The Town of Saugeen Shores has received two damning reports of the dynamic beach assessments completed by Shoreplan Engineering for the Town and the proponents of the Cedar Crescent Village.
Submitted on April 27, 2022, by coastal expert, Professor Mary Louise Byrne of Wilfrid Laurier University, concurs with the earlier review by geoscientist Peter Zuzek (February 2021) and concludes that “should the development proceed, it would sit squarely in the dynamic beach area and be subjected to ‘potential risk to public health or safety or of property damage from natural hazards, including the risks that may be associated with the impacts of a changing climate’ as noted in the Provincial Policy Statement (2020).”
How many more expert opinions are needed before Council will understand the ramifications of building such a large commercial development on Port Elgin’s dynamic beach?
Regardless of these two expert opinions, on June 13th, 2022, Council proceeded to approve the Site Works and Services Agreement for the Cedar Crescent Village. How can they ignore these expert opinions? Why hasn’t the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, who paid for the reviews, refused to sign off on the Site Works Servicing Agreement? Why was this report not made public for all to read?
Patricia Corrigan-Frank
Port Elgin Beach Preservers
