Greg Bishop, a County-based Ontario land surveyor, has warned Dysart et al council against making changes to the township’s official plan (OP) and zoning bylaw to allow certain structures on private property three metres from the water.
Speaking at a July 8 public meeting, Bishop said he’s studied every shoreline on every lake in the municipality during his 30-plus year career, noticing one consistent problem across all waterbodies – erosion.
“I’ve seen shorelines taken away by 20-30 metres… Loon Lake used to have a halfacre island in it. It’s gone,” he said, noting dams installed in the early 1900s as part of the Trent-Severn Waterway have taken a toll, “changing our whole environment.”
The township is seeking feedback on plans to adapt its OP and zoning bylaw, which would open the door for lakefront residents to install any one of a gazebo, shed or sauna overlooking the water providing it’s at least three metres away from shore. Current setbacks are 20-30 metres.
The proposal outlines structures should be restricted to a maximum floor area of 15 sq. metres and three-and-a-half metres tall.
While some members of council have spoken about wanting to lift restrictions on what people are allowed to do with their property, Jim Prince, a member of the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association, said he believed the proposal was akin to using “a sledgehammer, trying to fix a small problem.”
Bishop added, “I guarantee you 30 years from now the buildings, should you choose to approve them and if the setback is [three] metres, they’ll be on the water’s edge. They’ll all be non-conforming within five or six years.”
Jeff Iles, Dysart’s director of planning, said amendments would also see decks and patios allowed within the setback providing they’re not attached to the primary residence. Development approvals will be required before any structure can be built, with owners also having to earn a perfect shoreline report score through the municipality’s lake health assessment program. Iles said applications will only be considered for private property.
A public survey available on the municipal website May 15 to June 15 garnered 735 responses, with 56 per cent in favour of the changes, 40 per cent opposed, and four per cent unsure.
“Given how close [those numbers] are, it indicates a need for carefully balanced policy decisions that address both environmental concerns and property flexibility,” Iles said.
The planner said 85 per cent of respondents rate natural shorelines as very or extremely important, while noting opinions were split on whether the proposed changes would impact local waterbodies. “This suggests any change should be backed by environmental science and public education.”
With the mixed response, Iles said staff question whether a change to policies established two decades ago is warranted.
Figureheads from lake and cottage associations on Redstone, Kashagawigamog, Kennisis, Miskwabi, Grace and Percy lakes each submitted comments opposing the amendments. Dale Hawkins, president of the Lake Kashagawigamog Organization (LKO), said she felt the changes would negatively impact water quality and the feel of her lake.
“My family has been here since 1829, one of the things we do appreciate is lake health. The economy is based on that. When I look across the lake, I like… seeing trees. That’s important to me and a lot of people,” Hawkins said, noting 95 per cent of LKO members are very concerned about water quality. “We’re recommending council maintains the status quo.”
Anna Tillman, from the Percy Lake Ratepayers’ Association, said the proposal goes against the primary objective of Dysart’s OP, which is to enhance and preserve the environmental qualities that contribute to the attractiveness of the municipality.
“We do not want our lake to become Lake Muskoka, where boathouses and other structures line the shorelines,” Tillman said.
Only one of 18 people to speak or have comments read at the meeting supported the plan. Council made no comments during the public hearing, with mayor Murray Fearrey saying officials will respond at its July 22 meeting.
