Blocking beach volleyball
Residents dig their heels in
By BY LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY-Lakeshore Advance
It's not that some of the people in Grand Bend's Plan 24 don't love volleyball-- quite the contrary. The negatives, they say, for the proposed operation "seem to outweigh the positives."
Over the net, others are thrilled with the benefits and opportunities this program will bring.
In late 2009 Professional Volleyball (PVB) came to Lambton Shores council with a proposal to set up a volleyball school on Grand Bend's north beach, comprising of approximately 2,430 square meters. This is a municipality- owned beach in a residential area.
From the very beginning, there were full intentions the people affected would be notified. Communication would be key. With that in mind, the group of residents says that never happened until they got a letter from PVB last week. PVB came to council in late 2009 and were greeted with open arms as this being something good for the businesses and plus for the economy.
As spokesperson for the group, Ed Fluter, a former Grand Bend municipal councilor told a group of 100 attending last week's council meetings that he was not only representing the beach front owners, but "all the residents of the community, the extended community, the businesses in the community and the beach users in general."
300 residents, including 25 businesses signed a petition.
Fluter listed two major concerns, one being the licensing by the municipality to run a "for profit" program.
"Our concern is that this commercial company from Markham, which has the potential to make a considerable amount of money will use 2,430 square meters or more of the north beach at little or no charge, install 15 semi-permanent courts to run their youth and adult programs. In addition, says Fluter, they have been given the right to run five weekend tournaments (two on long weekends) along with the right to acquire alcohol licensing for these tournaments.
"The program will be allowed to operate seven days a week, 10-12 hours a day for five of the prime summer months for the next ten years, with an option to renew," said Fluter.
Concerns
Fluter told council communication about this program has been abysmal or virtually non-existent both by the municipality and PVB. "We are incensed that council sanctioned this program before there was any information or input from the community.
The second concern, says Fluter, is the 'for profit' commercial activity, in spite of the marketed benefits, not be allowed on any of the public beaches. Fluter says Grand Bend pays the lion's share of taxes in the municipality and are opposed to a company coming in and using one of the prime pieces of real estate (that being the beach) for a nominal rent, little overhead, no taxes and a potential to make large profits.
Flluter also takes issue with PVB having concession (food and beverage and an option for liquor license) rights.
After Fluter spoke, Ward 1 councilor John Dehondt said the unexpected opposition "blows him away." He asked council to reconsider the request for this program to come in. He did not get a seconder for that motion. Mayor Gord Minielly said there is a process to follow and PVB has scheduled a public meeting for May 1. This will come back to council May 3. ...click for more
