WHAT
HAPPENED
Developers tried to build a Commercial Resort on Sport island, in the middle of a quiet island neighborhood. This would have set a terrible precedent for more development on the River. After due consideration, local zoning was changed to prevent commercial development of this kind.
In 2019, a group purchased Sport Island and beautifully renovated the houses and outbuildings, consistent with the residential character of the Summerland cluster. But the Developers changed course and applied for "Resort" status, by way of submitting a Site Plan to the Town Planning Board (February, 2022), causing an outcry from residents.
June 30, 2022: After a lengthy hearing where the Developer presented their plan and a public comment period, there was a unanimous 6-0 vote by the Jefferson County Planning Board recommending disapproval of the site plan (which would allow the resort on Sport)! The following letter was sent to the Town Of Alexandria Planning Board.
July 13, 2022: The Developers pulled the site plan application (for the Resort on Sport) from the July 18th Town Planning Board meeting agenda, by way of a letter from their attorneys! While this was good news, we expected this issue would not be over without a zoning change.
July 21, 2022: The Town Board proposed a ONE YEAR MORATORIUM on commercial operations on the islands (submitted via site plan). This allowed them to consider zoning changes without developers trying to get more resorts approved on Islands like Sport. The moratorium needed to be voted in on September 1, and, if passed, would be retroactive back to July 20.
August 30 2022: In a rare action, The Jefferson County Panning Board considered and voted unanimously that the Town of Alexandria Board pass the proposed 1-year Moratorium. Typically a local matter like this is passed back to the local municipality. Read the press coverage here.
September 1, 2022: The Alexandria Town Board voted to pass a 1-year moratorium into a new local LAW. This means no commercial (resort) developments could move forward by way of Site Plan Review on any islands in the Marine Residential District, while the town reconsidered the process and zoning. This was a victory, regarding stopping the Resort On Sport, but work was still needed to encourage new zoning, so that the unique character of our area was preserved. Read the press coverage here.
UPDATE! January 17, 2024: The Town Board voted to update the zoning ordinance and the zoning map. The islands are now marked in reddish-purple on the zoning map and are their own, new zoning designation (Marine Island, "MI"), separate from the former designation of Marine Residential. Under the new zoning designation, commercial uses are no longer permitted on the Islands!
MARINE ISLAND DISTRICT – MI
PURPOSE: The Marine Island District is designated to protect the unique characteristics of the Thousand Islands region by limiting development to residential uses only on the many islands located on the St. Lawrence River within the Town of Alexandria. However, these regulations do not pertain to Wellesley Island.
PERMITTED USES: Single family dwellings, including manufactured or modular homes and camps.
Background: In 2019, a group purchased Sport Island and beautifully renovated the houses and outbuildings. This restoration, and their original intent to subdivide the island or sell it as a residential escape, was/is consistent with the residential character of the Summerland cluster and the intent of the then-current "Marine Residential" zoning code.
The Developers changed course and applied for "Resort" status, by way of submitting a Site Plan to the Town Planning Board (February, 2022). It is unknown who, exactly, is involved but the application is by "Sport Island Holdings LLC" and the owner/applicant is listed as Ben Walldroff of Watertown, NY. If approved, this resort would be literally IN THE MIDDLE OF a quiet neighborhood of island homes. Press coverage.
A site plan application for "Resort" zoning would mean they would have had no limitations on commercial use and referred to "amenities such as a tiki bar, pools, spas and docking" and a "pool area, tennis courts, an elevated deck." Notably, they wanted over 1000 feet of new docks 125+feet out into the river with slips for 33+ boats, including large 40-50 foot boats for bringing big groups of guests to the Island.
While resorts and tourism are a foundational, historical part of the 1000 Islands region, there is a reason for zoning and it's important to respect established code and not allow the financial aspirations of a few to alter the character of island communities on the river forever.
Sport Island is in the Summerland Group and, while we appreciate and approve of the recent renovations to the old houses on the island, this residential-zoned island neighborhood would have significantly negatively impacted by a change to "Resort" designation.
More importantly, if a plan like this were to been approved by the Town of Alexandria Planning Board, it would have set a new precedent, as all island neighborhoods were zoned "Marine Residential". As such, any island could have become a commercial party zone with loud late night events, crowds, expansive new docks, outdoor tiki bars, increased boat traffic, sewage, negative environmental impacts, etc. This would have hurt tourism and degraded the unique character of the 1000 Islands.
We applaud the Town Board for recognizing this as a threat to the character of the Islands and changing the zoning to prevent this, by way of the new Marine Island designation.
