Feature Article July 31, 2003
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North Frontenac Approves PlanIt was six years in the making, and at this weeks council meeting at the township office in Plevna, councillors, staff, and guests were all smiles as the townships first Official Plan was approved and sent off to the provincial government for final approval.
Mayor Stan Johnston said, Its a plan that has gone through a lot of hard work, a lot more than many municipalities have gone through.
The Official Plan is designed to guide and direct future growth in a logical and orderly manner, to protect existing development, ... and to help avoid the errors of the past so as to ensure a healthy growth, which will benefit all residents of the township, according to the preamble to the 100 plus page document.
The plan projects a population growth of 1.2% per annum for permanent residents, and 1.3% per annum in population growth for seasonal residents over the next 10 to 20 years. Some of its objectives are: to provide recreation opportunities; develop a transportation system that supports the safe and efficient movement of community residents; to direct development away from lands with natural or human made hazards; to protect water bodies within the township; and to promote environmental stewardship.
Among the specific regulations proposed by the plan are a minimum lot size of 0.4 ha (.98 acres) for rural residential locations. This will apply to newly created lots, while existing lots will not have to conform. Also of note are the setback regulations for newly created waterfront lots.
On newly created waterfront lots, there will be a minimum 100 foot (30 metre) setback. All buildings and septic systems must be 100 feet back from the high water mark. Further, there is to be a 49 foot (15 metre) vegetation buffer around the shoreline, where no changes are to be made, with the exception of a strip that is 25% of the shoreline frontage or up to 23 metres (76 feet) whichever is the lesser. The 25% limit is extended to 33% frontage for commercial and institutional use, and to 50% frontage for marinas.
Regulations are much more stringent for the 10 lakes identified as highly sensitive trout lakes within the township. They are: Reid Lake, Lucky Lake, Mackie Lake, Camp Lake, Big Ohlmann Lake, Mosque Lake, Kishkebus Lake, Shabomeka Lake, Little Green Lake, and Buckshot Lake. On these lakes, new development is prohibited within 984 feet (300metres) of the shoreline, except under stringent conditions. There are also limitations on new construction on existing lots around these lakes.
The plan also identifies four moderately sensitive Trout Waters; Brule Lake, Round Schooner Lake, Mazinaw Lake, and Palmerston Lake. These lakes are also subject to more restrictive regulations than other lakes, but the regulations are not nearly as stringent as those that pertain to the 10 highly sensitive lakes.
The Official Plan is comprehensive, including objectives and regulations that deal with transportation, economic development, and land use policy. It will soon be available for viewing on the township web site at www.mazinaw.on.ca/northfrontenac.
