Comments

Many people have written to staff regarding this project.  The following is a list of items/questions/ideas to be considered for this project that has been developed from these public comments.

Some of what people have expressed has been in the form of statements relating to their perspectives of the harbor; as opposed to specific questions, or requests for items to be considered in the development of this project.  Therefore staff have “translated” or interpreted them for consideration in this list as well as they have value that can inform this work.

 

In addition to these comments, those that were made at the public meeting (Feb 12, 2013) are also included below.
 

Feel free to provide additional items in the comments section at the bottom of the page, or send an email/letter to Town staff.

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1. Would like to have Collingwood to have a municipally operated marina (not the only town on Georgian Bay that does not have one)
2. Facilities for visiting boaters.
3. Full facilities for overnight and day visitors (generally including water, electricity, pump-out, fuel, washrooms, showers and garbage handling)
4. Opportunities for transport to downtown stores and/or delivery to boats.
5. Concerns about “NIMBY” (not in my backyard) reactions that could limit progress in developing the harbour.
6. Potential of Collingwood as a daytrip and an overnight destination for boaters.
7. Ability to provide boating facilities and services for those that travel in organized groups.
8. Ability for harbor to accommodate lunch, dinner and overnight cruises.
9. Harbour must be able to accommodate multiple boats of drafts up to 7 feet.
10. Safe, secure, convenient, and pleasant connections (by foot) between harbor and restaurants and shopping
11. Linking harbor uses with other community events, such as Elvis Festival. 
12. Need for deeper slips to allow people to attend races based in Collingwood.
13. For the Collingwood Rowing Club, the harbour is the safe scenic environment where participants of all age groups enjoy the sport of rowing. The Rowing club is actively working with local schools and community to encourage youth and their families to pursue rowing as part of a healthy fit lifestyle to be enjoyed together
14. Identify any potential impact(s) on other users that could arise with the proposed temporary docking and moorage for the Yacht.
15. The low water levels are an ongoing concern. 
16. Limited area to provide safe moorings for all water users. 
17. Concerns about crowding in the harbor, with too many moorings, resulting in congestion (and safety of all users).
18. To provide a safe haven for rowers to train.
19. Potential working with larger (Provincial) organizations to create synergies between users
20. Growth potential for various user groups
21. Proper planning and open dialog
22. A safe, clean and attractive harbour.
23. Collingwood Harbour as the quintessential model for future waterside developments elsewhere.
24. Dry land storage and launching area.  
25. To create a comprehensive plan that incorporates: the protection of the environment, reflects our water heritage, respects each harbour user’s interest, accessibility to the water and our local businesses and provides economic sustainability for the future of our children.
26. Various users need top be considered for the future uses of Collingwood Harbour, including: yacht club, anglers, rowers, canoeists, kayak, paddleboards, day boaters, sailboats, kayaks, ice fisherman, planes, rowers, anglers, kids jumping off pier. 
27. Residents who live near the harbor need to be considered. 
28. What Marina development laws are in place that must be met with a new Marina being developed? 
29. What are the Federal, Provincial and municipal laws and regulations? 
30. What is the distance allowed from residential developments?
31. What assurances do the harbour residents have that the new development will be built to minimize light, while maintaining safety & security of the mariners? 
32. If Yacht Club leaves the current basin, can we minimize or remove the horrible lighting that is currently in place?
 

33. A large concern is noise.  Noise carries across water for far distances. 
34. What is the plan to contain noise?  Will we need a security guard to enforce?
 
35. Will the currents of the harbour, take away the fuel leakage from the boats, away from the new marina location and out of the harbour? 
36. Will the VOC's pile into the residential location? 
37. Has an environmental assessment been done?
 
38. Importance of having the Collingwood harbour lands developed to include and improve the yacht club facilities.
39. Harbour facilities have a vibrant harbour culture that attracts visitors and residents to the area, to enhance the community and benefit all of the residences of the area and around it.
40. Preservation of the harbour. 
41. Youth programs. 
42. Due to low water levels, 'safe' harbour to launch boats and provide a safe rowing area.
43. Unregulated  interests that could negatively affect safety.
44. The Town to make the harbour a crowning feature of Collingwood life.
45. Expand the boating amenities with public access to capitalize on the outstanding asset the town has in its large, well protected harbour.
46. Aesthetic attraction of greater public access to the water.
47. Reflect the ship building history of Collingwood.
48. The grain elevators are a beacon to all that pass by.
49. Promote an active, safe, diverse and accessible harbourlands;
50. Recognize that the harbourlands are an exceptional and expanding multi-use resource, and that any development must take a planned and thoughtful approach that balances the needs of the public and user groups;
51. Recognize and protect the interests of current and future recreational and sport uses (paddling sports, sailing, rowing, etc.)
52. Preserve historical assets and ensures the continued interpretation of Collingwood's ship building history
53. Enhance the environmental and fiscal sustainability of the harbourlands.
54. Provide solutions to the water depth and water quality issues within the harbour;
55. Implements the final strategy through steady and planned investment.
56. The focus on dock facilities for transient (and more permanent) boaters will push existing recreational non-motorized users to the outside fringes of the harbour that are unsuitable or unsafe (distance from shore) for those activities;
57. That the plans for dock facilities for transient boaters has taken place without undertaking an economic feasibility study or cost-benefit analysis
58. Adequate enforcement to ensure a safe environment for non-motorized uses (to be addressed in the harbour bylaw).
59. Calm water for rowers and small craft users, and swimmers at the pier.
60. Education and safety programs for managing the harbor. 
61. Make sure that piers, jetties etc that are put there are accessible to the public. 
62. Declining water levels are not a temporary issue. May look to temporary solution but need to consider the long term – prolonged, a crisis, and generational issue. Submits a more urgent and broad scale issue strategy. Need to pressure / engage / lobby higher levels of government to become involved in restoring our water levels.
63. Ten years ago we saw a decrease in fishing in Georgian Bay. Restored harbour is bringing the fishing back. Town & CYC needs to consider and provide access to community angling opportunities.
64. Recognize this is a multi-user habour. Do not forget the demographic who do not attend these meetings. Consider the Youth who use the pier. Ensure we continue to provide easy access (walk or bike, inviting passive experience) and a quality experience to these users.
65. Concern with maintaining access to public spaces. Ensure we have access to amenities and assets (plaques, etc) on shore and in inner harbour.
66. How will the enforcement of parking be handled?
67. Need to ensure we are enforcing compliance if we are to have and promote commercial vessels and businesses. How are the regulations enforced? Will a By-Law be in place?
68. Protect the Tourism industry by ensuring we have compliant operators in our harbour.
69. Viewing sunsets and surrounding landscape is important.
70. Is the Town going to dredge First Street? Launching issues with water levels
71. Public launch ramp at Cranberry lacks parking.
72. How will weed control be addressed?
73. Concern with water quality. How will this be addressed to protect our harbour?
74. Is the temporary docking vulnerable to the changing water levels – short or long term? What is the difference in water depth between what the Yacht Club currently has to the proposed temporary location?
75. Is there higher level of government funding available?
76. Why is the Town selling the Terminal building and surrounding area?
77. How will the noise and lighting at the temporary docking location be managed so it does not disrupt the Shipyard residents?
78. Will this proposal impact the Tall Ships?
79. Has the Town considered purchasing the FRAM construction area?
80. General comment, there seems to be a common thread – the need to enforce traffic issues. Is there a By-Law?
81. Have float planes been considered? How will they be managed?
82. Rather see us take an action step and it fails, then not doing anything. Learn from trying
83. Consider a Historic Vessel attraction. Example Kee Watin near Midland