City takes on role of lot developer.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Special Report: Elliot Lake/North Shore - City of Elliot Lake

In promoting Elliot Lake as a four-season vacation destination, the city is preparing to introduce new seasonal cottage lots to the marketplace this summer.

For almost 15 years, the city, as part of its economic diversification plan, has wanted to seize the opportunity to offer up the area's scenic beauty by assembling a package of waterfront lots around the dozens of lakes within the municipality's borders.

Thousands of hunters, fishermen and campers are drawn to the area every year, but neither the city nor public have been able to purchase property in prime waterfront spots since the available acreage was Crown land.

The City of Elliot Lake will act as developer and will have all the necessary approval authority to map out the subdivisions, says Warren Neufeld, the development's project manager. It was a move, which needed legislative approval by Queen's Park through a private members bill by MPP Mike Brown.

"Most communities are not allowed to be developers," says Neufeld. "This private. members bill -- called the City of Elliot Lake bill -- was passed, making an exception due to special economic circumstances."

In keeping with conditions in the Municipal Act, the city is establishing an arms-length agency known as the Elliot Lake Residential Development Corp. made up of two politicians, including Mayor George Farkouh, and five local business people, to guide future lot development.

Also, any money made from the venture must be re-invested back into economic development projects.

Farkouh says Elliot Lake has broken new ground with the province by providing a model that will allow other municipalities to buy raw Crown land in the future and re-sell it for residential development.

"The model that we have created through acquiring and receiving approvals is being adopted as part of the Smart Growth recommendations on the use of Crown land," says Farkouh.

"There was never any enabling legislation under the Municipal Act allowing municipalities to buy Crown land and re-market it cottage lots."

In the first stage of development, 36 lake front lots of about a half-hectare will be on the market in early to mid-July with about 20 to 26 lots to be added by this fall. Down the road as many as 400 lots will be up for sale depending on market demand.

The available lots are nestled about 12 kilometres north of the city on two lakes, Dunlop and Quirk Lake. Both areas are zoned shoreline residential and could be used year-round.

No set prices have been...