PAGE 8, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3,1988 Whitby Chamber hears development plans for harbor area Plans for', recreational and residential growth in the port area of Whitby were outlined by Town representatives at aWhitby Cham- ber of Commerce meeting last week. "It just makes the eye sparkle," said Town administrator Bill Wallace of the "dynamic" plans: which have been presented in detail over the pastyear before Whitby's administrative committee. A final report by a consulting firm on a development guide for the lakeshore area will be made in mid- February, said Wallace. But he told chamber members of future ac- Chamber will make news: Richardson The Whitby Chamber of Com- merce will be more active in 1988, promises new president Bob Richardson. "We will try to create news, not react to it," Richardson stated in hissaddress to the membership at last week's meeting; Newsletters.Will soon ipclude, write-ups on various businesses and the search will begin for a building that will be "home" for the Whitby chamber officè. "We thinlk we can do it," said Richardson. 'It's a big plan but we at least hope to start the plans this year to get it in motion." Smail business workshops will be held and a "major speaker" will discuss free trade at a future meeting.. Chambers of Commerce have "traditionally" favored free trade, he noted. . In a straw vote, Whitby members aiso suppoÃted concerns by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. about the all-news cable channel licence granted to the CBC. "The main issue is, do we let the bureaucrats take another piece of the action?" said Richardson, who asked for a vote in support of private, free enterprise. ,The federal cabinet has now aelayed a permit and wants the CBC to include private broad- casters in its plans,) He said that the Canadian Cham- ber of Commerce is also lobbying for the right of ownership of proper- ty to be included in Canada's Char- ter of Rights. tivity that will enhance the port area which be described as the "jewelin the crown of Whitby.": Wallace said the Town marina, which is operated on a "private en- terprise basis," will someday become a "major facility" that in- cludes a restaurant, banquet area and more facilities for boat owners there, such as a laundromat. Meanwhile, he said, the Whitby Yacht Club will continue to have room to "meet its requirements." Last year, the Town also acquired thé Whitby Boat Works, to be included in future marina ex- pansion. A $600,000 federal grant recently approved for Whitby harbor im- provements came as a "surprise and a pleasure, really a bonus," said Wallace.' Grant money will provide 70-80 more dock slips in the marina, as well as hydro and lighting on some docks, and will also pay for some improvements on the Whitby pier. "We, think it's a good place to spend funds on," said Wallace. He explained that the existing boat'launch area east of Cartier- McNamara will eventually be relocatéd to the end of Gordon St. That location will also become a -double launch area, and a fish cleaning station could also be established there. Wallace said the Town recognizes that the~fishing industry in Whitby is still "untapped." The existing entrance to the yacht club, running along the lakeshore off Gordon St., will also be moved further north to improve access and"frée up" the beach- front area there for inprovement, said Wallace. Town planning direc- tor Bob Short outlined plans for 100 parking spaces, a bandshell, paddle boats and a walkway in the beach Manlager on. a regUýcd Yî. I - - area. "That's one of the finest beach areas in Lake Ontario," Wallace told chamber members. Wallace also noted that the Coscan development group has purchased the Cartier-McNamara property. Mayor Bob Attersley said ail equipment will be removed from the 23-acre -property by August, 1989. The mayor also said negotiations have been held by the Town over a nine-acre property owned by Texacb in the harbor area. He told chamber members he could not give more details about whether the' Town was trying to acquire the property. "Let's just say things may be happening," he said. In response to another question, Attersley acknowledged that dredging will occur in the harbor. However, Wallace said there could be environmental concerns about the effects of dredging so a study is being made. "It will be addressed in the final report," he said, adding that only certain locations will be "pinpoin- ted" where dredging may occur. Wallace said he was unable to give a "more definitive.answer" about dredging because details are not yet known. Short, who said land use studies in the harbor area had begun in the early 1980's, alse pointed out development further north of the lakeshore area, such as a 180-acre property near the 401 which has been designatedas an industrial area. He also pointed out that the plan designates much property for residential development of all types, including three apartment buildings recently approved for a property opposite The Station Gallery.