By Spencer Sterritt

‘It wasn’t an easy decision’: Candle Lake council votes for new marina

Jun 14, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Despite heavy opposition from the Candle Lake community, a new marina will be developed on the shores of the village resort.

Candle Lake city council voted three to one in favour of a new marina at their meeting Friday, June 10 after several hours of a public hearing.

Mayor John Quinn said it wasn’t an easy decision, but demand for the marina persuaded him.

“There’s a real pressing need for people to be able to get their boats in the water and utilize the lake. I felt the marina was needed more than reasons not to have it,” he said.

Quinn added the location of the marina was something he grappled with when making his decision, but said “there isn’t any area around the lake which wouldn’t be, or end up being, congested more so than it already is.”

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The marina issue had been before Candle Lake’s city council numerous times. A petition against marina development reached 600 signatures in 2014.

Dozens of Candle Lake residents spoke to council about the marina during the hearing, many pledging their opposition to the development.

Carol Cherkewich, who spoke at length to council, said there were numerous other places the marina could have been developed.

“There was a proposed marina in the (Glendale Park hamlet) area, and lots of places on the west side,” she said.

Cherkewich also recommended putting the marina in front of the Candle Lake RV park, where a small marina used to exist.

“People are just appalled at what the council has done,” she said. “They’re just amazed council would do such a thing when there’s such a large majority of people against the proposal…shame on them.”

paNOW reached out to marina developer Marcus Henderson, and as of this time has not received a reply.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit