Tonight, members of the public will have the opportunity to speak their mind regarding the Penetanguishene town dock’s proposed 15-year redevelopment plan.
A special meeting of the Penetang council is scheduled for 7 p.m., with a request for the public to virtually attend and share input regarding the secondary and master plan reports for the waterfront overhaul.
“From what I’m hearing, I’m expecting that we’re going to have a few people online with us for the virtual meeting,” said Penetanguishene mayor Doug Leroux earlier today.
Following a workshop and public survey to the community on March 24, a new vision by Sajecki Planning was written for the May 12 secondary plan presentation to council.
“The Town Dock will be an active and vibrant destination that reflects Penetanguishene's heritage and culture,” the report noted.
“It will serve as a centralized public space that is safe and inclusive, with spectacular views of the water that can be enjoyed and accessed year-round. Its connection to downtown will be enhanced through opportunities that support the local community and economy.”
Town councillors expressed some reservations regarding the plan during that earlier formal presentation.
Deputy Mayor Anita Dubeau raised concerns regarding the plan’s picnic area and an urban beach, to be informed by David Sajecki, partner and co-founder of Sajecki Planning, that the Phase 3 proposal would implement the improvements to the wharf’s substructure while not being used for swimming.
Coun. Debbie Levy noted the parking area’s reduction to half capacity as a major detraction and departure from the primary intent of the project; Sajecki responded by citing that summer parking only utilized 20% of the area, adding that relocation of the boat launch would be a necessity.
Coun. Michel Mayotte inquired about the cost and location of a relocated boat launch; Sajecki replied that a new study would be required to answer that question while sharing the prospective launch locations as being either at Rotary Champlain Wendat Park to the north or Rotary Park to the south as options.
Coun. Dan Larose raised the most weighted questions, including what a rough estimate to cost might be in the millions after $6 Million had already gone into the waterfront park, how the plan proposed approximately 70 boat slips to the reduced 60 parking spots, as well as addressing that the town does not own the Dock Lunch building which the plan suggested needs relocation.
“I find the whole thing very strange; it is unlike our town,” said Larose in his response.
“In terms of the plan,” began Sajecki, “it is being identified in a series of steps. The first two phases can be done without significant capital expenditures. By the time you get to the third phase, that is a phase where the capital expenditures would increase significantly.
“We could work to provide order-of-magnitude costs, to come back with those numbers. That is one that would entail a much more significant financial investment than the first two phases.” Sajecki deferred quoting a price to a later time “rather than providing a number on the spot.”
Sajecki Planning aims to develop around “the 4x4 Challenge” with the economic development strategy within the first phase of development, which looks at the first four years, “four events, four seasons, and four reasons to come to the town dock.”
The intent is to see Penetang host or operate one event per year in addition to Winterama and other festivals, with the community organizing further events, such as a massive garage sale for example, in each of the other three seasons.
Short-term interventions across the first five years of the plan’s first phase will aim for an adjustment to parking, the 4x4 Challenge activities, some landscaping and working with the town on wayfinding and branding.
Medium-term interventions during phase 2 through to ten years will see a greater emphasis on infrastructure development throughout the area, including the relocations of the boat launch and the tourism information centre. At the completion of the 15-year proposed completion in phase 3, the project will focus on water and dock area expansion.
In a phone call today, Leroux expanded further on upset residents, in regards to wrong wording used by Sajecki Planning during the presentation.
“You know where the TIC (tourist information centre) is, with that canopy? (Sajecki was) showing a kind of ‘pushing out’ with what you’d call an urban beach. And that is what is upsetting the condo units there; that they would consider putting a beach in that area, or even down at the dock area. So it was questioned, and (Sajecki) said they’re using the wrong wording, but even with that, it’s… it’s upsetting a few people there.”
Leroux continued by speculating who might attend tonight’s meeting from the public.
“I think we’re going to find that some people (will discover) that the whole study might be somewhat ostentatious.”
He added that he and Penetanguishene council is hoping to hear feedback from the public.
An overview of the draft secondary plan, including mock designs and prospective images, can be found on the main page for the project.
The special meeting of council will be conducted through the Zoom online platform; to participate in the online meeting, contact clerk Stacey Cooper at (705) -549-7453 or at [email protected] for information and instructions.
Council meetings are broadcast on Rogers TV, online through the Rogers TV website, and are archived at the Town of Penetanguishene’s YouTube channel.
