BEACH -- Family-friendly and year-round.

That was the overwhelming response from the more than 170 people who attended a 'visioning' session, last Wednesday, to determine the future of Beach Areas one and two.

Led by the town's consulting firm -- architects Baird, Sampson, Nuert -- on the file, the audience -- in groups of eight-to-10 -- tackled a series of questions focused on the general goals of the municipality when it came to tourism, and specifically when it comes to this piece of property.

The municipality has been grappling with the future of this land -- some of which is owned by the town, some of which is in private hands -- for the last decade. A plan was presented several years ago by the Levy brothers to transform the strip of beachwear emporiums and bars along Main Street into a family-oriented four-season resort, but that plan has gone by the wayside with the land falling into the hands of receivers.

Consultant Barry Sampson told the crowd his firm had "no pre-conceptions" of what should take place in the area, while highlighting the land -- as it exists -- is made up mostly of parking lots with very little vegetation, and almost nothing in the way of commercial development to draw people outside of the two months of summer.

"The site has always been open to change," said Sampson, as he showed a series of historical photos of the main beach area, going back to the 1930s. "There are always new possibilities."

Other suggestions for the site that not only should accommodations by family-friendly, there should also be an effort to "improve the quality and character" of what's currently available."

Councillor Ron Anderson, the council rep on the committee that's undertaking this study process, said he was pleased -- and surprised -- by the turnout.

"It was good to hear what everybody wanted," he said.

However, he did acknowledge some of the ideas -- such as a casino -- are likely non-starters.

Anderson also noted that given much of the private land is in an ownership limbo, the process now being undertaken by the municipality provides the opportunity to "start from a blank slate."

"I, personally, would like to see the area change into something more than something that's just there two or three months of the year," he said. "This is going to be the most important decision this council will make for the next 50 years.

Residents provide vision for beach - Collingwood Enterprise ...

WASAGA BEACH -- Family-friendly and year-round.

That was the overwhelming response from the more than 170 people who attended a 'visioning' session, last Wednesday, to determine the future of Beach Areas one and two.

Led by the town's consulting firm -- architects Baird, Sampson, Nuert -- on the file, the audience -- in groups of eight-to-10 -- tackled a series of questions focused on the general goals of the municipality when it came to tourism, and specifically when it comes to this piece of property.

The municipality has been grappling with the future of this land -- some of which is owned by the town, some of which is in private hands -- for the last decade. A plan was presented several years ago by the Levy brothers to transform the strip of beachwear emporiums and bars along Main Street into a family-oriented four-season resort, but that plan has gone by the wayside with the land falling into the hands of receivers.

Consultant Barry Sampson told the crowd his firm had "no pre-conceptions" of what should take place in the area, while highlighting the land -- as it exists -- is made up mostly of parking lots with very little vegetation, and almost nothing in the way of commercial development to draw people outside of the two months of summer.

"The site has always been open to change," said Sampson, as he showed a series of historical photos of the main beach area, going back to the 1930s. "There are always new possibilities."

Other suggestions for the site that not only should accommodations by family-friendly, there should also be an effort to "improve the quality and character" of what's currently available."

Councillor Ron Anderson, the council rep on the committee that's undertaking this study process, said he was pleased -- and surprised -- by the turnout.

"It was good to hear what everybody wanted," he said.

However, he did acknowledge some of the ideas -- such as a casino -- are likely non-starters.

Anderson also noted that given much of the private land is in an ownership limbo, the process now being undertaken by the municipality provides the opportunity to "start from a blank slate."

"I, personally, would like to see the area change into something more than something that's just there two or three months of the year," he said. "This is going to be the most important decision this council will make for the next 50 years.

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