Prince Edward County Council will make a decision on a temporary rezoning application for Edgewater Trailer Park at the end of the month but many councillors already voiced concern about granting the application.
At Thursday’s Committee of the Whole, councillors discussed the rezoning application that would keep the West Lake Willy Water Park operating for another year.
The water park’s owner operates the business on land owned by and adjacent to Edgewater and is asking to continue to to operate the water park, food stand and day camp.
Residents of Sheba’s Island and Winns Drive have long had complaints about the water park, including noise, garbage and parking issues.
In a deputation to council, Lawrie Ackerman asked council not to approve the application and do even more than that.
“We’re asking council to close West Lake Willy Water Park operation today. To have the owners immediately place signage on the site saying business is closed. To have a newly placed inflatable docking system and all rental watercraft removed from the waters and site. And to replant the trees and vegetation in the open zone area. They’ve completely cleared it out.”
The trailer park has been in operation as a legal non-conforming use for several years but a staff report suggests the water park operations have expanded the use beyond what was intended.
Councillor John Hirsch says he cannot support the request for rezoning.
“All due respect to the people running it but they continually expanded this. And it’s not just a parking problem, council might recall when this came before us last summer that the homeowners to the south of this were feeling bombarded by the speed boats and irresponsible boating and coming too close to their docks.”
The park did not operate last year due to COVID-19.
Council is scheduled to make a decision on the rezoning application at its June 30 meeting.
