| IS THIS MISLEADING? The Mayor and certain town officials think so. Read it and make your own determination: |
2001 – The Town of Fort Erie purchased from George Rebstock a 4.6-acre property located on Erie Road in Crystal Beach for about $2 million. The purchase came from bingo and slot revenues, not from taxpayers. The property (known as Bay Beach) included 400 feet of beachfront property adjacent to an existing public beach. The total beachfront property amounted to 1,000 feet of clear, sandy beach for public use. The purchase was intended to provide more public waterfront access, create investment opportunities at a year-round tourist/recreational destination, and promote additional investment in the neighbourhood. 2005 – The Town Council approved the Crystal Beach Neighbourhood Plan to guide future planning and development. The plan won the Niagara Community Design Award for “overall excellence” because it adhered to Smart Growth principles, emphasizing that development in the village will occur in a way that respects its natural areas, its unique history, and its waterfront location. 2007 – The Town Council adopted the Corporate Strategic Plan 2007-2010 to guide planning and development for the entire Town of Fort Erie, with an overall vision of “achieving a community that provides the quality of life we want for our children.” 2008 – The Town Council decided to seek proposals from experienced waterfront developers interested in developing the Bay Beach property. In October 2008, the Town invited the Molinaro Group and the FRAM Group to submit proposals or “Expressions of Interest“. March 2009 – After reviewing the two proposals, the Town Council selected the Molinaro Group. April 2009 – The Molinaro Group gave a presentation to the Town Council describing their plan to build two 12-storey condominium towers on the Bay Beach beachfront property as well as some public-private amenities. This plan calls for the privatization of a large portion of the publicly owned land. Although the sand beach would remain public, the parking area for beach-goers would be reduced significantly. The Council executed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town and the Molinaro Group to outline their respective roles and responsibilities related to the proposed development. May-June 2009 – In response to the Council’s decision, 750 lawn signs were distributed and over 3,100 individuals signed petitions urging the Council to keep the Bay Beach property in public hands, and about 200 citizens held a rally at Bay Beach to express their strong concern. July 2009 – A majority of the Councillors voted to authorize a joint application with the Molinaro Group for a zoning by- law amendment to allow 12-storey buildings to be erected on the Bay Beach property (the current limit is 3-storey buildings in Crystal Beach). August 2009 – Over 500 residents of the Town of Fort Erie signed individual letters expressing their concern about the town’s proposed transfer of Bay Beach properties to a private developer. They asked Mayor Martin and the town councillors to respond to their concerns, provide details on the transfer, and answer specific questions. WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FUTURE At this point in time, the Town of Fort Erie has not yet received a formal plan from the Molinaro Group for the Bay Beach development project – they have only received a conceptual plan for the two 12-storey condominium buildings and public-private amenities. When the formal plan is submitted (which is expected to be soon), an official application for a zoning by-law amendment will be submitted jointly by the Town of Fort Erie and the Molinaro Group. Here are the steps involved: 1. The rezoning application will be circulated to various agencies and other organizations for their comments, including the Fort Erie Planning Dept, Public Works Dept, Parks Dept, Regional Planning Dept, Bell Canada and other public utilities, local schools, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Niagara Conservation, etc. 2. Property owners who live near the proposed project (within 120 meters) will be notified by mail. 3. An open house will be held (probably 2-3 months later) for the public and other interested parties to learn more about what is being proposed. The open house will be announced in advance. During the open house, all interested parties will be encouraged to submit comments they may have involving the proposed rezoning. 4. Comments submitted to the Planning Department (preferably to Rino Mostacci or Joe Mrozek) will be distributed to all the appropriate Town staff, including the independent planner who has been hired by the Town to evaluate the application (Ron Palmer). 5. The Planning Department will prepare an information report containing background information on the current zoning situation and a summary of comments received from the agencies and the general public. 6. A public meeting will be held (probably about a month after the open house). The meeting will be announced in advance and will include a presentation of the information report. 7. The Town’s independent consultant (Ron Palmer) will review the rezoning application, the Fort Erie Corporate Strategic Plan 2007-2010, the Crystal Beach Neighbourhood Plan, the information report, and the comments received by agencies, other organizations, and the general public. 8. Ron Palmer will make a formal recommendation to the Town Council regarding the rezoning application for the Bay Beach development project. 9. The Town Council will make the final decision (probably in the late winter or early spring 2010). NOTE: At the present time, Mayor Doug Martin and four councillors (Sandy Annunziata, Martha Lockwood, Tim Whitfield, and Richard Shular) support the Molinaro Group’s condominium proposal and two councillors (Bob Steckley and Ann-Marie Noyes) do not. To contact individual councillors or the mayor about this matter, call 905-871-1600. Would you like to help the Friends of Crystal Beach find a better solution? |
WHY WE SHOULD ALL CARE ABOUT THE BAY BEACH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT The Town Council of Fort Erie is moving forward quickly with a plan to build two 12-storey condominium towers in Crystal Beach. The condo towers are to be built on a beautiful stretch of publicly owned property (known as Bay Beach). A large portion of this land will be transferred to a private developer. Although the beach will remain public, the parking area for beach-goers will be significantly reduced. Last March, the Town Council reviewed two proposals and selected the Molinaro Group (a Burlington developer) to build two high-rises on the Bay Beach property. In July, the Council and the Molinaro Group jointly applied for a zoning by-law amendment to allow 12-storey buildings to be erected in the Town of Fort Erie (the current limit is 3- storey buildings in Crystal Beach and 6-storey buildings in other areas of Greater Fort Erie). * Why does the Town Council want to give away our public land to an out-of-town developer? * Once gone, will we ever be able to recover this waterfront parkland for our children and grandchildren? * Is this the first step in permitting 12-storey buildings all over Fort Erie? * Will other public lands be sold to private developers? * How can we attract tourists to Fort Erie if its natural beauty is destroyed? * Why has the Town Council refused to answer the strong concerns of its citizens? * Why has the Town Council ignored Fort Erie’s Corporate Strategic Plan for 2007-2010 and the Crystal Beach Neighborhood Plan? Is this legal? * We’re not against development projects to encourage more new businesses. Why won’t the Town Council listen to other ideas for developing Crystal Beach? * What’s really going on here? NOTE: At the present time, Mayor Doug Martin and 4 councillors (Martha Lockwood, Sandy Annunziata, Tim Whitfield, and Richard Shular) support Molinaro’s condo proposal and 2 Councillors (Ann-Marie Noyes and Bob Steckley) do not. To contact your councillor or the mayor, call 905-871-1600. Want to help Friends of Crystal Beach find a better solution? |