Boat project approved, but ship left without a captain

Jim Kolios shows city council a copy of the plans for a permanent structure adjacent to The Boat restaurant. Photo by Bill Tremblay, Special to BayToday.ca.

City restaurateur Jim Kolios has encountered rough waters in his plan to build a permanent structure adjacent to The Boat, but the plan finally set sail at Monday night’s council meeting.

Kolios’ request was initially denied at a special last Monday, although a reconsideration motion by Coun. Daryl Valliancourt brought it back to council.

Vaillancourt's motion was passed, allowing further discussion to take place, and the proposal was ultimately passed six to four.

Obnoxious hotspot
Kolios, who owns Churchill's Prime Rib House, assured council that The Boat would be a restaurant, not a bar.

“It won’t be the quality of Churchills,” Kolios said.

“But it won’t be a chip stand either.”

Kolios explained that he hopes to “beautify” The Boat, and has no intention of creating an “obnoxious hotspot.”

“I’m not trying to put a Greek flag there,” Kolios said.

New operator
Kolios told council that the structure would have retractable walls and a retractable roof.

“It’s going to be kind of a garden,” he said.

He explained that he hopes to start construction as soon as possible, so that the restaurant can be opened in time for the North Bay Heritage Festival.

Kolios added has no one to run the boat throughout the summer after the contract with the Student Centre dissolved, so he will be searching for a new operator.

Security for everybody
When it came time to decide, Coun. Tom Mason, who voted against the structure last week, changed his vote to 'yes,' and Coun. Mac Bain, who was absent at the previous meeting, also voted in favour it.

“My decision was based on the waterfront belonging to everybody,” Mason said

“And also based on the security for everybody.”

Mason explained that he had received a police report on Sunday that reassured him that the public would be protected if any incidents occurred as a result of approving the proposal.

“The police feel that they will be adequately capable of dealing with any situations that may arise there,” Mason said.

Land use
Bain said he based his vote on the fact that the proposal was a rezoning issue

“You can’t look at who the applicant is,” Bain said.

“Only the land use.”

Bain said that although he had a problem with the college and university Student Centre running The Boat, he could not base his decision on it. The Student Centre had made arrangements with Kolios to manage The Boat for the summer, but these arrangements fell through when the proposal was denied last Monday.

All negative
However, Coun. Sarah Campbell said that it is important to listen to the public opinion on the proposal.

“There was so little in the positive (opinion), it was all negative,” Campbell said.

She said that there was a negative reaction to the proposal out of fear that noise would ruin the quiet area.

Wasn't clear
Campbell also said that her vote against the structure was based on how the business was going to be run.

“It hasn’t really shown me a good business case,” Campbell said.

“It wasn’t clear to me at all what the venue was going to look like.”

A recorded vote was called on the proposal, with councilors Mike Anthony, Judy Koziol, George Maroosis and Campbell voting against it, while Dave Mendicino, Maureen Boldt, Mayor Vic Fedeli Daryl Vaillancourt, Mason and Bain voting in favour of the structure. Deputy Mayor Peter Chirico declared a conflict of interest since Kolios is one of his business clients.