Residents raise concerns over Sandy Bay Road development in Penetanguishene
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, Oct 14, 2025
Residents in the Gordon Drive area of Penetanguishene appeared recently in council chambers to voice concerns over a committee of adjustment decision regarding 1500 Sandy Bay Road.
The matter centres on the plot of land between Watson Road and Gordon Drive on the west side, where three lots were proposed for future residential use.
A consent application was submitted in July 2023 to the committee of adjustment, and had since received technical materials including an environmental impact study as supporting documents on the application.
Residents had their say at the open forum portion of the recent Penetanguishene council meeting regarding the committee of adjustment in September where the application was granted approval subject to conditions of consent, including rezoning of wetland to environmental protection zone, and the preparation of a reference plan of survey to confirm lot sizes.
Neighbour Martin Prost reiterated much of his submitted letter of appeal at the council meeting podium, with an initial focus on drinking water.
“We (the local residents) are all worried sick about the proposed development at the bottom of Sandy Bay Road on a swampy area,” said Prost, citing run-off from septic as the concern.
However, as Prost had written in his appeal that the siting of new wells on the proposed lots may be located down-gradient of the proposed septic systems, planning consultant Jamie Robinson of MHBC countered the claim – within an MHBC letter and also later in the council meeting – by specifically addressing the servicing feasibility study and building code requirements to “ensure that future septic design is in accordance” with Ministry of Environment and regulatory standards.
Prost also noted aquifers in his comments, which Robinson also countered, saying that the only time aquifers had been brought up was by Prost and not technical experts. Prost requested council for a pause on the development so that a groundwater assessment on proposed wells and septic system flow could be obtained.
The presumed raised septic system was also brought up by other residents, with other concerns including the protection of wetlands. One contention raised by a resident involved a 2022 assessment by Azimuth Environmental Consulting, which was peer reviewed by town retained WSP Canada Inc in 2023; both companies visited the site in 2024 and refined their assessment – thus conflicting with the resident’s stance aligned with the 2023 disagreement.
At the open forum, Robinson reiterated his professional opinion that the application met all applicable policy requirements and applications and conformed to official plans for town and county, as well as Provincial Policy Statement consistency, which had also been the committee of adjustment’s decision.
Planning director Andrea Betty noted the septic and feasibility study, reviewed by staff, which met policy and conformed to documents. “They felt in their recommendations that this development could proceed, and that there was no danger to drinking water with appropriate design of each system on the lot,” said Betty.
Once council adjourned and the committee of the whole began, with nearly no one left in the audience having all dispersed in the break, Coun. George Vadeboncoeur – who sat on the committee but who had been away on vacation when that September committee of adjustment meeting was held – shared his thoughts.
Calling Azimuth “acknowledged experts… one of the best consultants that operate in Simcoe County”, Vadeboncoeur shared that he read all reports and visited the site prior to the council meeting, and acknowledged the residents’ concerns but was confident in the staff and technical studies.
“If I had been in attendance at the committee of adjustment meeting,” said Vadeboncoeur, “I would’ve supported the staff recommendation and voted to approve the application,” and its requirements needed for creation of the three lots, septic permits and well-drilling.
The October 1 council information package, including letters from Prost and Robinson, can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website.
Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53, or on the Rogers TV website.archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.
