During the Saugeen Shores council meeting on April 28, the discussion centered around the Port Elgin waterfront. Staff confirmed that the Cedar Crescent Village project has not missed any key dates in its development timeline. The deputy mayor proposed that if there are future requests for beach attractions, a Request for Proposal process should be implemented after council turned down plans for a Splash City at Port Elgin Main Beach.
Apr 29, 2025 •
The expected final completion date for the $14 million Cedar Crescent Village development on the Port Elgin waterfront is September 14, 2026. The developer has adhered to all milestone dates in its development schedule. Photo by SUPPLIED RENDERING
The $14 million Cedar Crescent Village (CCV) project at the Port Elgin waterfront has kept to its milestone development timeline without any delays.
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Even though some dates have passed, Town Chief Administrative Officer Kara Van Myall clarified that these are start dates rather than completion dates.
She made this clear during the April 28 council meeting when Deputy Mayor Diane Huber raised concerns about what would happen if a milestone were significantly missed.
While recognizing that some progress had been made at the site recently, Huber pointed out that some timelines given by CVC several months ago regarding electrical work, civil connections, concrete work, heating and cooling, and plumbing were supposed to have been completed by now.
“When do we get to a point where we will hear about a milestone being missed – what is that target?” Huber asked. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Van Myall stated her understanding of the milestone schedule provided by the developer in February is that these dates refer to when work begins.
“It wasn’t a milestone to be missed. It was the start of that work,” she explained, mentioning that electrical work scheduled for April 21 can’t proceed until there’s an actual building and adding “no milestone has been missed, at this point.” The CCV project is a partnership between the Town and an Ontario numbered company led by local businessman Pier Donnini, who entered into a 50-year lease in 2019.
The development aims to revitalize the waterfront area where previously stood a tourist train station, mini-putt golf course and summer market space. This project has faced criticism and delays over five years – delays Donnini apologized for when he presented an updated milestone schedule to council in February. The north building is set to be finished by February 2, 2026 and the south building by May 18, 2026; also Town Council extended the final deadline for completion by ten months to September 14, 2026. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Still on the Port Elgin waterfront …
Following Town Council’s rejection of Splash City Fun Park’s proposal for an inflatable water park in Lake Huron off Port Elgin Main Beach, Deputy Mayor Diane Huber stated that any future proposals need “a little different kind of approach”, such as using a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Splash City had approached Town with their proposal unsolicited last December.
Concerns regarding safety issues, loss of towel space available on beaches , adequate insurance coverage , potential changes to beach atmosphere , and whether there was enough demand led a narrow majority of Council – with a vote of 4-3 with two absent – against staff recommendations to continue discussions towards reaching an agreement with Splash City for opening a waterpark this summer. Huber mentioned that minutes from their April 14 meeting indicate if they could address concerns raised then Splash City could return next year with another proposal under consideration.
She suggested including notes from those minutes indicating some councillors expressed worries about why they did not utilize an RFP process like they did for six other locations researched including Orillia and Port Colborne. “(I) hope that when we get around to this , it happens at just right time so maybe some other companies interested in providing activities at Port Elgin Main Beach can have their chance too,” Huber said.
After Saugeen Shores Council dismissed plans for an aquatic waterpark off Port Elgin Main Beach , Deputy Mayor Huber noted future proposals should follow formal Request For Proposal guidelines. Photo by SUPPLIED PHOTO
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She made this clear during the April 28 council meeting when Deputy Mayor Diane Huber raised concerns about what would happen if a milestone were significantly missed.
While recognizing that some progress had been made at the site recently, Huber pointed out that some timelines given by CVC several months ago regarding electrical work, civil connections, concrete work, heating and cooling, and plumbing were supposed to have been completed by now.
“When do we get to a point where we will hear about a milestone being missed – what is that target?” Huber asked. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Van Myall stated her understanding of the milestone schedule provided by the developer in February is that these dates refer to when work begins.
“It wasn’t a milestone to be missed. It was the start of that work,” she explained, mentioning that electrical work scheduled for April 21 can’t proceed until there’s an actual building and adding “no milestone has been missed, at this point.” The CCV project is a partnership between the Town and an Ontario numbered company led by local businessman Pier Donnini, who entered into a 50-year lease in 2019.
The development aims to revitalize the waterfront area where previously stood a tourist train station, mini-putt golf course and summer market space. This project has faced criticism and delays over five years – delays Donnini apologized for when he presented an updated milestone schedule to council in February. The north building is set to be finished by February 2, 2026 and the south building by May 18, 2026; also Town Council extended the final deadline for completion by ten months to September 14, 2026. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Still on the Port Elgin waterfront …
Following Town Council’s rejection of Splash City Fun Park’s proposal for an inflatable water park in Lake Huron off Port Elgin Main Beach, Deputy Mayor Diane Huber stated that any future proposals need “a little different kind of approach”, such as using a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Splash City had approached Town with their proposal unsolicited last December.
Concerns regarding safety issues, loss of towel space available on beaches , adequate insurance coverage , potential changes to beach atmosphere , and whether there was enough demand led a narrow majority of Council – with a vote of 4-3 with two absent – against staff recommendations to continue discussions towards reaching an agreement with Splash City for opening a waterpark this summer. Huber mentioned that minutes from their April 14 meeting indicate if they could address concerns raised then Splash City could return next year with another proposal under consideration.
She suggested including notes from those minutes indicating some councillors expressed worries about why they did not utilize an RFP process like they did for six other locations researched including Orillia and Port Colborne. “(I) hope that when we get around to this , it happens at just right time so maybe some other companies interested in providing activities at Port Elgin Main Beach can have their chance too,” Huber said.
After Saugeen Shores Council dismissed plans for an aquatic waterpark off Port Elgin Main Beach , Deputy Mayor Huber noted future proposals should follow formal Request For Proposal guidelines. Photo by SUPPLIED PHOTO
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