The Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) is in the process of collecting an inventory of its waterfront access points in an effort to improve public access.
“We have heard loud and clear that the community wants us to increase public access to waterfront property,” said TBM councillor, Rob Sampson at Monday’s council meeting.
The discussion around public access arose at the council table after a letter was received from a local resident requesting permission to purchase a laneway that leads to Georgian Bay waters, which council denied.
“There seems to be an increasing number of requests for the potential purchase of these waterfront accessways,” said TBM CAO, Shawn Everitt.
According to Everitt, there are almost 60 waterfront access points throughout TBM, all of which hold different ownerships and encumbrances.
“Some are controlled by the owners of the subdivisions they are in, and others are town property,” added TBM Mayor Alar Soever.
Sampson adds that there has been speculation in the community that the town is planning or is willing to sell town-owned waterfront property, but that is not the case.
“I think it needs to be very clear that council is not considering the sale of any waterfront property. Period. Full stop,” he said.
Council directed town staff to create a full inventory of all town-owned waterfront access points within the municipality.
The report will be brought back to council through the town’s Leisure Activity Plan.
The TBM Leisure Activity Plan was originally developed in 2006, updated in 2015 and is currently a 2020 major project for town staff. The plan provides direction and focus for investment and policy for the town's recreational services.
“Through that process, we can clearly identify what the current use is, any limitations or what potential uses could be,” Everitt said.
The inventory is expected to include the current use of the access point, authorized and unauthorized; existing conditions, such as fencing or physical barriers; any site limitations; and any formal agreements or encumbrances.
“Some of these are old fire lanes or ditches for drainage,” said Ryan Gibbons, director of community services for TBM. “These are all items that we are looking at as we go through the process.”
