Dear Grand Bend beach lovers

Dear Grand Bend beach lovers...

Beach volleyball

Letter to the Editor -Lakeshore Advance

 As a long-time resident of Grand Bend, having lived and had a business here for over 40 years, I have seen a lot of decisions that the Council has made for the "betterment" of the town. The recent decision to allow a businessman from Markham to set up a private business on the beach is unacceptable. Although a volleyball summer camp for our kids is a good idea, by allowing a private business to be set up for 5 months from 8 am to 9 pm 7 days a week from the condos north will severely limit the amount of beach available for public access. The beach has always been and should continue to be accessible by all for the public's gain, not private gain.

Grand Bend is known for its beach. My parents came to the "Bend" for the beach, as I have, my children, and now my grandchildren do. If we don't protect our most valuable asset to remain for the public's use, we are risking selling off what makes Grand Bend, Grand Bend. The beach should be for the people - today's and tomorrow's generations to continue to come and enjoy.

This is our beach for all to enjoy. Not for private profit!

Please if you care for OUR beach, please come to the meeting at the Grand Bend school

May 1st at 9:00 am and lets make our voice heard.

Sincerely,
Paula Taylor
a very concerned resident, business owner and beach lover

Councilor apologizes

Councilor apologizes for lack of communication


BY LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY-Lakeshore Advance

 I'm writing today to acknowledge and apologize for the lack of communication about the licensing of the Pro Volleyball (PVB) program on Grand Bend's North Beach. During a delegation to Lambton Shores' council on April 19th, I listened with interest to Ed Fluter's concerns about the lack of communication from the municipality and his belief that the $1500 annual rental fee is far too low. I now also understand that area residents are concerned about potential parking congestion, excessive noise and impediments to the comfortable, spontaneous use of the North Beach for non-structured, family-based activities.

My goal is to do the right thing for residents, businesses and guests in our community. This is a tall order that can only be accomplished through collaboration. I therefore invite all interested parties to attend a PVB-hosted information meeting at the Grand Bend school at 9:00 a.m. on May 1,st. to learn more about PVB's vision for volleyball on the North Beach.

Following the information meeting and further pubic input, I'll encourage council to take another look at both PVB's business plan and the contents of the license with Lambton Shores. With thanks to Ed Fluter's delegation, I feel better informed about resident's concerns and will work to incorporate them into the resulting solution. You can Email your comments to johndehondt@hay.net.


John Dehondt
Ward 1 Councillor
Lambton Shores

Blocking Beach VolleyBall

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

Letters to Council -May 2010

The letter below was sent to council in early May. When Council sends replies those will be posted as well.-LSCA



Council May310

Beach should not be commercial

Beach should not be commercial


Beach volleyball

Letter to the Editor-Lakeshore Advance

I have been operating a business in Grand Bend for nearly 15 years at what point did the beach become available for commercial usage? I love to take my art students on beach excusrion but would rather have a perminent location on the beach for them to use. Or I could set up my ware there ... I would require 20 sq ft. so what would that cost me about $300.00. for all dayIn fact I would prefer to go to exersize with Beth and Shelly at the beach instead of the pavillion. they only require 30 by 40 feet for one hour three a week. What do you think a dollar a day would be more than generous.

Teresa Marie

PS I pay 1500.00 for 15 ft or wall space on river road

April 19, 2010 presentation to council

This first presentation to council was prior to the formation of the Lambton Shores Community Association.  It is representative of the community issues that led to the formation of LSCA.


Volleyball Presentation April 19 2010

April Letter to Council

April 16, 2010


To all Lambton Shores Council members:

I own 38 Hill St. in Grand Bend. This week I received a letter about Volley Ball on the Beach this summer. Initially I was not disturbed by this. I had no objection to a family volley ball league.

However, in checking out the website for this company, I discovered that he claims you are allowing them to set up 15 courts for nearly the whole summer!

Last year the noise from the volleyball tournament on the North Beach was quite disruptive. The volleyball courts last summer took up so much of the beach there was hardly any room for the people.

I found some material from the ‘Not So Pro” Beach Volleyball Tour (also linked to PVB Canada) that has been on the Grand Bend Beach other years.

From their website: “and it's not just Beach Volleyball - we've got a great DJ pumping the tunes all weekend, after-sports Beach Parties in the evenings, a huge beer tent for food and beverages, and during your time off from playing, there are lots of fun and outrageous social games to win great prizes.”

This is one thing on the main beach and quite another when it is surrounded by a residential area, as it is on the North Beach. This was unacceptable for those of us subjected to the noise last year. According to the website, this year they will be operating 2 nights per week and every weekend!!!!

The material below is from the website of PVB Canada:

League Play - The North beach of Grand Bend will house 15 Olympic grade beach volleyball courts this summer facilitating adult programing from June 2 - August 18, 2010.

We are looking for energetic male and female adult athletes looking to make beach volleyball a weekly activity throughout the 2010 summer. 4-on-4 and 6-on-6 leagues will be offered. Following league nights league members will be afforded meal and drink specials through local Grand Bend Pubs and Bars.

It is the sheer scale of this endeavor that has me most upset. On the same website are detailed dates and registration for a 5 weekend series of tournaments. Council approved a DRAFT agreement. The website for PVB Canada does not make it appear that way.

I must offer my strongest objections to this use of the north beach.

Who is responsible for the noise and or clean-up? As we have lost parking, where will these new arrivals park? The path to the beach was also blocked or very awkward and difficult for parents and children during last year’s tournament. The noise from the courts was intrusive. It was also very crowded as there was less space for everyone. The loss of beach on the south beach side has pushed more people to the north beach.

I submit that allowing PVB Canada to use the North Beach all summer is an incompatible use of the beach and detracts from and interferes with the family friendly image that the new south beach development is encouraging.

If renters don’t return every year, the village and I both have a problem. This format of volleyball also does not seem compatible with the concept of environmental stewardship and the goals of a Blue flag beach.

From the Municipality of Lambton Shores Official Plan:

Section 18 Lakeshore
OBJECTIVES

18.2

To promote public accessibility of the lakeshore.
To preserve the unique qualities of the lakeshore environment within the Municipality.
To ensure the long term stability of the beach area by ensuring all uses have regard to sound resource management policies

I am dismayed that there has been no public notification until the letter from PVB Canada arrived. It does not detail the scale intended by the operator like the website does.

There is apparently little or no concern for the residents or land owners in the village or for those of us most affected by council’s decisions. There must be a better process to keep us informed.

I can be reached at this email address or by phone 519-273-0918.

Sincerely;

Sharon Weitzel
38 Hill St.
Grand Bend, On



R.R. 2

TAVISTOCK, ON

N0B 2R0