Dysart et al council put on a united front last week, unanimously denying support for an application from a Toronto-based development firm to amend the township’s Official Plan, which could have paved the way for a new 25-unit subdivision on Elephant Lake.

Project details were poured over for hours during a public meeting Sept. 23, with council following municipal staff’s recommendation to deny the proposal. Since Dysart is not the approving authority for OP amendment applications, the file can still be taken to County council for a final decision.

Led by NF 95 Developments, the ‘Algonquin Gardens’ project is split into two phases – northern and southern. Council spent the bulk of last week’s meeting deliberating over the northern application, which sought to redesignate 97.6 acres east of Elephant Lake from rural area to site-specific waterfront residential.

While not directly on the water, the applicant claims the lots “will have access to waterfront through a common access block located on the southern phase.” Kris Orsan, Dysart’s manager of planning, disputed this claim.

“Re-designating the lots would be inconsistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) because the lots do not function as waterfront and their approval would represent an expansion of waterfront policies to lands that are distinctly rural in nature,” Orsan said.

He noted the northern phase does not directly front onto Elephant or nearby Benoir lakes, which are separated by a public road – Benoir Lake Road – and other intervening lands.

Orsan said the lots do not functionally or physically relate to the shoreline and that designating them as waterfront would “artificially extend the scope of shoreline development beyond the actual shoreline, without the direct relationship to the lake that the PPS policies are intended to regulate and protect.”

He said the lots identified in the northern phase meet the definition of backlots per Dysart’s OP.

“Allowing backlots to be reclassified as waterfront… would undermine the intent of the municipality’s OP policies for waterfront development,” Orsan added. “Such an approach would create a precedent where backlots across the municipality seek reclassification to waterfront lots through artificial linkages, effectively eroding the protective policies intended to manage shoreline capacity, environmental impacts, and land-use compatibility.”

The planner further claimed that many of the lots are too small or narrow to meet the standards normally required in rural areas, while some are affected by wetlands, floodplain and steep slopes.

In his report, Orsan opined that 14 of the 25 lots may not be developable at all.

“The proposed subdivision plan appears to overestimate the number of realistically developable lots. Many of [them] do not appear capable of accommodating appropriate building envelopes that would support compliant and functional development,” Orsan said.

Jeff Iles, Dysart’s director of planning, said rural properties are required to have a front lot line setback of 30 metres, though many of the lots included in the application propose a 7.5 metre setback.

Council received 32 submissions from the public opposing the application, with 12 people speaking at the meeting. Catherine Webber, has been a property owner on Benoir Lake for over 30 years. She delivered a petition containing more than 1,000 signatures to council.

“We feel this developer has clearly disregarded the rules,” Webber said, claiming some work has already been done, without approval. Tony Wang, a consultant representing the developer, said a road network originally installed in the 1980s has been recently upgraded to allow for improved access to the site.

Many of the residents expressed concern over the possible environmental impacts, including habitat loss for native wildlife; issues removing important wetlands could have on drainage in the area, as well as water quality; and the size and suitability of the proposed development.

Mayor Murray Fearrey said the file had been with the township for some time and had put “tremendous pressure on staff… the goalposts keep moving all the time.”

After staff said council could consider deferring the application to have several reports submitted by the applicant peerreviewed, deputy mayor Walt McKechnie and councillors Pat Casey and Nancy Wood-Roberts said they had no intention of supporting the proposal. Coun. Barry Boice also commented, “I’m not against development. But we have to protect the environment. I don’t think we need to defer, I think we need to deny.”

Orsan noted the southern phase of development is for 38 residential lots. Because that land is already designated waterfront residential, there’s no required change to the township’s OP. Instead, the application is to approve the subdivision and condominium plans as presented.

The planner again noted that many of the lots appear to be constrained by natural heritage features, including provincially significant wetlands and floodplain areas. He also noted the road meant to service the lots, connecting to Benoir Lake Road “appears to cross areas prone to flooding.”

Orsan also called the application’s lot dimensions into question, saying several have frontages near minimum standards. He added numerous lots show non-compliance with rear yard setbacks for dwellings and septic systems, with others not laying out where accessory structures or wells would be installed.

“Many of the lots appear to have littleto-no viable building envelopes due to environmental constraints,” Orsan said, recommending the township get all submitted studies and reports peer reviewed before making a final decision.

Council agreed to defer the applications to allow for a “comprehensive review.”

A consultant has told Minden Hills council that to support the development of four proposed sites in the village, upgrades will be required at its wastewater treatment plant.

Engage Engineering was hired to assess the available capacity in the Minden sewer system, reporting its findings at a Sept. 25 meeting.

One site has already been approved, with three others in the pre-consultation phase.

Council has already approved a 35-unit affordable housing development on the Gull River by the legion. The other proposed sites are: a development with 222 apartment units, 18 townhouse units, commercial spaces and recreational facilities; two commercial buildings; and a 60-unit condo development.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey wanted more information on the proposed developments, saying she did not know about them. However, director of public works, Mike Timmins, said the planning department had instructed him not to disclose the locations due to confidentiality.

The existing system comprises one wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 945 cubic metres per day; two sanitary pumping stations with force mains and a network of gravity sewer.

The firm said the existing average daily flow is 774 cubic metres per day, or 82 per cent capacity. There is residual capacity of 171 cubic metres per day. However, they said the estimated average daily flow from all sites would be 729 cubic metres per day.

“The treatment plant can accommodate one of either sites one or three within its current capacity. Upgrades will be required to accommodate the remaining sites,” a written report to council said.

However, they said the sanitary pumping station on Orde Street could handle the new developments, with no upgrades required.

The sanitary pumping station on Invergordon Avenue would need an upgrade to accommodate one of the sites, Engage Engineering said.

They further said the gravity sewer should not be over capacity, but upgrades may be required if all developments go ahead.

As for next steps, the Ontario Clean Water Agency will do flow monitoring at three locations downstream of two of the sites to confirm whether there is a need for gravity sewer upgrades. “It is expected that the flow monitoring results will show no capacity constraints in the gravity sewer,” the consultants said.

The township will also have to complete an updated topographic survey of the gravity sewer.

Timmins told council “I don’t want to jump to this idea that we have to look at expansions. We want to look at efficiencies; what we can do to potentially not have to expand the footprint. It’s an older plant … maybe there is something we can do to create efficiencies in there to claw back some of that capacity.”

Mayor Bob Carter asked what percentage of the flow is stormwater. Timmins said it was difficult to say, but part of the proposed flow monitoring next year could help them calculate that.

Carter noted that the possible extension of the long-term care home in Minden had not been included in the capacity study.

McKelvey said she had “serious concerns” the report did not include the Haliburton Highlands Health Services’ long-term care expansion. “We’ve known about it and supported their master plan and have had discussions with them, so I just don’t understand.”

Timmins said they have been requesting flow data from HHHS, but do not have that information yet. “When we have additional information, we will revise this, and come back for further discussion.”

McKelvey said they know from the master plan that HHHS is talking about 98 additional beds, 30 extra staff, 72 bathrooms and five tub rooms, so wondered if that was not enough information to do a calculation.

CAO Cynthia Fletcher said they could follow up with HHHS. She suggested this was the first of many discussions about utility capacity in the village. Council received the presentation as information only.

Returning to the site she frequented regularly as a child, Carol Marcus said the newly-unveiled Herlihey Park in Wilberforce is a touching tribute to her parents, Beatrice and Harold Herlihey, who played a key role in the hamlet’s growth in the early-to-mid-1900s.

For years, Harold was the general manager at Wilberforce Veneer and Lumber, which once sat on the same approximate footprint as the new seven-acre community park; Beatrice, meanwhile, was a schoolteacher and principal who also launched figure skating and swimming clubs that still exist today.

In 2017, Marcus and her late husband, Karl, donated the land overlooking Dark Lake, valued at $400,000, to the township to develop a park. Seven years on, Marcus was back in the community that helped shape her, and her sister Gloria, during their formative years.

“It’s so lovely for me to be here today, to see old school friends… and the transformation of this space,” Marcus said during the park’s unveiling Sept. 26. “I have a lot of memories from this place, my sister and I had a perfect childhood… we’re delighted to give something back to this community, something that can be enjoyed by all.”

Highlands East mayor Dave Burton said the Herlihey Park project has been a major focus for council, with the township putting money away since 2018 to support development. The federal government contributed $80,000 and the province gave $20,000 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

He felt it was important the township spruce up the area, saying the land has a rich industrial legacy that shaped the Wilberforce community as we know it.

“From the early days of producing fruit baskets and hockey sticks to its role as a vital economic engine supplying hardwood and softwood veneer, the mill was a cornerstone of Wilberforce’s identity,” Burton said. “Despite facing many challenges, it remained a symbol of resilience and hard work deeply woven into the fabric of our history.”

There’s evidence of a sawmill operating around Dark Lake dating back to 1909, owned by James Sauder and Joseph Spears. The Herliheys got involved a short time later – Carol said her grandfather, Frank Herlihey, also owned and operated a mill on McCue Lake in Tory Hill.

After the Second World War, Jack Wallace became a partner and, together, the owners built the veneer plant, which for years served as the town’s largest employer, boasting 70 full-time workers.

In 1968, the mill was bought by Ted Samuel and Joe Klasner, who owned other wood-based operations in Orono. The site was operational until the mid-2000s and was torn down in 2012.

Marcus shared one story that always stuck from her father’s time running the plant.

“There was a break-in one night – Suzanne Klapow, the secretary, was there alone when two men came into the office asking for a job. She was in the middle of putting the workers’ pay in envelopes, but gave the men applications to fill out, which they did,” Marcus said.

“But then they saw all this money, held Suzanne up, locked her in the walk-in vault and when my dad returned from a Rotary meeting in Haliburton, he had to help her out.

“They called the police, who quickly apprehended the two men because they put all their correct details on their job application,” Marcus said, drawing laughs.

Burton said last week’s unveiling was the culmination of the park’s first phase, with more on the way. The Haliburton County Master Gardners are partnering on a multiyear natural regeneration of the site, while Burton said there are plans to install a pavilion and additional walking trails.

“Herlihey Park is much more than just a beautiful space – it’s a living tribute to our shared history, the community’s resilience and the generosity of the Marcus family,” Burton said. “Their gift has transformed this from a site of industry into a place of connection, reflection and recreation.”

It’s fall colour viewing season at Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride. Make your way to the top of the 60 ft. lookout tower atop of the hill for uninterrupted views of Eagle and Moose lakes, as well as 3,000 hectares of Haliburton Highlands forest.

The observation tower is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 13.

Looking to partake in another fall tradition in the Highlands? Abbey Gardens is hosting its annual fall festival Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The family-friendly event features Harvest-themed games, inflatable combine combo, scavenger hunt, cookie decorating and more.

Also take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and pick one out to take home. Tickets are $17 per participating child, with accompanying grown-ups free.

Also running Oct. 4 is fall fest at Walkabout Farm in Minden. Located at 1105 Spring Valley Rd., this by-donation event includes pumpkin races, buried treasure in a sand mountain, horse and pumpkin painting, hiking, a pony obstacle course and more. It’s on from noon to 4 p.m

Key Habitat for Humanity and Places for People (P4P) figureheads say it will likely be years, rather than months, before a planned 35-unit affordable housing co-build is complete on Peninsula Road in Haliburton.

The two entities held an information session at the Haliburton Legion Sept. 18, confirming the non-profits will partner on the condo development. It will bring much-needed affordable housing to the community, with 20 units earmarked for Habitat’s home ownership model and 15 to become P4P rentals. There will also be a commercial component.

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region CEO, Susan Zambonin, said this will be her organization’s first venture into Haliburton County.

For the past couple of years, she’s been actively searching for an appropriate location to stage a build. Discussions have taken place with Algonquin Highlands township over land on Hwy. 118, but the opportunity in Haliburton village came about because of Habitat’s recently established relationship with P4P.

The land on Peninsula Road, fronting County Road 21, was long owned by County-based developer Paul Wilson. Through his company Harburn Holdings, he had hoped to bring multiple condo developments to the site, which was split into four lots. When the project was before Dysart et al council in 2022, he agreed to donate one lot to P4P to stage a future affordable housing build.

Zambonin confirmed last week that Habitat paid $1.2 million for the lot, with Wilson donating $500,000 of that to P4P. Because the developer, following an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing, agreed to ditch plans to bring more condos to the land overlooking Grass Lake, in favour of three single-family homes, he told The Highlander he could no longer afford to give his one condo-ready lot away.

So, Habitat stepped in. Zambonin said her organization will cover the full cost of construction and then sell 15 lots to P4P. Fay Martin, P4P vice president, said this will almost double the group’s existing inventory of 20 rental units.

While she was unsure how much this will cost Habitat, Zambonin said the units will all be one and two-bedroom and will “likely” be priced under $400,000. Ideally, she’d like to break ground at the site next year, though warned it could be years before the project is complete.

“I hope we would be able to start sometime in 2026 – we need certain studies, consultants to prepare reports. Stormwater management is always a big one,” Zambonin said. “It’s the kind of stuff that can’t be done at the same time, it has to be done consecutively, so it takes time.”

She confirmed the property will be on a private well, though will tap into the municipal sewage system.

How Habitat works

Zambonin confirmed the units would be made available to County residents and are designed as a “way in” to home ownership.

“These will be entry-level because we really want them to be affordable,” she said.

Affordable, however, does not mean giving away – Zambonin estimates people will need a household income of around $90,000 per year to qualify.

The process begins with an expression of interest. If it looks like the candidate can afford a unit, they are invited to fill out a thorough application. Zambonin said people have to secure a mortgage through an eligible credit union and then Habitat helps out with a second mortgage.

Through Habitat’s model, people never pay more than 30 per cent of their income towards housing costs – which includes insurance, condo fees and property taxes.

“We’ll be hosting homeowner workshops in the future to go over how everything works, but people can start thinking about this, planning for this now, that way they’re really prepared,” Zambonin said.

Anyone who becomes a Habitat homeowner is required to complete 500 volunteer hours with approved partners in the community – something Martin said will give many struggling non-profits a boost.

Habitat recently completed a 41-unit development in Peterborough, which Zambonin says was built at 66 per cent of market cost – largely due to construction firms and other companies offering help and materials at a reduced rate. She hopes to tap into County-based companies to assist with this build. Thus far, Emmerson Lumber and Haliburton Timber Mart have committed support.

“We know how to build this because we’ve done it, but we’ve done it in Peterborough using Peterborough people. We don’t want that here. We want Haliburton County people, but we don’t know all of them. So, you guys need to tell us if you’re interested and who we need to talk to,” Zambonin said.

The Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC) is lending a hand, connecting different stakeholders and will be kicking in funds down the road.

“We’ve been working with Habitat for several years trying to get them to come to Haliburton. We’re here to help in any way we can,” said HCDC executive director Patti Tallman.

Speaking at last week’s session, Tallman said the lack of available affordable housing has long hindered the County economy and led to labour shortages in the skilled trades, healthcare and municipal government.

Wilson follows through

After claiming several years ago that he wanted to see affordable housing built on the Peninsula Road property, Wilson said he was happy to work with Habitat and P4P to bring that goal to fruition.

“The whole idea, from day one, was to support affordable housing. I made the initial commitment to P4P… and Habitat is counting on P4P to pay for its share, so I’m happy to make this contribution. I think this is a project that will greatly benefit our community,” Wilson said

He further claimed that, without his donation, the project likely would not have gone ahead. Zambonin confirmed Habitat “couldn’t do it on our own” and was grateful for Wilson’s support.

The money will be used to help P4P purchase the 15 units once the project is wrapped, with Martin saying the nonprofit will fundraise for the remaining sum – likely millions of dollars. She said this could be the perfect opportunity to bring back the community bond model the organization utilized in 2023, raising $850,000 to pay off several loans.

“There’s not a month goes by without someone asking us about community bonds, so I’d say we’ve got to do them again,” Martin said.