Reedy Bay Homeowner's Association - Sioux Narrows
BREAKING NEWS: The Eaglet Has Landed!
We are excited to announce that there is at least one baby eaglet in the Pioneer Park bald eagle nest!
For more details, click HERE.
Welcome to our website. We hope to share information with our Sioux Narrows neighbours regarding the proposed development of a 26-unit condominium project on the old Pioneer Park site at 5866 Highway 71. This plan includes a 28-slip marina. Please see map of proposed project HERE.
As local homeowners, we are highly disturbed by the impact of this proposal on our community and the health of our lake, marshland, and forests. We ask for your support on a petition against the development of this condominium complex and marina on Reedy Bay. Link to petition is HERE.
We have significant environmental, safety, economic and social impact concerns with respect to the density of the proposed development by Ayrie Developments on the Pioneer Park property. These concerns can be summarized as follows:
Impact of development, dock construction and significant increase in boat traffic on aquatic wetlands. Wetlands (like the marsh in this back bay) are of crucial importance to the ecosystem as they clean the water, support high concentrations of several wildlife species for food/reproduction and protect from flooding, drought and climate change.
Impact on drinking water of nearby residents. A significant concentration of boats in a small bay will increase the concentration of oil/gas leaks that will impact the quality of drinking water. Additionally, increased boat traffic will stir up sediment in the shallower portions of Reedy Bay, particularly in seasons where the average water levels are considerably lower than they are now.
The proposed development of 26 condominiums comprised of two- and three-bedroom units with a total occupancy capacity of 116 additional residents represents an incredibly high concentration of sewage on a small parcel of lakefront property. It is doubtful that the Northwestern Health Unit will monitor/test on an ongoing basis. Further, it has not been determined whether this parcel of land can support such a large development from a sewer and wastewater management perspective.
There is a known active bald eagle nest on this land. It has been there for many years and continues to be occupied annually. There are only 2,600 nests in all of Ontario and, since 1987, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has called for a 100-meter buffer zone around nests to combat the known impacts from human activities on bald eagle numbers.
Pre-development activities of the Township and/or the developer on July 25 and 26, 2024 have resulted in a considerable deforestation of the property to create access roads to conduct test pitting. One of the access roads is within a few meters of the tree with the bald eagle nest and the proposed development plans have condominiums inside of the 100 meter buffer zone.
Significantly increased foot traffic from this proposed multi-family housing development along a highway with no paved shoulder or sidewalk is a significant safety concern.
A concentration of lakefront housing with limited parking will likely lead to overflow parking on the shoulder of the highway during weekends in the summer. This is another safety concern.
There is a clear issue of fairness (or lack thereof) with the Township proposing to gift valuable waterfront property to a private, for-profit developer working on a housing project with all market-based rate housing (i.e., no social housing).
The proposed development does not address the Township's expressly declared housing needs. There are housing needs related to:
Seasonal workers at local businesses – the proposed housing is far too expensive to address these needs.
“Local professionals” – while there may be 1 or 2 positions at the school who could conceivably afford these condo units, that is likely the limit. Professionals, such as doctors, dentists, lawyers and accountants, are not going to move to Sioux Narrows to establish professional practices because of the availability of condo units. There is clearly not enough business to sustain such professional practices in this resort and cottage community and surrounding area. The majority of other professionals would potentially be trades people. Condo units without garage space would clearly not be suitable to someone working a trade with tools/equipment.
While local businesses would clearly benefit from more year-round residents, condos without garages are extremely unlikely to attract such residents. As much as we all love Sioux Narrows, including in the winter-time, if you are not into fishing or snowmobiling there is very little to draw people here. Without a garage, you would not even be able to store winter fishing equipment/gear. Realistically, these condo units are going to attract seasonal (summer) residents. An environmentally irresponsible concentrated housing plan that does not address the core housing needs is not in anyone’s best interests.
Dense waterfront housing as proposed may be an economic risk to the Township and existing property owners, as there is a risk it could trigger a mandatory piped sewer system for Sioux Narrows. The cost of this would be astronomical and a burden to existing property owners.
Geothermal heating for the development should be a requirement of the developer. Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy sets out the transformative change required to reduce green-house gas emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. This strategy requires the use of heat pumps. Air source heat pumps are not adequate in NW Ontario due to our extremely cold climate. In order to meet provincial mandates, a developer must install a district (geothermal) heating system, or appropriately downsize the number of units so that there is space for traditional geothermal heat.
Other options have not been fully investigated. The Township has suggested that all options are being looked at concurrently, but this level of concentrated housing is inappropriate and should be targeted to be significantly downsized on this environmentally sensitive land while finding more suitable land for dense development as proposed. Converting the zoning of this piece of land from Open Space to Residential Zone 1 (R1) would be a far more compatible and environmentally appropriate use within Reedy Bay and would generate a considerable amount of revenue for the Township if this property were to be publicly listed for such purpose.
Finally, Sioux Narrows is and realistically always will be driven by tourism. It is the core of the town’s economic engine and is driven by its image as a quiet, cabin-country town that is just big enough to offer what you need. The small “downtown” consists of a grocery store, gas station, restaurants and gift shops that are spread out and architecturally pleasing, blending with the natural beauty and vibe of the lake, dotted with spread out cabins and built to look quaint and non-modernized. High-density condominiums as the first thing you see when you drive into town are likely to do more harm than good in the long run. The long drive from any nearby urban cities starts to feel a bit too long, if you are surrounded by the modern condominiums you were trying to escape. People will search out more untouched, natural landscapes that represent what Sioux Narrows has been until now.
Please sign our petition in opposition to the planned condominium project on Reedy Bay. The online petition can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Subsequent updates after July 29 can be found on the Updates page HERE.
Thank you for doing your part to protect Reedy Bay, Sioux Narrows, and our beautiful lake community. If you would like to leave your comments, click HERE. If you have any questions or concerns, please email protectreedybay@shaw.ca for more information.