As expected, the Council meeting on Monday was mostly about the Waterfront study.  It went from 4:00pm to 9:30pm, heard 12 delegations on the Waterfront study and had an overflow of spectators who stood at the door or sat on the floor.  The intent was to have Council “adopt” the report so that they would have a “framework” to guide future councils and staff on how the waterfront should be developed over the next 25 years – starting in 2019.  It was said several times that the report was not an implementation plan and that each time a recommendation was to be implemented, it would come to council for budget and approval.  However, the 12 delegations were concerned with what… Read complete articleMarathon Council Meeting Dominated by Waterfront Study

The long awaited “Waterfront User Needs Assessment and Detailed Design Study Report” will be presented to Council on Monday June 4 at the Council’s Committee of the Whole (C.O.W.) meeting starting at 4:00 pm.  It was initially planned to have an earlier meeting at 1:00 pm but that was cancelled in favour of including the release in the C.O.W. meeting.  The reason given was to have the meeting at a time better for public participation.  Another difference between a “public meeting” and a C.O.W. meeting is that at a public meeting, anyone can speak without advance notification.  As it happens, 12 people have given notification and are on the agenda to speak on the subject.  They will be speaking before… Read complete articleStrong Interest in Release of Waterfront Study

A draft copy of the long-awaited waterfront study is now available on the Town’s web site (see link below).  It was presented to the Parks and Recreation Committee on Wednesday, 16 May and will be a draft until accepted by Council (expected June 4) but no significant changes are expected.  It’s a very large document in two parts with 410 pages.  It recommends spending an estimated $27M over 24 years.  There are 83 “initiatives” grouped into 24 projects – these cover everything from the Harbour to Victoria Park to Parking.  The controversial subjects of the Trailer Park, Marina expansion and East Pier enhancements are NOT avoided and are included in recommended actions. This is a major project for Director Dean… Read complete articleFirst look at Waterfront Study Report

When the report on the Waterfront eventually gets released, it will no doubt include something about Cobourg’s natural West Beach.  Let’s hope it recommends that it’s mostly left alone.  Popular with residents and little known by visitors, it has recently had three benches added to the boardwalk.  For several years, the Cobourg Beach Society was a volunteer organization that tried to get some action on extending the boardwalk the full length of the beach (all the way to Cobourg Creek) but two years ago it folded.  It did have some left-over funds and it worked with the Town to use those to pay for building the benches.  The Town used its own staff and wood salvaged from trees that had… Read complete articleCobourg’s West Beach

Not many large boats or small ships visit Cobourg so the visit of Dartmouth III was newsworthy.  Late on November 11, the ferry dropped in for an overnight stay in Cobourg on its trek from Nova Scotia to Toronto.   Built in 1979, she was a ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth until recently but was then bought for $100,000 then refitted for $500,000 and will be put in service by the Toronto Island Transit Service to increase capacity on the Toronto-Centre Island run.  With a capacity for up to 390 people, the ship is relatively large with a gross tonnage of 256 and a draft of 6 feet.  It’s 79 feet long with a 32 foot beam (width) and a top… Read complete articleDartmouth III Visits Cobourg

In August, a letter from Condo Corp #50 at 165 Division Street was presented to Council asking for action on a traffic problem on the Esplanade near the corner of Division as well as problems just north of there on Division.  The Council referred the letter and the problem to staff for a report and it remains on the Agenda of each meeting as unfinished business.  At the next council meeting, another letter on the subject will be presented to Council – this time from the condos at the other end of the Esplanade.   Linda Cardie, President of the board of Condo #58 says she agrees with Jon Tondeur from Condo #50 and supports their recommendations but also wants pedestrian… Read complete articleFurther Calls to Slow Traffic on the Esplanade