Mixed reviews about Lake of Bays’ new draft Official Plan

Another public meeting will be scheduled before the Official Plan is sent to District

Township of Lake of Bays received mixed reviews about the draft Official Plan (OP), in the August 25, 2025, Special Planning Meeting.

Last April J. L. Richards and Associates were awarded the contract to develop the OP for $107,248.80, indicates the staff report. It adds, “In addition $15,000 was included in the 2025 Planning Services Capital Budget.”

The Plan was broken down into 5 phases including Project Litigation, Background Studies and Discussion, Proposed Policy Direction, draft OP and Final OP, adds the report.

Key areas of focus include:

• Population and Housing Growth (i.e. 615 new units needed by 2051, or 40 per year)
• Climate Change (i.e. adaptation strategies for the anticipated hotter and dryer summers with intense rainfall and milder winters)
• Employment and the goal to “preserve, promote and protect” businesses
• Economic Development initiatives
• And new policies for rural areas, such as new lot requirements, waterfront, community boundaries and mixed-use development, and estimated permissions for home industry use

It continues that the current 4^th phase includes a new OP with recommendations with consideration to public feedback.

Public feedback included allowing second tiny homes on waterfront zoned lots, frontage reduction to allow second entrances for property developments to enable more housing, expanding Dwight’s boundary and designating land for more mixed commercial and residential development, climate change and planning for green infrastructure, policy change to support new industries like retirement communities or eco-tourism operations.

Policy change was also requested for issues such as people feeding deer resulting in an overpopulation impacting vegetation decline from overgrazing which negatively affects the natural environment, and other environmental protection measures, such as shoreline development and preservation of water quality, and controlled development in rural areas, and “ensuring technical studies are adequate to protect the environment and groundwater from new development.”

In the meeting, resident concerns included not having the Richards presentation from today’s meeting in the open house, lot development on slopes, the negative impact of clear cutting, the reduction of waterfront backlot sizes, the contrast between reducing lot sizes and environmental protection,

Council concerns included property owners not maintaining unit size when redeveloping cottages, resulting in impairing views, increasing the carbon footprint and light spills. They discussed the potential for creating new policies and guidelines for this and for maintaining rural lot sizes and protecting natural areas and the lakes.

Councillor, Nancy Tapley, indicated that dwelling sizes should be maintained, and expressed caution about reducing waterfront lots. She said, “I’m weary of making those lots smaller.”

She said they also need “stiffer regulations” for the night light reflection from houses and boat houses onto the lake and into people’s homes. “Light spill shouldn’t be allowed,” she said because of the negative impact to wildlife, people, fish and wildlife.”

She added, “There’s no need to light up like the Wal-Mart parking lot on the lake.”

“You have to have teeth in the by-law,” she urged.

Councillor, Rick Brooks, expressed concern about clear cutting at property waterfronts “destroying the vistas…suddenly no trees, and now have two stories of glass.”

He said, “I want you to be replacing the trees,” indicating if they have money for the glass, they have it to replace the trees.

Council made amendments to the draft OP for further review, including Baysville’s community boundary, non-complying buildings, and requiring additional rationale for proposed changes to lot size requirements and residential waterfront back and rural lots.

They directed staff to work with Richards to move forward with updates to the draft OP with consideration to the feedback from public comments, stakeholders, District staff and other agencies.

Staff indicated that a public meeting will be scheduled as part of the 5^th phase of the Final OP, once it’s approved by Council, and then it will go to the District for final approval.