Bruce Beach cottage owners want “day trippers” to swim elsewhere

May/June, 2006

Huron-Kinloss council received a letter recently saying that other residents are making the beach too crowded in the area of the concession 8 beach access and that they do not want parking in the area to be improved, whether for convenience or for safety reasons.

It was signed by Bruce Beach property owner Brent Stief, who says the letter is on behalf of “local residents.”

They complain that non-lakefront ratepayers are not staying in the small area directly in front the access. He says they using the public beach on either side, where their cottages are located.

The letter refers to the area in front of the cottages as, “surrounding lakefront,” rather than public beach.

“On busy weekends, users of this area spill over in front of neighbouring cottages as they are free to do so. On these days the public beach and surrounding lakefront, is reasonably crowded for five to seven lots on either side of the public beach. Any effort to increase the density (by providing safer parking) will not only negate the quality of enjoyment for cottage owners, it will also create a much more crowded space for the day-trippers.” (Non-lakefront residents)

It goes on to say, “Most people bring a dog or two to add to this congestion.”

They believe the best way to keep non-lakeshore ratepayers from using the beach is to make it inconvenient to park. “Because parking is limited and the walk gets too far, they go to another public beach,” they say.

Last year, Bruce Beach residents held a meeting and sent a letter to council. At that time they complained that too many people were parking on the hill on concession 8 and that it was unsafe.

Council believed that safety was the main concern of Bruce Beach residents and looked into leasing a vacant lot near the beach access for safer parking. The property owner refused to lease the lot, so council discussed other options.

The Township then looked at the possibility of clearing out some of the 66-foot, public road allowance on Cameron Lane, which would allow those who do not own property within walking distance of the beach somewhere safer to park.

According to Stief’s letter, Bruce Beach cottagers are against that idea too and do not want their tax dollars spent on allowing other residents easier access to the beach.

“It would seem logical to me (Stief), and my neighbours, that council should spend our large tax dollars on services which are desired by ratepayers and that do not infringe on the privacy and enjoyment of all concerned.” (Bruce Beach residents)

As for providing safe parking and access to the beach, Stief says, “If widening Cameron Lane or building parking lots is the only viable solution, I am sure that all (Bruce Beach) residents will vote for the “mess-on-the-hill.”

In order to reduce the amount non-lakefront ratepayers using the public beach, Stief says, “The only solution which is likely to work is to let walking distance be a deterrent, which will spread the day-trippers around the various Township beaches.”

Some property owners are now planting trees on the publicly owned road allowance on Cameron Lane to keep people who do not live along the lakeshore from parking near the beach access.

That didn’t sit well with council at it’s June 6 meeting in Ripley.

Councilors Anne Eadie and Jim Hanna were the first to speak up. “People in our municipality deserve access to the lake,” they said. “The road is 66-feet wide and belongs to the Huron-Kinloss community, not just the lakefront owners.”

Councilor Steve Caslick agreed, “They shouldn’t be planting trees there. The Township owns it. People should be able to park and use the beach.”

Deputy Mayor Wilf Gamble said some of the trees look to be 10-15-feet high already.

Council said it’s best to get it figured out now before they get too many trees planted on the public road allowance. It directed public works superintendent Hugh Nichol to have his staff do a survey of the area to determine exactly where the road allowance is and what has been planted on Township property.

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