Sarnia council wants to find out if a multi-use trail on Old Lakeshore Road is financially feasible, before reasserting its ownership of the right-a-way.
Director of Engineering David Jackson believes the cost is viable.
"We don't know the exact estimate at the moment, it will fluctuate depending on the design selection we choose so I can't provide a guaranteed price," Jackson said. "I don't think the estimate is $30 million. We think it is viable which is why we have brought it forward. But, until we do design work I can't provide any more than that."
Jackson said historically the city has not wanted to spend money if ownership wasn't going to be reinstated.
Councillor Terry Burrell asked that the city define what the ownership is.
"It appears to me that in some cases our right-of-way is actually in the lake and in other cases it appears the right-of-way we might own, there is land owned by people both north and south of the right-of-way," Burrell said. "So, I would like a little better map as to knowing exactly what we're going to face."
Burrell said council needs more confirmation before moving forward.
"Seems to me the first thing you'd want to do is secure that you have the land and then design. Not, do a nice design and then find out you're going to have a heck of a job trying to assert that."
A number of impacted property owners spoke to the recommendations, some stating they had legal grounds to oppose a reassertion.
Brothers Dave and Dan Lambert said they would relinquish their property if a number of conditions were met, including all costs of transfer being undertaken and paid for by the city. The Lambert's proposal was forwarded to the city's legal team for review.
Roger Griffiths told council the road originally washed out in 1957, not in the 70's as the city has indicated. He said building a pathway would not be a "one and done" venture.
"It needs to be maintained long term and needs a constant infusion of money," Griffiths said. "This will be especially true along the proposed stretch which is much more prone to erosion."
Griffiths also highlighted the lack of access police, fire and ambulance would have to the area.
Urszula Mika told council that trespassing, which is already a problem on her property, would get worse.
Dr. Youssef Almalki encouraged council to transfer deeds back to the homeowners.
Staff have been asked to investigate further and report back within 90 days.
The city has reported that the stretch of land collapsed into Lake Huron during a storm in 1973.
Since that time, no formal public agreement has been available and some of the neighbouring property owners have encroached onto the public right-of-way.