What’s Happening in Muskoka?
August 21, 2024
On Wednesday August 14, Council approved a Short Term Rental Accommodation Licensing By-Law for the Township of Muskoka Lakes. While the by-law has been approved, it will not come into effect until January 1, 2025.
August 13, 2024
The Short-Term Rental Accomodations By-law is coming to council tomorrow August 14, 2024 for three readings to be passed. Notable changes include; “high-season” has been changed to its original time frame of the Friday preceding Victoria Day to the Tuesday following Labour Day and all restrictions on the minimum number of nights per stay and maximum number of days permitted to rent per year have been eliminated for all properties in the Township that are not within a Waterfront Designation, Community Residential (R4) Zone or Waterbody Open Space Zone. Waterfront Designation Community Residental (R4) and Waterbody Open Space zoned properties will have an $1000/year licensing fee and all other zones will be $500/year. Please email the TML concillors and get your comments in to: tmlpubliccomment@muskokalakes.ca with subject item 11.b.1 By-law 2024-086.
June 4, 2024
As a summary, the committee members directed staff to update the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Draft By-law to a minimum number of one rental group per 6 nights in the “on-season” (Victoria Day to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) and only 75% of days permitted to rent in the “on-season”. During the “Off-season, “ starting the Tuesday following Thanksgiving to Victoria Day weekend would have no limitations or restrictions. No matter the quantity, everyone who rents in under 28 days must get a license agreement with the Township of Muskoka Lakes. License fees are yet to be determined. As an operator, you must submit a site map/ floor plan, including components of a fire safety plan and parking plan as part of the application process. If caught in violation of this STRA by-law, the penalty system would be subject to a 1st offence fee of $5,000 if caught operating without a license and operating with a suspended license, it will start at $10,000, doubling, then tripling on multiple offences. More details will be in the updated draft STRA By-law when it returns to an upcoming Planning Meeting Agenda. The TML committee members decided NOT to engage the public in another meeting, therefore, if you have concerns with these provisions, please email your councillors and Rob Kennedy, Chief By-law officer at rkennedy@muskokalakes.ca ASAP.
May 15, 2024
Tomorrow, May 16, 2024, the Short Term Rentals Accommodation By-law is returning to the table for discussion at the Planning Committee; they have suggested some modifications to their original draft by-law. Our Muskoka has submitted a letter regarding these proposed changes to the By-law focused on; minimum and maximum rental days, documents needed for an application, fees and procedures regarding fines.
May 2, 2024
On March 4, 2024, the Seguin Township Council approved two By-laws - Site Alteration By-law and Tree Conservation By-law. Our Muskoka had been actively involved in discussions regarding these By-law changes for over two and a half years.
April 15, 2024
After the first Case Management Conference held on March 21, 2024, we are in a waiting period to hear who will be granted Party status for the appeal regarding the Township of Muskoka Lakes Official Plan.
March 27, 2024
TML council approved the new Burning By-law and it is in place starting April 1, 2024. Please see the by-laws in Review page for more details.
March 15, 2024
Our Muskoka filed an appeal form with the Ontario Land Tribunal that identifies specific policies we have appealed regarding the Township of Muskoka Lakes Official Plan and the reasons for the appeal. I have attached the letter from Our Muskoka’s counsel that was appended to the appeal notice for your reference. We want to be transparent and are open to discussing this with anyone further.
The new Official Plan contains many new regulatory requirements that are not appropriate to be included in an Official Plan and should be contained in the Zoning By-law. Our Muskoka is appealing several policies in the waterfront area that apply to all lakes in the Township. We want it to be known that we are not targeting any specific Lake.
December 14, 2023
The TML Official Plan was approved by the Muskoka District Council on November 20, 2023. A notice of decision was provided on December 1, 2023, which was revised and therefore has made the last day to appeal December 26, 2023. With the help of our planners and lawyer, policy numbers of concern have been pulled out, however, it is no small task and we need your help financially to fight these policies from being permanently in place.
Please pledge what you can!
October 16, 2023
On October 11, 2023, the TML Council approved the Official Plan to be further passed by the approval authority, District of Muskoka, for approval. We have been in contact with the District to get information regarding the District’s decision and will then plan our next steps regarding the final Official Plan draft.
October 8, 2023
During the summer months, Our Muskoka was present multiple times in front of the Township Council, Committees, and Staff speaking up for a fair and balanced approach when it comes to TML By-laws and the Official Plan.
This Wednesday, October 11, 2023, TML Council will meet to contemplate approval of the Official Plan to send off to the Approval Authority’s, District of Muskoka, for approval. As you can see from the Staff Report and Latest Version of the Official Plan there are still many areas of Concern for Our Muskoka. Please reference our letter, September 13, 2023, regarding Our Muskoka’s take on the latest version of the Official Plan.
Please submit an email below. Add your name and address where indicated in brackets.
I have also included the link if you have time to delegate at the Council meeting yourself.
Both need to submitted before 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
June 15, 2023
Over the course of the last couple of months, we have been silent on here but present in front of Township staff and Township Committees and Council regarding;
AMPS By-law- which was passed May 10, 2023.
Dark Sky By-law was passed June 14, 2023. A lot of improvements and multiple discussions between the Township of Muskoka Lakes By-law officers, lighting experts from the community, and other community supporters took place.
Township of Muskoka Lakes Official Plan- we have had an open dialogue with the District of Muskoka and we have been monitoring the situation between the District and the Township of Muskoka Lakes.
We submitted a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding Bill 97 and Bill 23; please see the letter below.
January 16, 2023
Shed Some Light on the Dark Sky By-law
The Township of Muskoka Lakes has published a draft Dark Sky By-law 2023-009. It will be up for discussion at the planning committee this coming Friday, January 20, 2023. More details and documents can be located on our By-Laws in Review page.
October 16, 2022
Official Plan Review Update- ADOPTION
At the Council meeting Wednesday, October 12, 2022, it was decided 7 (Bridgeman, Edwards, Hayes, Jaglowitz, Kelley, Mazan, Roberts) to 3 (Nishikawa, Zavitz, Harding) to adopt the draft Official Plan and send it off to District for final approval. There are still a number of concerns and questions that were raised by the public that were left unanswered. This is not the end, Our Muskoka is strategizing our next move. Please subscribe to our email list to receive the next e-blast in the coming weeks with more information on how you can help!
October 9, 2022
Official Plan Review Update- Possible ADOPTION
The draft Official Plan is coming to the Council meeting Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. for three readings to be approved to go to the District of Muskoka for further approval. In our opinion, there is still a concern and many issues with the draft Official Plan that would affect every property differently. To make a public comment, please email lcochrane@muskokalakes.ca by 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2022, for your two minutes to speak. Emailed comments are also accepted at TMLPublicComment@muskokalakes.ca.
Every voice of concern will make a difference!
August 9, 2022
Last Chance to Register for the Public Meeting
Calling all landowners in the Township of Muskoka Lakes! It’s not too late to register for the Public Meeting this Friday, August 12, 2022. A handful of Our Muskoka Stakeholders Association board members will be in attendance.
(Please register ahead of time below)
The Public Meeting will be held in person or virtually Friday, August 12, 2022, at 9:30 AM. The Public Meeting is to allow the public the opportunity to provide comments to the municipal Council on the proposed Township of Muskoka Lakes Official Plan. If you register for in-Person you can go to the Port Carling Community Centre to watch the meeting as people will be called to the chambers to speak individually.
(Written comments on the Draft Official Plan will be received until August 29, 2022)
June 28, 2022
Draft 3 Official Plan Update
Last week consisted of three Special Planning Committee Meetings, June 20, 21 and 24, 2022 discussing the Draft 3 Official Plan for review. Mr. Pink concluded at the end of the meetings that adjustments to the Draft will be made and the Township is hopeful to have it out for public review at the end of this week. Our Muskoka will submit a letter after reviewing the new Draft. It was also decided that this document will be out for a Statutory Open House and Public Meeting likely during the week of August 8, 2022. Our Muskoka will keep you informed when the Township chooses a date and with more information on the latest Draft 3 when it is posted.
(Watch Our Muskoka delegate at the Special Planning Committee Meeting below)
June 14th, 2022
Additional Options Attached as Alternatives in Appendix (I)
The Site Alteration By-law and Tree Conservation By-law are coming back to the Planning Committee Meeting this Thursday around 2:30 p.m. Our Muskoka is happy to see Appendix (I) Addition Options attached as alternatives to be considered by the Committee. We support some of the staff recommendations, however, we have included our letter below that addresses areas of the adjustments we hope they consider too.
June 8th, 2022
Are you a Property Owner or Contractor in the Seguin Township?
The planning committee is seeking public consultation regarding the Shoreline Alteration and Tree Protection By-law. Our Muskoka has written a letter and will be speaking with Taylor Elgie, director of planning, in regards to the proposed changes. For more information visit the Seguin Township website https://letsconnectseguin.ca.
June 7th, 2022
Important Upcoming Dates
On June 16, 2022 the Site Alteration By-law and Tree Conservation By-law are coming back to the Planning Committee Meeting. Our Muskoka met with Township staff over the last few weeks and had some good dialogue in regards to these By-laws. We hope from the discussion that some alternatives will be presented to the Committee for consideration regarding patio sizes, the definition of “arborist” and the changes around mulch. If you want to delegate at this meeting you must sign up before 9:00 AM on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
On June 20, 2022 at 9:00am Township staff and the consulting team will be bringing a report and Draft 3 of the Official Plan to a series of Special Planning Committee meetings. Planning Committee will consider further revisions to the draft of the Official Plan as well as directions to circulate the draft before hosting a statutory Open House and Public meeting later this summer, where more opportunities for public feedback will be available. Once these documents are posted, Our Muskoka will review the proposed changes made and pinpoint areas of concern from our BIG 5 list; lower boathouses, grandfathering, accessory buildings, lot coverage, and site alteration.
May 6th, 2022
Site Alteration By-Law and Tree Preservation By-Law Return for Further Consideration
The Site Alteration By-law and Tree Preservation By-law are coming back to the Planning Committee next Thursday, May 12, 2022, for more consideration.
We need waterfront property owners in the Township of Muskoka Lakes to get involved! If you would like to delegate at this meeting you have until 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2022, to let the Township know if you would like to speak. You can also help by emailing in your concerns. We have created autofill emails below to use as a guide to making your concerns known to the Township, we encourage you to make it your own and include your concerns.
Emails and personal pleas have previously shown positive impacts with our councillors. We encourage you to have your voice heard and write yours before the Planning Committee Meeting on Thursday, May 12th, 2022.
April 12th, 2022
Draft Official Plan Update
While there were various suggestions throughout the Special Planning Committee meeting on March 22, 2022, and submissions that Township Staff and the Meridian Planning Group will be considering, which may result in some modifications here and there, the direction from Committee was in agreement with all of the recommendations in the Meridian memo. We won’t know how exactly they will change the document until we have the new Official Plan draft in front of us to review.
The Township staff predicts the updated draft can be produced within 1-2 months. The process then will be that it comes back out to the public for review and comment. We will keep on top of the updates. We will need your help to make Our Muskoka’s voice loud!
Key Notes: It was decided at the meeting that deeded access will not be a requirement when a new water-access lot is proposed, the term ‘accessory recreational use floor area’ on the ground floor of boathouses will be added, Recreational Carrying Capacity, RCC, will not be used as a hard cap to prohibit lot creation on its own and only used as a consideration, amenity area coverage cap to be removed from the draft Official Plan and adjusted within the Site Alteration By-law.
April 11th, 2022
Planning Committee Prepares a Revised Draft of By-Law 2021-116
On March 18, 2022, the Planning Committee meeting staff were directed to prepare a revised draft of By-law 2021-116 and a public meeting will be scheduled once the draft is released. Our Muskoka looks forward to seeing the changes that will be updated in this new draft. More updates to come.