Citizen’s group disapproves of Port Elgin waterfront development extension

Officials in Port Elgin have given developers behind a controversial beachfront project more time to complete construction. CTV London’s Scott Miller explains.

Construction on Port Elgin’s Cedar Crescent Village waterfront development has begun - but Patricia Frank is not looking forward to it.

“Our concerns from the very beginning is that it’s not environmentally sound. We’ve always wanted improvement to the beach and the beach front. We’ve wanted a nice one-story building with a restaurant and a marina shop, possibly even a mini putt, but instead we have a 40 foot high event hall, and a two story restaurant, and a Dairy Queen,” said Frank who lives near the proposed project and founded a citizens group opposing it.

In 2019 Port Elgin restaurant owner Pier Donnini and the Town of Saugeen Shores signed a 50-year lease to develop beachfront restaurants and retail outlets steps away from Port Elgin’s beach. Concerns about the proximity to the waterfront from the local Conservation Authority, the pandemic, and financing challenges slowed the project to the point that construction only began just last month.

The original agreement had the Cedar Crescent Village completed by August 2025, but Donnini has received an extension from Saugeen Shores council for completion of the multi-million dollar development until September 2026.

“We were dumbfounded to be honest. The proponent has had over five years to have this completed. There is no commitment to financing, there is no building or financial plan, and there is no permit to take water, and yet the town was hoodwinked into thinking ‘oh it’s okay to extend these permits,’” said Frank.

Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau said he would loved to have seen the public-private beachfront development completed by now, but it’s not. He is convinced that it will get built and will be a great addition to Port Elgin’s waterfront.

“It’s been five years which is - you know - longer obviously than anybody wanted to see. But it’s a 50-year lease, and it’s going to be an extra ten months. And in the context of a 50 year lease another ten months isn’t all that long,” said Charbonneau.

Under the extended timeline agreement Phase 1 will include a Dairy Queen, and is to be completed by February 2026. Phase 2, which will include a restaurant and pavilion, is to be completed no later than September 2026.

“It’s going to be a restaurant and Dairy Queen and a couple of shops down there in a great location. It’s an area that’s always been developed commercially on our waterfront, so to have this new development there it’s I think is going to be a really exciting thing,” he said.

Frank and her group of Port Elgin Beach Preservers will believe it when they see it.

“He’s pushed around some sand in the middle of February trying to convince this town that he’s getting started and I don’t buy it,” said Frank.

You can learn more about the plans for the Cedar Crescent Village by visiting Cedar Crescent Village - Saugeen Shores or Port Elgin Beach Preservers on Facebook.