Dysart et al council has initiated a review of its bylaws covering secondary housing units, with mayor Murray Fearrey saying it’s time for the township to “loosen up” its rules and regulations.

The file was discussed at a May 23 meeting, following a presentation from Haliburton resident Gary Burtch. He asked council why, with the community suffering from a lack of housing, the municipality wasn’t doing more to bring much-needed additional units online.

“This is something that needs looking at… the lack of housing is impacting everyone in this community,” Burtch said, feeling secondary units form part of the answer.

Planner, Jeff Iles, said secondary dwellings are permitted in Dysart, pointing to duplexes, semi-detached homes, and basement apartments. Other structures, such as garden suites, are considered on a case-by-case basis, and only on properties in Haliburton village hooked up to the town’s sewer line.

Burtch feels that allowance needs to be extended further.

“I think people should be allowed to put a secondary residence on a property if it’s large enough. It could be for an aging parent, a kid who wants [more independence], or a working professional looking for somewhere to live,” Burtch said.

He accepts that new units can’t be created on waterfront lots but said there are plenty of properties across Dysart that could be ripe for this sort of development.

“I’m thinking something small, between 800 and 1,200 sq. ft.,” he said, adding that he thinks these units should be allowed to have their own septic and well systems installed, and not tap into the main property’s lines. Iles noted this wouldn’t be allowed under existing policy

Discussions around secondary units have been rife in recent months. Last November, the Ontario government passed Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. One of many sweeping changes to the province’s housing rules was extending the number of units allowed on a single residential lot to three.

While this rule doesn’t apply to Dysart, given it only extends to communities with town-supplied water and sewer, Iles said the message from Queen’s Park has been clear.

“There is support for this kind of thing. It seems to be the trend things are going in,” Iles said.

He further informed council any potential change to allow more secondary units to be developed would require amendments to Dysart’s official plan and zoning bylaw.

Fearrey said he could get behind the idea but wanted clarity on a few issues. He feels it’s important that any additional units be owned and operated by the primary landowner, while reiterating units won’t be considered on waterfront properties. He also asked what the township can do to stop people applying for a new secondary unit and then shopping them as short-term rentals.

“If we’re going to do this, it’s because we want to increase the supply of rental units, or units for seniors. That has to be the main focus,” the mayor said.

Coun. Pat Casey said he wouldn’t be opposed to stretching the boundaries even further and having the bylaw cover potential full-time living spaces above garages or workshops. Right now, those spaces are designated as private cabins, according to Iles, and aren’t permitted to serve as a permanent dwelling area.

Fearrey said he expects an amended bylaw to be brought back to council for further discussion on June 13 or 27.

“We will pursue this… I think it’s the right and necessary thing to do,” he said.

Waterfront property owner Catherine Swift is “shooting her last shot” after filing an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) last week, protesting a proposed 88-unit development slated for land near Grass Lake in Haliburton.

The proposal, brought forward by developer Paul Wilson and his company Harburn Holdings in 2019, would see approximately 2.5 hectares of land along Peninsula Road repurposed into four lots each housing multistorey apartment and condo buildings, with one unit featuring a commercial component.

Dysart et al’s previous council expressed support for the project in September 2022, while County council ratified an amendment to its official plan in April, paving the way for the development to proceed.

Swift is a member of the Friends of Grass Lake advocacy group, which opposes the build. Speaking to The Highlander, she said the OLT is her final hope.

“I don’t feel the environmental issues presented throughout this process have been adequately considered. I want to present this information to an unbiased third party that can look at everything we’re laying out fairly and objectively,” Swift said.

She has retained Toronto-based environmental lawyer David Donnelly to argue the case.

The primary concern, Swift said, is the development will “drastically and permanently” impact water quality and animal habitats, including for the endangered Blanding’s turtle. She contends that a wetland area abutting the parcel Wilson wants to develop will be ruined if the build proceeds.

“Wetlands are almost like an added layer of protection for bodies of water – they help to filter junk out, but also provide habitats to all kinds of critters,” Swift said. “This proposed location is virtually right on top of a wetland area… it could destroy that wetland.”

Wilson has committed to keeping a 30-metre buffer between the wetland and any development. Environmental impact, wetland site assessment and hydrogeological studies have been completed, peer-reviewed and endorsed by Dysart staff.

Swift contends the project should be seen as a non-starter considering Grass Lake is already deemed to be over its recreational capacity.

“Dysart’s own plans show Grass Lake is 170 per cent over capacity. By adding another 88 units to the waterfront, that would take it to more than 300 per cent over capacity. This is a small, shallow lake. It’s vulnerable. Adding a development of this size is going to wreck this lake,” she said.

Swift said the implications of the build are already being seen – one couple has sold their property and moved. Swift said she’s considering selling too.

“I’ve been here for 20 years… I love this place. I have a real connection here, history too – my parents honeymooned at the old Deer Lodge. That’s only about a 10-minute boat ride from my place,” she said. “It would break my heart to leave but knowing what’s going to happen to the lake [if development proceeds], it’s something I’m considering for sure.”

She’s worried too about the precedent the project would set, potentially paving the way for other high-density development on the water.

Given the stated timelines at OLT – it’s estimated a hearing will be scheduled within four to eight months – Wilson expressed disappointment the issue will likely carry over into the new year.

“I started this process four years ago and still don’t have an answer. It’s unfortunate it takes so long to bring these things to fruition – we’re in dire need of housing in this community right now,” Wilson said.

Swift believes she has a 50/50 shot of success at the OLT.

“I know this isn’t a slam dunk. We feel these issues are real and deserving of further consideration. If the answer [from OLT] is the same, then OK. But I know if I don’t keep fighting, I’d regret it forever,” she said.

Editor’s note: A statement attributed to Harburn Holdings’ lawyer, Tony Usher, claiming the four lots along Peninsula Road aren’t considered waterfront lots has been removed. The lots in question are classified as waterfront.

With last-ditch efforts now exhausted to postpone or reverse the Minden ER closure, the Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) consolidated County ER services in Haliburton June 1.

Dr. Norm Bottum, acting chief of staff for HHHS, said, “we are all deeply committed to delivering high quality and safe care to our community. And, as we have always done, we will do everything in our power to ensure that all those in need of emergency care in Haliburton County can get it.”

He reiterated the decision to close the Minden ER, and consolidate services in Haliburton as of today, “has been an incredibly difficult decision for our leadership that was made after many years of searching for solutions that would stabilize and protect emergency services in the County over the long term.”

Dr. Bottum added, “our goal is to ensure our community has a stable and safe emergency care system that you can all count on. This means having an emergency department that is open and able to provide quality services – each and every time someone shows up in an emergency department.

“The safety of our community has been impacted by the multiple, unpredictable, last-minute closures faced by HHHS over the past number of years. We are committed to reducing this risk by consolidating services in one location that can provide consistent service to our community and those seeking care.”

Bottum: reduced risk of closures

Dr. Bottum said they had been working closely with EMS, which had assured them the community is supported by access to 911. “Local paramedics are a critical part of our emergency care system. We encourage you to call 911 when you experience a medical emergency, knowing that care begins immediately, while you are en route to the HHHS emergency department.”

Revised ambulance coverage

The Haliburton County Paramedic Service has revealed its new boundaries as of now.

Director Tim Waite said that in the south, the borders will be Hwy. 35 at Monck Road (Norland), and County Road 121 at County Road 49 (the turn off to Bobcaygeon). Patients north of those boundaries will be transported to Haliburton, and patients south to Lindsay.

They are Hwy. 35 and Sherbourne Road to the north, and Black River Road to the west. Anyone south or east will be taken to Haliburton, and west to Bracebridge or Huntsville.

Waite said they had an extra ambulance from midnight May 31. “We’re going to keep it over at the Minden emergency department as often as we can, unless it gets assigned for a high priority call that it’s closest to, and it will be there until nine in the morning, with a second ambulance coming in at nine in the morning to go until nine at night on June 1. We have a similar thing on June 2, 3 and 4, a day shift of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” Waite said.

When it comes to patient transfers, the chief said having a single site, “is probably going to be very advantageous for us because now the physicians are all at one site. They’re able to better prioritize which patient needs to go first, allowing us to keep more balanced 911 coverage.”

He said in the past, the two sites did not communicate. “Now, they will understand better there’s so many ambulances we have, and this is how many we can send out of the area at a time and they can better prioritize that.”

Injunction not possible

Jayson Schwarz of Schwarz Law Partners told The Highlander May 29 he’d been advised by litigator Mark Ross that no judge would grant an injunction of judicial review against the closure.

“First, the hospital is not a standalone hospital, Minden Hills and Haliburton are one hospital together, with two separate campuses. In other words, it is like a business doing an internal consolidation and there is no legislation or case law that would support an injunction.”

Secondly, he said with the decision, the Minden ER doctors have taken jobs elsewhere and it would be impossible to restaff for the summer.

“This means we are down, but not out. We certainly have nowhere to go for June 1, but we may have a case for relief to force the reopening for the fall,” he said.

As for money, he said they’d collected $85,000 and have kept records. He urged people to cancel e-transfers.

He added, “we now need to consider if we wish to push forward.” He reiterated there may be a case under the Canada Health Act; they could challenge HHHS; or simply refund donations.

“This is heart-breaking for all of us.”

Patrick Porzuczek, who led the citizens’ fight against the closure, said he isn’t convinced by Dr. Bottum or HHHS assurances.

“They are winging it and gambling with our lives. This isn’t Texas hold’em or a casino.

“What they did to the legacy and hard work of David Fiddler and his brother Doug and son Dennis (Minden ER doctors) is a huge kick. These doctors and the care they offered … the high regard for our community and the extra services they provided outside the scope of an ED will never be forgotten.”

He further pledged to fight on. “I’m not stopping after June 1. My words and message will become stronger.”

Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter said, “we have asked, we have pleaded, we have begged HHHS to reconsider what we think is a bad decision. But they have refused.

“The question becomes ‘what’s next?’ … our council needs to support the people to do all that we can to try to come to a better resolution.”

June doctor schedule almost filled

CEO Carolyn Plummer told The Highlander May 31, “as of June 1, many temporary changes have been made to spaces in the Haliburton ED to accommodate the additional patient volumes that are expected.”

She added, “this is providing the team with the time they need to finalize the spaces on a more permanent basis in coming weeks, which could not be done until they were able to start moving equipment out of the Minden ED.”

Spaces that didn’t require moving of equipment, such as parking lots, have been changed and signage will be erected by June 1.

In terms of staffing, she said the June physician schedule is now 98 per cent full and HHHS is confident the remaining two shifts will be filled.

“This puts us in a better position for June than in previous years, as it is not unusual for HHHS to have gaps in the following months’ schedule, even in summer. “ She said the July and August schedule is now being filled by local physicians first, before being posted to the Health Force One Emergency Department Locum Program for additional coverage.