After years of debate, the Minett Official Plan is close to ratification.
The District of Muskoka has now commenced its review of the Minett Official Plan, following approval by Muskoka Lakes Township in November 2021.
The new Minett OPA would permit construction of up to approximately 1,700 units (more than a 50% reduction from original plans) based on a unit size of 850 sq. ft. (with any increase in unit size reducing the number of units permitted). As well, only 30% of the units (reduced from 50%) in the waterfront zone would be permitted to be residential, and only if on municipal services. Recommended restrictions on the use by unit owners have also been included, in an effort to ensure resorts remain commercial and to limit the density of structures on the waterfront.
As they have throughout the process, the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) and Friends of Muskoka, along with concerned residents continue to voice concerns over the latest incarnation of the Official Plan, and have offered suggestions to minimize the impact of development on the waterfront.
However, the MLA has called the changes to the Official Plan, a “win” for their membership, as the scope of allowable development will be decreased dramatically if the Official Plan is approved.
The plan has been in development since 2018 and set out to address community concerns respecting the extent of Resort Commercial development rights within the Resort Village of Minett designation and its potential to impact the waterfront character in that area.
Minett is located along the western shoreline of Lake Rosseau (on Wallace Bay) and is a well-established resort community, dating back to the 1860s.
A previous Official Plan Amendment (OPA) was adopted by the Township of Muskoka Lakes in January 2007 and ultimately approved with modifications by the OMB in 2008. This OPA re-designated Minett from a “Community” to a “Resort Village” designation, in recognition of its historical land uses and destination character.
The Township of Muskoka Lakes passed an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) on May 18, 2018. The purpose of the ICBL was to restrict development within the Minett area to allow time for appropriate studies to be undertaken as well as provide an opportunity to examine the applicability of existing land use policies for the Resort Village of Minett.
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