Saugeen Shores Regular Council — Monday, September 28, 2026
Blue Water Lands housing Council voted to lease — rather than sell — approximately $1.5 million in municipal land to the Margaret Lawrence Housing Co-operative for a proposed 159-unit affordable housing development of apartments and stacked townhouses. Total estimated project cost is $82 million, significantly above the roughly $50 million figure cited when the project was first introduced. Staff will negotiate lease terms and return with a formal agreement for adoption by by-law. Councillor Stack argued the lease structure adds administrative burden without demonstrably greater municipal protection.
Pioneer Cemetery closed Council unanimously approved closing the Pioneer Cemetery riverbank remediation project at end of fiscal year 2026 and redirecting $800,000 in accumulated reserves. After more than a decade of studies and two delegations to AMO, staff confirmed no provincial funding envelope exists for the project. Operations staff will install fencing and diversion signage to manage public safety near the eroding Saugeen River bank.
Wastewater grant A grant of up to approximately $18 million was secured for the Southampton Wastewater Treatment Plant, reducing the town’s share of a $40-million-plus total investment by roughly $24 million. The item passed on the consent agenda without discussion.
Transportation Master Plan Council received the updated Transportation Master Plan guiding decisions to 2046. It establishes a Complete Streets framework, neighbourhood traffic management guidelines, a signed alternate truck route, and cost estimates of $4.3 million short-term and $14.5 million long-term, plus $8.3 million for pedestrian network improvements. Motion carried unanimously.
Pedestrian safety delegation Port Elgin resident Peter Stanley, a lead risk specialist at Bruce Power, urged council to embed a pedestrian-yielding culture through painted crosswalks, town-wide “we stop for pedestrians” signage, and flexible pavement posts — not capital projects. He identified more than a dozen specific problem locations and asked staff to audit each and report back on costs and priorities. Councillor Mayat dissented from the measures, questioning how many pedestrians have actually been struck by vehicles in Saugeen Shores in the past 20 years. The Deputy Mayor noted a pedestrian was killed crossing Highway 21 in Port Elgin approximately four to five years ago.
Heritage designation Council unanimously directed staff to proceed with provincial Part 4 Ontario Heritage Act designation for 43 Grosvenor Street North, Southampton — an 1895 Ontario Cottage linked to former Reeve and Mayor William McGregor, fishing industry co-founder John Donald MacLeod, and Archbishop James Watten.
New Deputy Fire Chief Bylaw 94-2026 appointed Anthony Woodruff, most recently of Uxbridge, as Deputy Fire Chief. Council also received the 2022–2026 Strategic Plan progress report noting $31.5 million in external funding secured. Pumpkin Fest reported a record $5.4 million regional economic impact for 2025. Meeting adjourned at 11:03 p.m.