The proposed Lake Shore Inn at Sauble Beach may still go ahead, but it might be a “Plan B” version, if necessary.
The developer, at a public meeting of South Bruce Peninsula council on Tuesday, surprised everyone by indicating if they can’t rezone a parcel of land behind the proposed hotel on Lakeshore Boulevard, then they’ll abandon the rezoning requested for 122 Second Street.
Mayor Janice Jackson says they wanted the extra land for septic and tile bed along with extra parking, indicating that’s where the zone change was needed.
She says “He has the proper zoning for a four-storey hotel (at 119 Lakeshore Boulevard) right now. He can go and build that tomorrow with no interference from anybody.”
However, he would have to reduce the number of rooms to 16 from 21.
At the public meeting, Jackson says 10 people showed up at South Bruce Peninsula Town Hall to voice their opinions.
Mayor Jackson says in addition, about 15 letters were read into the record and she estimates about 70 per cent of the total comments were against the development.
Jackson says many of those against didn’t want to see the lakeshore turned into a “Miami Beach” full of hotels.
She says it’s all residential, north of the commercial lot in question.
Council deferred a decision on the matter, likely until mid-August.
To give you a perspective, a 4-storey hotel would be as high as the nearby Ascent Aerial Park.