Wasaga Beach Beachfront Meeting June 20, 2024

Wasaga Beach Beachfront Meeting June 20, 2024 at the RecPlex.
Hosting the event was the Town of Wasaga Beach, with Speakers Mayor Brian Smith, CAO Andrew McNeill, FRAM developer Frank Giannone, Sunray Groups Amir Fatemi.
Before the news of the Beachfront moving forward, there is the news of a Costco coming to town, or at least the due diligence is being undertaken. Roads on the West end have been amped up and clearly to accomodate heavier traffic in that area, a possible resting place for the NEW Wasaga Beach Costco. What will a new Costca attract around it is the underlying question.
Back to the subject at hand.
The topic of discussion was the news that the Beachfront has a plan and it was being shared at the RecPles. While the actual designs are still in the hands of Consultants the themes and intent were made clearer as they have every been.
New to the team is Sunray Group a Real Estate Developer with the task of erecting a Hotel on the Wasaga Beach, Downtown beachfront. Downtown being the operative word and intent.
After decades of non starters, false starts it appears finally that the Beachfront in Wasaga Beach will be developed, bringing in the commercial tax possibilities, jobs and a place from locals and visitors to enjoy.
As usual at the Meeting, to lesser degree it seems each time their were a small and getting smaller group of negative voices.
For the most part it was a very positive meeting with in some ways questions were considering the cart before the horse. The horse is the major development being planned, with shovels in the ground for 2025.
The concerns like bowling alleys and other ancillerary business are the cart the horse, the development it is hoped that will carry many small businesses to the community.
This meeting confirms the work Council, the staff at Wasaga Beach has been working on.
The underlying tone, lessons learned that this needs to get done before the next election.
The speed of the work will not allow the debate over the lands held by others to hold the Project hostage.
If nothing else this Council has learned to not believe their work will be built on or completed by the next one. Decades of the past have left residents, taxpayers, businesses small and large.