by Sharon Jackson
KAGAWONG—Members of Billings Township Council voted unanimously at its December 1 meeting to approve the waterfront improvement draft plan and move forward to start the grant application process.
The unanimous decision from the motion (by Councillor Tom Imrie) to proceed to the next step in the $5.7 million waterfront improvement project followed many months of meetings, consultations with architects, engineers and members of the Waterfront Improvement Committee, and most recently, an open house held October 21.
Councillor Imrie said, “we received written comments from the public following the open house, some of whom suggested changes and brought concerns forward regarding specific issues to the plan.”
“The vast majority,” he shared, “are very supportive of the concept as presented.”
Final details of the project are subject to amendment and change,” the councillor continued. “This is not the only version. We are using this template to get the ball rolling.”
Mayor Austin Hunt commented that the plan is already a year behind.
Clerk Kathy McDonald reminded council that the master plan has been funded which includes the consultants who met with them on October 15 prior to the open house.
In attendance at the council meeting, along with a handful of others, was Mike Coomes, member of the Waterfront Improvement Committee. Following the council meeting, Mr. Coomes shared that “the (waterfront) committee is very glad to see the project moving forward to apply for the grants needed to make it all happen. Now the hard work carries on to actually see it come to fruition.”
The 161-page waterfront improvement draft plan is available on the township’s website at www.billingstownship.ca. The online document includes an introduction outlining a summary of existing conditions, marine improvements, master site and preliminary building plans, sewage servicing plan, market, financial and economic assessment of waterfront improvements and recommendations and cost estimates for the multi-million dollar project.
Not all residents of the township are in support of the project. The public was invited to provide comments at the open house in October. Some feel the proposed location of the building(s) will block their view of the beach and marina while others believe it is long overdue and are behind council in its decision to move forward.
