GORDON/BARRIE ISLAND—A portion of the first phase for a new trailer, recreational vehicle and tenting campground is going to be opened in mid-summer in a location just outside the town of Gore Bay and in Gordon and Barrie Island township.
“A campground is really needed in the Gore Bay area,” stated Cole McLaughlin one of the developer/proponents of the project along with his father Hugh, said after a Gordon/Barrie Island public and municipal council meeting last week. “We are hoping to begin to have the first phase of the plan done and open before the end of June.”
Lee Hayden, reeve of Gordon/Barrie Island township municipality told The Expositor, “Council passed a site-specific zoning amendment to allow the campground proponents to develop the plan.”
“The project will be phased in,” said Reeve Hayden, who noted one of the requirements the proponents needed to have carried out by the MTO was a traffic impact study, which showed there will be no impacts on traffic.
“It is definitely development that is welcomed,” said Reeve Hayden. “Council definitely recognizes the need for this type of campground in the township.”
The public meeting held as part of the council meeting drew several residents who provided input. “There were concerns raised, mainly with traffic and noise, and fire bans having to be adhered to. Council is satisfied with the plans put in place for all of these issues by the proponents.”
“It’s been a long go getting everything approved and getting to this stage,” said Cole McLaughlin. “Our plan is to try to open, starting with building a few campground sites as part of the first phase.” He explained trailers, recreational vehicles and tenting sites will be put in place. We are looking at a total of 17 sites over a three-four stage plan. Initially we are looking at having 8-10 sites in place this summer.” He said there are port-a-potties on the site, with town water at each site. There will also be fire pits at each site. “There is no hydro, but generators are welcome,” he said.
“The new campground will be called ‘Priddle Park,’ in memory of my grandfather Frank Priddle who owned the Priddle Timber Company locally (which was sold to the Ontario Paper Company) and was mayor of Gore Bay at one time,” said Cole McLaughlin.
There is plenty of room for development and expansion on the property, which is located off Highway 540 just outside of Gore Bay (the same property where the former driving range was located).
“We have had nothing but support from the town of Gore Bay and township of Gordon/Barrie Island,” said Cole McLaughlin.
Hugh McLaughlin said, “Yes, we think it is a good news story. There were some concerns raised by members of the public (at last week’s meeting). But we have had all necessary studies carried out, like the MTO traffic impact study which indicated there will be no significant impact on traffic.”
Hugh McLaughlin noted that when the entrance and exit to the property were put in place for the driving range, the MTO said the current commercial entrance and exits to the property are significantly bigger than norm. Campers coming off the highway to the campgrounds will continue straight to the back boundary of the property where the camp sites will be located, while to right off the entrance road the Western Manitoulin Community Garden will remain.
With the campground to be located on the back boundary of the property, and hundreds of trees having been planted on the property the past couple of years, “once the trees grow up to their maximum height, the day will come that you won’t be able to see the campground from the highway because it will be behind the trees,” added Hugh McLaughlin.
