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Congratulations to our newly seated Officers. Stepping up to take their
seats on the Board are: Sally Graves - President; Mary Ann Downs-Strath
- Vice President; Hans Schonewille - Treasurer; Maureen O'Connell - Secretary,
Kathy Reid - Director.
**There will be a planning session soley addressing the Bay Beach issue
on Monday November 16th at 6:30pm at the Crystal Ridge Library. All members
are invited to attend to help us plan on how we will proceed in our efforts to
Keep All Bay Beach Lands in Pulic Hands.
The article below describes what another Ontario community
did when faced with an 8 storey building being erected on their
waterfront. How is it that their Councillors, staff and Town Planner
see things so much differently than ours? Look closely at the
rationale for their opposition and the community's opposition.
Does it not seem almost identical to ours in opposing the proposed
Molinaro Development Plan. An interesting concept: They actually
went along with the Neighborhood Plan created and listened to
their constituents!
T
Oh you mean shade like this?
Ok lets get up off that couch and get out to the next FOCB meeting.
Our Next General Meeting will be held on:
Wednesday January 6th at 6:30pm
at the Crystal Ridge Library.
We hope you will join us there.
Help Save the Bay Beach Properties!
This is an architectural rendering
of one of the plans for the Buffalo
Waterfront.
Wouldn't something of this nature
look great at Bay Beach?
After all it has been done here before and very successfully at that !
A wonderful sandy beach, a green space, a boardwalk with
benches, adequate parking so people can access it, why would
anyone be against that idea? This would be something that
the Town of Fort Erie could be proud of, would bring people to
our area, encourage tourism, provide a recreational area for all
in our community. Let us hope that the Town will not throw away
this opportunity as it will not be easy to replicate these conditions
again if at all!
We believe it is very important for all those that do not want to
see ANY of the Bay Beach properties fall into the ownership of a
private developer email or call the Mayor and Councillors asking that
Report No. CDS-041-08 / Bay Beach Development Seeking a
Private/Public Partnership Opportunity be brought back up for
reconsideration. They are public representatives whose moral
obligation is to listen to their constituency and any and all others
that will be effected by a decision they will make. We ask that you
become active participants in this situation. Please don't sit back
and hope someone else will make that call or send that email.
We need you to step up and take that action. These public servants
need to hear the message loud clear and over and over again.
The email addresses and phone numbers for the Mayor and Councillors are as follows:
Doug Martin - mayor@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-871-9043 work - 905-894-1600
Martha Lockwood - mlockwood@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-894-8180
Rick Shular - rshular@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-871-5579
Sandy Annunziata - sannunziata@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-994-1062 work - 905-356-6709
Tim Whitfield - twhitfield@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-894-8904 work - 905-894-9327
Ann Marie Noyes - anoyes@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-382-2352
Bob Steckley - bsteckley@town.forterie.on.ca home phone - 905-871-7531
The council voted in this manner on the issue: Mayor Martin, Councillors Martha Lockwood, Rick Shular,
Tim Whitfield, Sandy Annunziata voted in favor of exploring selling away the lots on the north side
and south side of Erie Rd. while Councillors Ann Marie Noyes and Robert Steckley voted against the idea.
Instead of looking for a private developer to sell off the property to, we believe that just as the town
sought out a partnership with the Niagara Region and the Peace Bridge Authority when paying for
the Erie Beach portion of the Friendship Trail they should do the same with the improvement and
enhancement to the Bay Beach property. The beach is used by people in large numbers from every
area of the Niagara Region and a part of the Peace Bridge Authority mandate is to encourage
"cross border" activities which Bay Beach certainly does in great numbers on a daily basis. Along
with this other municipalities search out applicable grants to use to help pay for projects of this
nature. We also ask why our Economic Development and Tourism Corporation has not been asked
to invest in both improving and marketing one of the largest tourist attractions we have in Greater
Fort Erie? Ultimately this decision regarding the Bay Beach properties will not only effect us in the
present day but will live on to effect those in the generations that follow us. Lets not allow something
similar to the Pt. Abino Rd. to the lighthouse situation happen again. It is our hope that together
we can prevent the present Council and Mayor from repeating the same type of shortsighted mistake.
Kudos to our community!!! Our latest total of signatures
on the petition to save all the Bay Beach properties from
private development is 3104 signees. There are plenty more
out in the community being circulated. We have had a very nice,
steady return of the signed petitions from our area businesses.
The community is coming together to have their voice heard.
It is also a positive step to see the Mayor supporting a petition
drive to "Save The Hospital" which is a crucial issue facing our
community and shows the Mayor knows the strength of the petition
process. As we all hope the NHS will take the petitions to heart in
making their final decision, we too hope the Mayor and Council will
do the same for our petition to keep ALL the Bay Beach properties in
public hands. It certainly is an effective way of having the community's
voice heard. This is truly democracy in action. We must make it clear
to our elected officials what the position of the community is on this
issue as it will not only effect us but also the generations to come. A
very interesting question was asked several times by local residents at
the beach today; why is it the newspapers have been here several times
to ask us our opinion on the matter, the local community organization
has been here each day asking us our opinion, but we have yet to see any
of the councillors or mayor who are trying to initiate the sale of the
properties here to see and hear the opinions of the people? On behalf of
all of these people, and our organization we have invited our councillors
and mayor on more than one occasion to sit with us at either of the two
public entrances to the beach and listen to what people have to say about
this issue and also see who comes through the gate each day. To this day
only one councillor has taken us up on that offer and it was Bob Steckley.
The mayor and councillor Lockwood have made statements that the majority
of the community is not opposed to selling off the Bay Beach properties.
We have yet to see even the slightest groundswell of support from the
Greater Fort Erie community for the mayor and councillor Lockwood's position.
Where do they get that erroneous idea from or could it only be wishful thinking
on their part? Come out and talk to the people we will be glad to accompany you
and introduce you to them. This like the $3 million figure given by your
Town Planning department for what it would take to create a beach/park property
is another example of the erroneous facts that the mayor and members of council
have tried to fool the public and the media with.
Help to save the Bay Beach Properties
from falling into private ownership!
And where will these people park when the parking areas are sold off?
At the present time the Town of Fort Erie is entertaining
the idea of selling off the adjacent parcels of Bay Beach
which are presently used for public parking. We believe
it is a terrible mistake to sell public property that is now and
always has been an important recreational site for the general
public to private developers. The Town has stated they want
a return on their initial investment. It should be made clear
that the money used to buy the bay beach property came from
lotto funds and not soley out of taxpayers pockets. Our question
to them is why has that never been the case for their investment
in the Friendship Trail, the Sugar Bowl Park, the River Walk, the
landscaped median on Garrison Rd., etc? The Bay Beach property
attracts more people to it than any other recreational venue in the
Town of Fort Erie. By the Town's own commissioned Parking Study
they have been told that on a warm sunny day the beach has approx.
1000 people on it. On a warm sunny weekend day it will have 2000
people on it. We have also been assured there will be public access to
the beach. Our answer to that is just look at our Town's history of
upholding public access. The public access to our lighthouse at the end
of Pt. Abino was also allowed to fall into the hands of private ownership.
It is quite clear that public access is never assured. The other point the
Town likes to use as its rationale for selling off the public land, is that this
private development will revitalize and create a synergy that will be a
catalyst for bringing back Crystal Beach. Our response to this is that a
much larger development was established in Crystal Beach approximately
a decade ago and we now have one business left on Derby Rd., restaurants
have changed hands 2 and 3 times and more vacant store fronts have
appeared. If development is going to be the catalyst there are presently
2 new developments being advertised in our community. There are large areas
like the one on Ridgeway Rd. that will eventually be developed. The simple
fact of the matter is people are attracted to this area because of the wonderful
"gem" we have in Bay Beach. We do not see the logic in lessening their opportunity
to use it. The Bay Beach report given to council by the Town Planner uses the
figure of $3 million dollars as what it would take to develop the Bay Beach property.
When asked how this figure was derived the Mayor responded that it was nothing set
in stone just a figure the planner came up with off the top of his head! This nebulous
figure was used as part of the data given to Council and the Mayor to use in determining
their action on this important issue.
You can help us to let the Town know we are against selling off any of the public lands
to a private developer by doing any or all of the following things:
E-mail the council and mayor and tell them of your position on this issue. The names and
addresses can be found above on this page. Write an opinion/editorial to one of our
three local papers stating your opposition to the sale of any of the Bay Beach property.
This is a copy of a portion of an email I sent to Mayor Martin
regarding the sale of ANY of the Bay Beach property.
Mayor Martin,
It has been a very busy weekend as my email box has been filled and my phone ringing
off the hook. But I understand as this is a very important issue to this community.
We believe the recent action by the council is "shortsighted" and will ultimately hurt this
community for generations. Obviously you have seen our reference to the Pt. Abino Rd.
situation regarding access to the lighthouse. We see this latest Bay Beach situation as the
second coming of a decision similar to that. You know how that decision still "haunts" this
community to this day. The lure of a quick monetary return must be weighed against the
long term value of holding on to the property so that the beach can be maximally used by
our Greater Fort Erie community as well as the Niagara Regional community and those
that come to us as tourists. We do not come to you as adversaries, we come as active and
concerned members of this community who know the dynamics of this situation better than
most. We sat on the Neighborhood Planning Committee, know the inaccuracies of the Watson
study which we presented to the last council and mayor, we know the results of the town
generated parking study, as well as the quality of life study done right after the Neighborhood
Planning Committee ended. There is a great deal of factual data that this council or yourself
as the new mayor have not been introduced to. Our position is not against development
if done wisely. We have plenty of room in this community for that to happen. If this is
to revive Crystal Beach as some people believe, there are plenty of places for that to happen
while not removing/reducing access to a key property that brings more people to it than any
other recreational venue in the community. There are two areas already designated for
development now; one on Schooley Rd. and one on Erie Rd. past the Bay Beach Club. The vast
expanse of land on Ridgeway Rd. across from the CBTYC sits waiting to be developed. The strip
of land that now serves as a private parking lot for the beach is another spot waiting to be developed.
Which by the way will then remove another 200+ parking spaces now being used by the
beach goers. We also live with the costly errors to our community made by "developers"
of the past. We sit with a barren weed strewed "development" on Smalls Rd. where the
shells of 2 or 3 homes sit vacant for a third year. We drive by 6 town houses that sit in
various states of completion behind the public parking lot on Erie Rd. near Derby Rd. with
no sign of any work being done on them. We see mounds of dirt and weed filled expanse
on Ridge Rd. and Thunder Bay Rd. and can only shake our heads. This may give you an
understanding of why some people become less than passionate about their public land falling
into the hands of another developer. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you at
your convenience.
Sincerely,
Paul Lewis
President
Friends of Crystal Beach
Bay Beach Properties in Jeopardy Again!
On Monday June 9th the Fort Erie Council along with our Mayor voted to
revisit the issue of selling off the Bay Beach properties to a private
developer. This was discussed and voted on by the previous council which
decided that the Town would keep the Bay Beach property on both the North
and South sides of Erie Rd. This decision was made after listening to Town
Staff's proposal and then hearing our communities rationale for keeping the
property in public hands. We were not given any notice of this latest move
and only found out about it from reading the local papers. On Monday
June 16th a delegation representing our FOCB organization went before Council
and requested the opportunity for our community to provide the necessary data
and input regarding the reasons why the entire Bay Beach property should remain
in public hands to this new council and mayor. At the July 21st council meeting
concerned residents packed the chambers with people standing along the walls
and in the hall as there was no room left in the council chambers. There were many
points made as to why a sale of ANY of the Bay Beach properties is a shortsighted
move that will continue to hurt the growth and quality of life in this community for
years to come. Some of the key points made were:
Has a partnership with the Region, Peace Bridge Authority along with Grant possibilites
been sought out? No answer was given to us on that by the Town? The obvious reason
for partnering is that Bay Beach is used by people in large numbers from all over the
Niagara Region along with those that come from Western New York(one of the mandates
of the Peace Bridge Authority is to encourage cross border travel). Grants have been used
by other municipalities for projects similar to the enhancement of the Bay Beach property.
Partnering with these two groups has been done for the creation of the Friendship Trail
which services fewer people.
Previous "private development" in Crystal Beach has not provided the "synergy" that our town
planner suggests will come with private development of the Bay Beach property. We had
124 upscale units built over the last ten years in the CBYTC, since that time all but one business
has closed on Derby Rd., 3 restaurants have changed hands 3 times each and another longtime
favorite is presently up for sale.
If subsequent upscale private development will provide the stimulus or be the catalyst our
town planner believes it will, then there are several locations already being advertised for
this kind of development. Why use public land to do this with?
In the report to council: CDS-041-08 the Town Planning Staff states;
"Developing Bay Beach as a quality public facility comes with a price tag of approximately
$3 million in addition to the $2.6 million already invested in the property. This is beyond
the Town's ablility to finance, and therefore private funding support is required." When
asked specifics as to what would be included in this $3 million figure and where it came
from, the Mayor stated it was just something our town planner just kind of "grabbed out
of the air"? To then use that figure in a report to Council that should contain factual
information/data only, we feel is either an intentional deception or a huge error in judgement
that had a very negative and slanted effect on the document itself. As to the $2.05 million
used to purchase the property and the continuing belief we need to get a portion of the tax
payers money back, that too is an inaccurate statement as the money that was used to buy the
Bay Beach property came out of the Gaming money given to the town. And finally, as to being
beyond the town's ability to finance and therefore having to get private funding to help enhance
the beach, that is exactly the point of trying to partner with the Region, Peace Bridge Authority
and "granting" organizations to help in the beautification and enhancement of Bay Beach.
Why is it that our Economic Development and TOURISM Corporation has not invested in the beach
as it is the largest TOURIST attraction we have in Greater Fort Erie? Wouldn't helping to "polish
the jewel" and then marketing it bring in even more TOURISTS to our community? How hard is it
to see the marketability of a beautiful sandy family friendly beach which is used to swim, fish, sail,
jet ski, scuba, boat, water ski, etc.
It was suggested that if the parking lots get sold, we could seek other property to purchase in its
place. One would have to ask where are you going to find property large enough to meet the present
parking demand at the beach? Satellite lots were suggested by our Town Planner. The closest of
these is nearly a half mile from the entrance to the beach. It holds approx. 30 cars. Another
suggestion we heard that evening at council was a shuttle bus? That would entail either leasing
busses or buying them for the town. That would also mean paying driver salaries, gas at today's
prices and actually finding beach goers that would drive to a shuttle parking area, wait for the bus,
pile all their beach equipment in the bus along with children, and then do it all over when they are
leaving the beach. If you wanted to reduce use of the beach that seems like a pretty good way to us.
Do you think these people would be good candidates for the
half mile walk to the Beach or a shuttle bus trip? And they are
typical of who frequents our beach.
Why is it that those who came before us more than 100 years ago could
have created something like this for the community while we look at what
is pictured in the photos above? This is an example of a time when our local
Town Government valued and understood the positive affect a beautifully
developed "green space" and beach front could have on their community.
The photo above is of the plantings we had put in along
the Bay Beach fence line in 2007.
 
We had Bill Spear put in serviceberry, amur shrub maples,
sedum and feather reed grass. We believe It will aesthetically
improve the look of Erie Rd. and the beach entrance while
also providing a wind break to reduce the sand that blows into
the street in the fall and spring. The photos above show the
growth over one year.
Street Banner Beautification Program
We continue to take orders for our street banners. You can see from the photo above they
are very attractive and brighten up our community. The cost is $290.00, which includes a
two sided banner and all the hardware it will take to hang them effectively. The GST and PST
actually adds another $40.00 to the cost but the Friends of Crystal Beach has been able to
pick that up so far for each banner purchased. Each will have the name of your group on the
lower portion of the banner. The banners will be put up each spring and taken down in the fall
and are projected to last a minimum of 3 to 5 years. Our organization agreed to get things
rolling by purchasing 4 of the new banners. If you are a member of one of the numerous
associations in the community, or a business owner, family or street group we ask that you join
in the effort to make our community shine. You may pledge sponsorship by contacting
Sally Graves or sending a cheque made out for $290.00 to Friends of Crystal Beach,
P.O. Box 978, Crystal Beach, Ontario L0S 1B0. Please specify how you want the sponsorship
to read on the banner.
Bravo to those on the list below for helping to beautify their community.
Norman and Barbara Cantor, The Whalen Family, The Kane Family,
Crystal Wines, Burd Family, the Oakwood Ave. Neighbours,
The Buffalo Canoe Club, the McCarthy & Panebianco Families,
The Bay Beach Association, The Crystal Beach Hill Cottagers Organization,
Crystal Beach Candy Co., Crystal Beach Public School,
Crystal Artisan Village, Prudential Town Centre Realty Inc.,
Bob & Mary Ann Strath, The Crystal Beach Tennis and Yacht Club,
the Jackson Family and The Friends of Crystal Beach (4).
 
Why would you market Bay Beach as a tourist site?
Why would you worry about losing parking spaces for the beach?
More Signs have arrived
Let your voice be heard on this issue. You may make arrangements to
pick one up by calling any of these three phone numbers:
905-894-0147 or 905-894-0302 or 905-894-2826.
We ask if possible for a minimal donation of whatever you can afford
to help us defray the cost of the signs. If this can happen in
Crystal Beach where the Neighborhood Plan and existing by-laws
can be overturned on the whim of five of our elected officials this then
could happen anywhere in Greater Fort Erie. Help us show the
overwhelming disapproval of the Town's plan for privatization
of the Bay Beach Properties!
I have put up a portion of a column written by Donn Esmonde of the Buffalo News
as it seemed so relavent to what is happening at the present time in Crystal Beach.
Does the article above sound familiar?
Don't we have a "community shaped master plan" as well?
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The Silent Majority begins to show themselves on the beach issue!
This article appeared in the Buffalo News on Sunday June 21, 2009. It seems to address the same
issue of Development v. Recreational Park Space we are now being confronted with in Crystal Beach.
As did the article from Daytona Beach News Journal mention; when creating a substantial new
residential mass, infrastructure must be improved, enlarged and or enhanced to accomodate the new
population growth. As a result the Municipality involved is confronted with appropriating more funds to
pay for the improvements. The idea of getting back money by selling off the Bay Beach properties seems
to be a fallacy when considering the infrastructure costs that would be needed. This is just another
reason the 12 story twin towers is not the best of ideas for our community.
The article above is from a March issue of the Daytona Beach News Journal.
This is a city that has dealt with both tourism and development since its inception.
This city found itself caught in the furor of high rise development over the last decade
or two. The result was a scarcity of beachside public lands left for the community
and visiting tourists to use for recreational enjoyment. In the last few years development
has come to a standstill because of the economic times. As you will read empty lots
with tall wooden stockade fences sit open where development was once planned.
 
Large high rise buildings sit with a multitude of unoccupied condominiums. As you can
see from the article above the city council and mayor is taking the opportunity to correct
the error of their ways by creating parks with suitable parking for all to use.
Isn't it interesting how some Councils look to purchase "jewels" for
their communities while our Council and Mayor try to sell off ours?
Some see that the civic good is of the greatest importance while
others place a much lesser value on that concept. Some see the
great value of a pastoral green space on a beautiful beach that would
serve an entire community while others think that same space better
served by owners of 120 high end condos?
The Town Planner, Mayor and Councils of other municipalities have
found ways of gathering sponsors to help defray the costs of building
their community parks. You can see an example of this from the
plaque above dedicated to those groups that have added their financial s
upport to the idea of building a community park. It is something
commonly done by other municipalities.
Memorial Walkways are another commonly used way to help
raise funds for local projects. The one shown above was built
along an oceanside boardwalk. We provided the town with
figures as to how much they could raise with a dedicated entryway
from Erie Rd. to the beach. The dedicated brick idea is very
popular and provides the opportunity for those that support the
idea of a park to help financially while also remembering some
person(s), family or friends who had a special place for their
rememberances of the location itself; in our case, Crystal Beach.
So we will replace what could be a wonderful
beach/park recreational setting for our residents
recreational use and will draw tourists to our area
with something of this nature and it will be a positive
addition to our community?
A very interesting article was posted on the CTV.com page
regarding Ontario's precious lakefront properties and the
effect they have on tourism. The article discusses our beaches
being "marquee tourist destinations in Ontario". Please take
the time to read the article if you are concerned with the creation
of 2 twelve story structures being built on the Bay Beach front
properties.
The article is entitled: "Mayors want Great Lake beaches promoted".
If you are opposed to privatization of the Bay Beach properties it is time
to come forward and let others know what could happen to a very important
part of our community. Do not rely on others to speak for you, each of us
has to do our part to let those considering entering into this deal to privatize
the land that is so crucial in allowing others to enjoy "the beach" that council
keeps reminding us they will retain. It would be hard to go to a movie if there
was no parking, it would be hard to go to an athletic event if there was no parking,
it would be hard to go shopping if there was no parking AND it will be equally
hard to go to our "retained beach" when there is not sufficient parking. Please
take the time to email or write our three newspapers with your opinion on this
situation! It will help bring the issue to the foreground and make others aware
of the mistake about to be made by their elected officials.
What was that about, "If you build it they will come"?
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