GORDON/BARRIE ISLAND—The proposed 35 lot ‘Antler Bend’ subdivision in Gordon/Barrie Island has now been given final approval for development by the Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB).
“Congratulations, gentlemen!” stated board member Lee Hayden, who is also the reeve for Gordon/Barrie Island, at a MPB meeting last week. “We have worked hard with them (the development proponents) to get everything in place. We hope the board finds favour with the application for subdivision.” His statements were made prior to the MPB giving its final approval for the major subdivision. The proposal has been proposed by agent Kevin Jarus, on behalf of Dave Nadeau (formerly of Gore Bay, who now lives in Hanmer) and his business partner Sandra Hollingsworth of Sault Ste. Marie.
“This is great news,” stated Mr. Nadeau. “Thank you very much. I just wanted to thank Lee (Hayden) and his council members and his office staff who worked so hard on this project as well as Theresa Carlisle (MPB secretary-treasurer). Thank you very much for all your hard work as well. All of your efforts have not gone unnoticed and it is much appreciated.”
Ms. Carlisle pointed out that a public meeting had been heard and a presentation of the application and draft conditions were given at the MPB board meeting in January and that requirements under the Planning Act and Ontario regulations had been complied with. The final decision on the application had been deferred at that time to provide additional time for the applicants, the municipality and the planning board to consider the information provided and for the township to work out the details of the subdivision agreement and the conditions for the approval of the subdivision with the applicants.
The municipality and the applicants have since discussed conditions of draft approval and have come to an agreement with amended conditions, prepared by the secretary-treasurer. The amended conditions have been provided to the municipality, to Mr. Jarus, to Mr. Nadeau, to the applicant, and to all board members, said Ms. Carlisle. She noted a total of 35 lots are to be developed for seasonal residential uses, in two phases (phase 1 lots 22-35, and phase two lots1-2).
“It is nice to be able to move on to the next step,” said Mr. Nadeau.
The MPB unanimously passed a motion that the plan of subdivision be given draft approval with the conditions as presented.
A motion for draft approval was put moved and seconded by Ian Anderson and Rob Brown, respectively, with no objections from any member of the MPB.
“It has been seven years since we first purchased the property,” Mr. Nadeau told The Expositor after the meeting. He and Ms. Hollingsworth purchased the 950-acre property on the northwestern part of Barrie Island (by Goose Cap). “I wanted to purchase the property and develop it because my grandfather had pastured cattle and farmed on the property and my dad rented out property that he hunted on for 50 years, I have hunted on this property all my life.”
“It is a pretty special place to us. My dad (Danny, who passed away last year) loved it,” said Mr. Nadeau. He was pretty teary-eyed when I told him we had purchased the property.”
The development includes a 35-waterfront lot estate subdivision for seasonal residential use, including five hunting lots that have already been sold. The lots are 1.0 to 2.25 hectares in size with a minimum 50-metre road frontage. It includes four blocks-environmental, groundwater recharge, road and parklands and 90-plus hectares of future hunting plots.
“Yes, we’ve now met all the criteria, gone through all the hoops and had numerous engineers’ studies carried out, including for example the engineer studies, environmental and municipal impact studies, economic impact study,” said Mr. Nadeau. “Sandra and I are delighted on the decision made by the planning board to approve the subdivision.”
As has been reported previously, the municipal financial impact analysis is quite positive in terms of net increased tax revenue to the municipality, and the study shows there will be an accrued municipal tax revenues through 2041 of $1.05 million dollars, about $60,000 per year in net revenues to the township.
“The road (into the subdivision) is being worked on and should be up to municipal standards by the end of June,” said Mr. Nadeau. “Hydro will be installed next year.”
“We will be selling the lots, and we are going to be putting up a demonstration cottage, which should be in place by late 2022 or 2023,” said Mr. Nadeau. “We have already had a lot of interest (from potential buyers) with a waiting list pending final approval of our application.”
