Despite several resident concerns being raised, an expansion to Quinte’s Isle Campark in Prince Edward County will be going ahead.

County Council chose to accept staff’s recommendation to revise the municipality’s draft Official Plan and a number of zoning-by laws to allow the project to advance at a marathon special meeting on Wednesday.

Site owners Fourward Holdings had lobbied to expand east into land already owned by Quinte’s Isle for development of a 337-park model trailer site to be known as “Pebble Beach East Campark.”

That site area is approximately 38.2 hectares of vacant rural land, with 821 m of frontage on Lake Ontario and 227 m on Welbanks Rd and is situated near two Provincially Significant Wetlands, the Soup Harbour PSW to the east and the Salmon Point PSW to the west.

RFA Planning Consultants Inc, who represented the applicants, noted all sites at the Pebble Beach East Campark will back onto green space/parkette and are linked via trails through the site.

It added that existing hedgerows, wet and wooded areas will be retained and only 0.26 hectares of vegetation will be removed from the area.

The consultants stated tourists who come in to camp in those areas contribute to local economy, spending money for local goods and services, raise about $4.5 million for the local economy.

In addition, 23 new permanent jobs will also be created and the County will see substantial short and long-term financial benefits.

Several residents spoke out against the proposed amendments, citing concerns the natural heritage, cultural heritage, noise and light pollution, traffic concerns and whether or not the expansion, which would increase the total number of trailer sites at Quinte’s Isle to more than 900, fits the County’s future vision.

These concerns were also backed by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte during consultation after a meeting in January.

County resident and planner Nina-Marie Lister was one of the most vocal opponents to the expansion.

She stated her main reasoning for being against the proposal, was that it doesn’t synergize with the long-term sustainability of the County and residents “shared future.”

“It doesn't conform to our vision, or to the provincial policy statement in terms of natural and cultural heritage,” Lister explained.

“It risks compromising a landscape of significant value for future generations, including our indigenous neighbors and partners. Council does not have consistent, unbiased or transparent evidence before it, nor does it have convincing planning, justification and rationale. This is not the basis for an informed and defensible decision.”

“It's not just a request for an extension to a deck or a garage or a secondary suite. It is to rezone land that is currently rural and part of the county's legacy of a rich cultural and natural heritage, turning it into a commercial use that is private for a gated community.”

However, planning staff and council supported the Consultants report, feeling all concerns and questions had been addressed.

Planner Matt Coffey noted the applicants are taking necessary strides to mitigate proposing a density which is far less than what is currently permitted in the policy.

“A total combined density for Quinte’s Isle would be 6.4 sites per hectare, where a maximum of 330 sites is permitted as part of this policy,” he explained.

“The smallest site is 280 square meters where the minimum is 200, and there's plenty of shoreline available for free sites, so there's lots of amenity for the folks who are staying at this campark to enjoy the waterfront.”

He added that, even though there has been a lot of negativity towards the project, “we're pretty confident that we've engaged in public consultation to the fullest extent possible.”

Coffey also told council that, contrary to points made by opposing residents, this is not a settlement area that is being proposed, it will only be permitted for seasonal use.

Coun. Bill Roberts said middle-income families will be the ones utilizing the park the most.

“They can't afford, to buy properties here, like many of us can and are lucky to and I'm grateful for being able to do that.”

Mayor Steve Ferguson explained the expansion plans have been discussed and reviewed extensively over the past five years, since 2016 and now it’s time to act on the County’s obligation to allow the region to be enjoyed by others.

“We have an extremely robust short-term accommodation sector that is effectively unaffordable to many people, or unavailable to people that live here. I think that it’s important that we afford, where possible, and make decisions on the basis of helping people who may reside here of lesser means.”

Council approved the expansion via vote.

The full meeting can be viewed at this link.