Port Elgin Beach Preservers (PEBP) altered the G.M. Diemert Architect Inc. concept image to offer this suggested layout.

Editor, Mayor and Councillors,

I thank all Councillors for their thoughtful questions during the discussion of the New Concept Plan on Monday night. There have been 351 online views of the Council meeting on Youtube and these numbers certainly speak to the involvement of the community in this important decision.

The members of the Port Elgin Beach Preservers fully support the many substantial changes that have been made to the concept plan. Although there are those in our group who don't want to see any commercial development at the waterfront, overall we feel that there have been compromises made to make the concept plan fit the site.

Areas of adjustment we appreciate:

1. The site has been moved back to the original RFP site which, as pointed out by Mayor Charbonneau, was the location chosen for commercial development in the Waterfront Design Concept of 2014.

2. The square footage of the footprint has been decreased by about 30 percent.

3. It includes a restaurant, a marina shop, washrooms, and a pavilion, all of which were amenities requested in our May 2021 survey and the 2019 Town survey.

4. The event hall has been removed from the concept plan, thus no longer requiring a zoning change. As many Councillors commented, the event hall had been a major sticking point for many residents. We are grateful that the proponent listened to the public and removed it from the concept plan.

5. It will be completed in phases, allowing for some adjustments if needed.

We remain concerned about the height of the buildings. They block the beautiful lake vistas which are appreciated by all as they drive along the lakeshore and an important facet of both the Waterfront Master Plan of 2013 and the Waterfront Design Concept of 2014. Placement and spacing of the buildings will be very important. Thirty feet high buildings will directly impact this vista for all who visit and the homeowners who reside on Harbour Street.

We would like you to consider placing the two-storey buildings on the North end of the site, fronting Elgin Street. If the restaurant were placed at the NorthWest end of Elgin Street, the view of Lake Huron and the sunsets from the second floor White Fish Grille and possible outdoor patio area, would be spectacular. There would be ample parking for customers along Elgin and Harbour Streets in summer and winter, making these businesses more accessible and reducing the salt required and road maintenance both here and on the sand parking area. Delivery trucks with supplies would have improved access to these facilities.

Patricia Frank,
Port Elgin Beach Preservers

See also: Cedar Crescent Village development moving forward

To view Saugeen Shores Council's November 22 discussions regarding Cedar Crescent Village, visit https://youtu.be/vARh7-fOye0?t=2764.

The new plan, as presented in the November 22 Committee of Whole meeting. G.M. Diemert Architect Inc. image.