| Jun 16, 2011


Editorial by Jeff Green

The Committee of Adjustment in North Frontenac seems to think their own planning consultant is at fault because the Province of Ontario has decided that development on the limited number of new cottage lots that can be found in Ontario will be limited by two things: increased lot sizes and buffer zones.

Essentially, after 100 years of cottages being built right around all of the most accessible lakes in the province, it has been determined that the lakes have been impacted - and not in a good way. So, from now on, any lake that has not already been divided up into lots will see a new set of rules, which are designed to minimise the impact of development on the water.

As well, the province has determined that when someone builds a private lane and then creates building lots on them, the state of that private roadway is not guaranteed. The people who buy those lots and build on them may form a road association and keep the road to a standard that will allow ambulance and fire crews though if they are needed, but they may not. So, the province is dictating that the road must either be brought up to a point where it can become part of the public road system through a plan of subdivision, or through a common land condominium - an association that can be created and be legally bound to keep the road up.

The North Frontenac Committee of Adjustment sees these new rules as impediments to development in a township that needs development in order to survive and thrive, and their concerns are very real. They seem to think that the township planner, Glen Tunnock, is somehow at fault because he will not bring their own recommendations to the province, but Tunnock is giving them the kind of advice the township is paying him to bring. He could put the committee's views into a proposal to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, but they would send them back. He knows this, and indications are that the committee knows this as well.

Ultimately it is not the committee, Glenn Tunnock or the township that makes these decisions. The ministry might as well write down these provisions and send them to the township to insert into their Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw.

It is true that our local townships are going to suffer financially and in terms of their ability to maintain our communities because these new rules will hinder development. It is also true that we are paying the price for what has happened in the Kawarthas and Muskokas over the past 50 years, where the lakes are being damaged by overcrowding.

But the reality is this is a done deal. Sooner or later, North Frontenac, just like Central Frontenac, will sign off on these new rules.

 

Support local
independant journalism by becoming a patron of the Frontenac News.