Oakville town council has put the brakes on a $1.75 million proposal to relocate the town’s long-established volunteer marine search and rescue team to Bronte’s heritage-designated former Metro Marine building.
Instead, councillors have told town staff to consult with the public and consider other possible locations for housing the service.
Oakville Marine Search and Rescue (OMSAR), formerly known as TOWARF, is an auxiliary unit of the Canadian Coast Guard. It has operated out of a town-owned building at 2 Navy St. for several decades.
On Tuesday, July 9, councillors considered a recommendation from town staff to undertake $1.75 million in renovations to Bronte’s historic marina building to make it OMSAR’s new home for next spring.
While the majority of the historic building is rented to a boat repair tenant, a large section is vacant and currently used for storage.
Town staff had suggested the move would provide OMSAR with improved docking capabilities for a new larger vessel, allow the town to avoid repair and replacement costs at the Navy Street site, and create potential synergies with the Halton police’s marine unit already based in Bronte.
Opposition to the plan was raised by Harry Shea, president of the Bronte Village Residents Association and spokesperson for One Bronte – One Voice.
The relocation would severely restrict future use of the Metro Marine building – "a valuable heritage property on prime real estate," Shea said.
He also questioned why the public wasn’t consulted on the proposal, and suggested there might be better options for housing OMSAR.
The addition of a second floor to the bathroom building on the beach side of Bronte Harbour would provide the service with a home near the public boat launch, Shea noted.
That idea was greeted with enthusiasm by Ward 1 councillor Jonathan McNeice, who said it would be a way to add “more eyes on the street” to that side of the harbour.
"I would certainly like to see that as one of the options that staff comes back with," said McNeice.
Fellow Ward 1 councillor Sean O’Meara added that public discussion of the harbour’s long-term future has generated excitement around a variety of possible uses for the Metro Marine building.
"I support TOWARF and finding a location for them and I actually think Bronte would be a great place – I’m just trying to figure out how it all fits together," he said.
Ward 3 councillor Janet Haslett-Theall also asked town staff to consult with the public on the future of the Navy Street building.
But it appears someone may already have a vision for that location.
As one of the benefits of relocating OMSAR, town staff point to the opportunity for a “repurposing” of its current home.
"The Town has issued an RFP for a seasonal restaurant and that will be further discussed in a report at the August 13, 2024, Council Meeting," says the staff report.
Mayor Rob Burton’s 2022 election platform included a promise to, "add a public waterside pub to each harbour."