In previous weeks, a 41-unit condominium development on the shores of Lake Erie at the former Easter Seals Lakewood Camp in Wainfleet, moved one step closer to reality for township residents. The idea of this development has been brought to city council for review, by future developers. Some residents of the Wainfleet Township are opposed to the idea of the development, saying that the building of the potential multi-unit residential development was not noted in the township’s vision statement.
Unease Wainfleet Township Residents
If followed through, the future development will be the largest single development ever to be proposed for the township. In conjunction with the condo development, there are 60 conditions that have to be fulfilled to ensure the township is protected and the development as proposed meets all technical requirements by all parties. A few of the conditions addressed in the approval process include; how existing septic beds on the property will be incorporated, the concern of water supply from Long Beach, increased noise, and odor from the water and watershed plants. Various residents are uneasy about the thought of a potential condo development of this size in the township.
The Responsibilities for Potential Condo Owners
Along with the outlined conditions are other factors that have been noted. Each unit of the development will have the responsibility to pay for and maintain shared services. This includes the ongoing upkeep of the road and communal system. It has also been requested that the condo agreement includes a clause that owners are made aware that Wainfleet is a farming community. This may cause there to be a potential for smells and noises associated with those operations that could affect the whole area.
Next Steps
With residents from the Wainfleet Township on both sides of the fence about the proposal, the development plan will undergo a lengthy amount of review and decision from the township. This process will likely take a great deal of time and once the development is approved, construction will not begin for quite some time. Lake Erie offers some of the best waterfront in the Niagara Region, with this property offer sandy beach stretching along the entire south boundary. The low supply of available waterfront presents challenges for ownership; this development is trying to provide a twist on waterfront ownership for this area of the Region, which is exciting for Niagara going forward. With the increasing population in the Niagara Region and the potential for Go Transit expansion, the multi-unit residential development could be a beneficial investment for the Township of Wainfleet.
