1801 Roeder Ave - savary island committee

Janine Reimer
May 6, 2010
Page 2 of 4
survey, and located every tree on twenty acres at Beacon Point. Further, preliminary designs by two
architectural firms were also done in preparation for building the family cottage.
After that Partition Agreement was signed, we filed the first application with the Ministry of
Transportation and Highways (MOTH) (the “First Application”) in which David would make 10 acre lots
on his eastern half of D.L. 1375, and my family would keep our half (the western half) “as is”, planning to
build the main cottage on Beacon Point.
After the First Application was filed, we were advised by MOTH that it would not approve the
proposed subdivision into one large parcel (Sahlin’s western half) and the eastern half into Syre’s 10 acre
subdivision of lots if in the future our family ever wanted to divide our portion of D.L. 1375 into smaller
lots. The MOTH wanted the property divided at the same time for the sake of the roads. This forced our
family to participate in a second application, the subdivision of 36 lots on the entire parcel of D.L. 1375.
As a result, a second application was filed with MOTH which provided for the subdivision of our
family’s western half of D.L. 1375 into sixteen 10 acre lots. When the Second Application was filed,
David and I verbally agreed that my family would keep its western half after that subdivision occurred.
The subdivision did not proceed. While we were in the process of costing the work necessary to
comply with the conditions of the subdivision approval and addressing issues related to the subdivision
conditions, David sold his 50% interest to The Nature Trust (TNT). This transfer occurred prior to the
Partition Agreement being implemented. I had no advance notice of this transfer, and I learned of it
through a press release issued by TNT on April 3, 2002.
In the press release, TNT raised a concept that our family would retain some land for a family
compound and sell the balance to them. In June 2002, I met with TNT representatives, where I presented
the first of several preliminary drawing responding to TNT’s concept. At the meeting TNT rejected any
knowledge of or responsibility to the Partition Agreement between David and me.
In May 2003 our family then offered to sell 70 acres of its one-half interest in D.L. 1375 to TNT,
keeping 90 acres including approximately the western quarter of D.L. 1375 and Lots 35 and 36. If that
proposal had been accepted, TNT would have 80.4% of D.L. 1375, 78.4% of the inland relict dune area and
96.1% of shoreline considered by certain persons to be sensitive. That proposal was rejected by TNT. I
was advised by a representative of TNT that they could legally force a sale of D.L. 1375, requiring the
parties to bid against each other and that the ecological importance of the Savary Land was less important
than they originally believed.
Between 2002 and 2005, our family made 3 written proposals where the Sahlin family would
retain some portion of Beacon Point and sell approximately 126 acres to TNT. There were five proposed
cottages with specific sites that underwent review for environmental sensitivity; a $60,000 endowment fund
whose earnings were to be used to eradicate the invasive species of Scotch Broom at Beacon Point, a list of
family imposed environmental protections, and building materials / design requirements. Each of these
proposals was rejected by TNT. TNT rejected any Sahlin ownership or use on the southwest two thirds of
the property, and our proposals to convey portions of D.L. 1375 to TNT. Despite these rejections, we
continued to make proposals in an effort to resolve the ownership amicably.
In July 2005, our family made another proposal with a different configuration in which we would
retain 66 acres and sell 94 acres to TNT. If that proposal was accepted, TNT would have 80.4% of D.L.
1375, 78.4% of the inland dunes, and 72.2% of the shoreline. We structured that offer to address TNT’s
concerns regarding potentially sensitive areas of D.L. 1375 identified by TNT. In this proposal the Sahlin
Family presented a botanist’s review of its favored five sites which suggested one be moved to a different
location. That offer was rejected.
TNT said they would be unable to negotiate as both parties wanted parts of the same land, the
southwest portions including Beacon Point. Therefore, TNT proposed a partition of the property.
In September 2005 TNT made its first proposal for partition. In that proposal, TNT offered that it
keep 193 acres of D.L. 1375 (while our family would keep 145). Our family would keep almost all of the