The Town of Wasaga Beach is going ahead with the purchase of seven properties on Beach Area One for $13.8 million.
The motion was approved by council Tuesday night by a vote of five to two in front of a standing room only crowd in council chambers.
On April 21, the town voted five to two in favour of pursuing the purchase of the properties. Mayor Brian Smith has said the purchase wouldn’t put taxpayers on the hook – using the town’s general reserves and a bank loan.
But Deputy Mayor Nina Bifolchi was still skeptical on Tuesday night.
“I feel it’s been rushed through in a matter of six weeks, there’s been no time for a business plan or a visioning for those buildings and I’m concerned about what it will do to the taxpayers,” added Bifolchi.
Mayor Smith says owning more than 70% of the businesses on Beach Are One give the town options for development, such as long term leasing or dividing up the properties for smaller sales.
“This gives the town a lot more control to put a community improvement plan in place to entice developers and other people to come to town,” added Smith.
