The year 2020 will be forever remembered as the year of the COVID 19 virus. 

You can learn more about the local situation relative to the public health response to COVID 19 at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website. At this website there are also links to Health Canada and Ontario public health information relative COVID 19.

For District of Muskoka information relative to COVID 19 you can go to the District’s website here: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/Coronavirus.aspx

For Township of Lake of Bays information relative to COVID 19 you can visit the Township’s website here: https://www.lakeofbays.on.ca/en/municipal-services/covid-19.aspx

In addition, for those who access Facebook, Mayor Terry Glover has been providing fairly regular updates to his facebook page @mayorterryglover.

The Port Cunnington Ratepayers Association hopes that everyone stays healthy and follows the guidance provided by our public health professionals.

Bigwin Island North Drydock Development – Planning Application
Township Public Meeting Tuesday August 28 2018 @ 9:00 am Township Council (Planning Meeting)

A Consent application (B 08/18 LOB) and Zoning By-law Amendment Application (Z 19/18 LOB) has been received by the Township from Eagle Landing Company and Bigwin Island Waterfront Association. The purpose of the application is to sever a parcel of land and provide to the abutting westerly property (the Bigwin Island Drydock) to facilitate provision of additional docking and related structures on the benefiting land.

You may recall that this expansion of docking facilities at the Drydock was included in the 2016 boating impact assessment prepared for the Port Cunnington Marina Expansion. The boat impact assessment (which has also been submitted in support of this application) includes the following information:

“The North Landing at Bigwin Island has long served as a landing facility for barges carrying vehicles and materials to the island and also presently provides some docking for staff. This facility currently provides docking for approximately six staff boats, with such docking occurring in an ad hoc fashion, both within and along the outer side of the landing. The desire is formalize and expand upon the present docking, to provide for a total of 30 slips, better serving for staff needs as well as providing some docking for inland cottage owners and owners/guests of planned Golf Cabins. Barge facilities would not be affected by this change.” 

Page 2 of February 2016 Boat Impact Assessment

The full application, staff report and boating impact report can be found here.

If you oppose or agree with this application and wish for your voice to be heard you must either attend and speak at the August 28th 2018 meeting or provide a written submission prior to the public meeting (we recommend providing written submissions by the Friday before the meeting (which is this Friday August 24) to ensure it is included in the staff report and Council’s meeting package).

You should ensure your letter references the application, e.g. RE: Notice of Public Meeting Respecting Consent Application B 08/18 and Zoning By-law Amendment Z 19/18 (Eagle Landing Company). You should also ensure your written application includes this paragraph:

Furthermore, I am making my cmments known as a matter of record to preserve my right to appeal any decision of Council to the OMB and would request that notices of any future Council or Committee meetings (not limited to public meetings constituted pursuant to the Planning Act) be sent to me as well as any decisions on this and any future public meetings related to Bigwin Island Drydock Development.

Any written submissions should be directed to:

Melissa Markham, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning
Township of Lake of Bays
1012 Dwight Beach Road
Dwight, Ontario P0A 1H0Or email to:
mmarkham@lakeofbays.on.ca
Melissa’s phone number is:
Ph. 705-635-2272 ext. 226 Fax: 705-635-2132

A Notice of Public Meeting Tuesday December 12, 2017 has been issued by the Township of Lake of Bays relative to the planning application of Haystack Bay Marina. You may recall that this application was before Council in August of 2016 and Council deferred their decision pending a reduction in dock length and submission of fisheries report.

To access the meeting agenda (once posted by the Township) please go to:  http://lakeofbays.on.ca/content/agendas-and-minutes

As per the resolution of August 9, 2016, the applicant has submitted a revised proposal to rezone the subject lands by amending the Waterfront Resort Commercial with an Exception “(WRC-E26) Development Permit Area and Waterfront Resort Commercial with an Exception “(WRC-E27)” Development Permit Area.

>> Download the 2017 Notice of Public Meeting

>> Download the 2016 Resolution

 

Staff Report available on the Township’s website at www.lakeofbays.on.ca or from the Planning Department on or after December 5, 2017

If you oppose or agree with this application and wish for your voice to be heard you must either attend and speak at the December 12, 2017 meeting or provide a written submission prior to the public meeting (we recommend providing written submissions by the Friday before the meeting to ensure it is included in the staff report and Council’s meeting package).

You should ensure your letter references the application, e.g. RE: Notice of Public Meeting Respecting a Site Specific Amendment to development Permit By-Law No. 04-180 – Being Application Z 19/16 LOB (Grant – Haystack Bay Marina).

You should also ensure your written application includes this paragraph:

Furthermore, I am making my concerns known as a matter of record to preserve my right to appeal any decision of Council to the OMB and would request that notices of any future Council or Committee meetings (not limited to public meetings constituted pursuant to the Planning Act) be sent to me as well as any decisions on this and any future public meetings related to Grants – Haystack Bay Marina.

Any written submissions should be directed to:

Melissa Markham, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning
Township of Lake of Bays
1012 Dwight Beach Road
Dwight, Ontario P0A 1H0
Or email to: mmarkham@lakeofbays.on.ca
Melissa’s phone number is:
Ph. 705-635-2272 ext. 226 Fax: 705-635-2132

Also, if you have not yet joined the PCRA, we would value and appreciate your support. The Port Cunnington Ratepayers Association is an incorporated not for profit organization with a mission to support the safe enjoyment and sustainable development of Port Cunnington Peninsula. More information and membership application can be found at portcunnington.ca/join-pcra.

Thank you.
Anne Collins
On Behalf of the Port Cunnington Ratepayers Association

Minimizing your boat’s wake and wash close to shore will protect the shoreline, shoreline structures and fish habitat, while you continue to enjoy your favourite boating activity.

Watch your Wake Brochure

SAVE THE DATE

Annual General Meeting for Members

July 15th 2017, 9:00 am

Port Cunnington Community Centre


Don’t forget to Renew Your Membership prior to the AGM!

Only full members in good standing have voting rights.

https://portcunnington.ca/join-pcra/

Got neighbours or family who aren’t members? Encourage them to join!

Can’t make it? Provide your proxy to another full or associate member. Ask us how!

Email: membership@portcunnington.ca

Go to the website and renew on-line or download a membership form:

https://portcunnington.ca/join-pcra/

Do you have an interest in joining the PCRA Board? Let us know!

Email us before June 29, 2017: membership@portcunnington.ca

Tell us why you’re interested and a summary of your skills/experience.

UPDATE: The PCRA Board has retained Leo F. Longo (a Certified Specialist in Municipal Law: Local Government & Land Use Planning and Development with Aird and Berlis) and directed him to formally express our concerns to Mayor and Council regarding the Port Cunnington Marina application and Bigwin Drydock Area Development.

You can read the full letter here.

 

The proponent (David Smith) for Port Cunnington Marina planning application has provided the PCRA with a copy of their revised plan (below) to share with our members. Along with the drawing, they also provided the table below, which summarizes the change in the number of parking and dock slips. David Smith believes the revisions represent meaningful changes to address concerns that were raised last summer.

Current Development Permit Present Application Proposed Revised Application
Approx. 30 Marina Parking Spaces 59 Marina Parking Spaces 47 Marina Parking Spaces
Approx. 6-8 Township Parking Spaces 13 Township Parking Spaces 20 Township Parking Spaces
34 Boat Slips 57 Boat Slips 44 Boat Slips

David Smith and his planner (Bob List) met with Township of Lake of Bays planner, Melissa Markham, recently to review the deliverables that will be included with their submission amendment.  Our understanding is that one of the deliverables will include more detailed engineering design and drawing of the parking area which they need to prepare.

He has also requested a meeting with the PCRA board and our planner, Marie Poirier, to get some feedback on the revisions.

But we need your input first!

To properly represent the interests and concerns of the Port Cunnington community, we need to know YOUR views (good, bad, indifferent) on this revised plan.

Please email your response/comments regarding the revisions to membership@portcunnington.ca.

Click here to download the PDF version of the Port Cunnington Marina Plan SK-01.

The proponent (David Smith) for Port Cunnington Marina planning application has provided the PCRA with a copy of their revised plan (below) to share with our members. Along with the drawing, they also provided the table below, which summarizes the change in the number of parking and dock slips. David Smith believes the revisions represent meaningful changes to address concerns that were raised last summer.

Current Development Permit Present Application Proposed Revised Application
Approx. 30 Marina Parking Spaces 59 Marina Parking Spaces 47 Marina Parking Spaces
Approx. 6-8 Township Parking Spaces 13 Township Parking Spaces 20 Township Parking Spaces
34 Boat Slips 57 Boat Slips 44 Boat Slips

David Smith and his planner (Bob List) met with Township of Lake of Bays planner, Melissa Markham, recently to review the deliverables that will be included with their submission amendment.  Our understanding is that one of the deliverables will include more detailed engineering design and drawing of the parking area which they need to prepare.

He has also requested a meeting with the PCRA board and our planner, Marie Poirier, to get some feedback on the revisions.

But we need your input first!

To properly represent the interests and concerns of the Port Cunnington community, we need to know YOUR views (good, bad, indifferent) on this revised plan.

Please email your response/comments regarding the revisions to membership@portcunnington.ca.

Click here to download the PDF version of the Port Cunnington Marina Plan SK-01.

Just received is (short) notice of a special council meeting Tuesday August 16th.

“There will be a special meeting of Council held at 1:30 p.m., on August 16, 2016  at the Port Cunnington Marina (1757-1 Port Cunnington Road), Dwight, Ontario for the purposes of providing a public information session with regards to Z 21/16 LOB Application,  2423518 Ontario Inc. – Port Cunnington Marina.”

The agenda is  available at this link: Special Council Meeting (Port Cunnington Marina – Public Information Session)- 16 Aug 2016

There will be a delegation by Dave Smith (President of Port Cunnington Marina) and Gord Nielson, Michalski Nielsen Associates Ltd. (author of the Boat Traffic study).

Attendees wishing to ask questions on the proposed application will have an opportunity to speak.

All are encourage to attend to learn more and get questions answered. It will also be important for Council to realize that this issue continues to be of great concern to the community.

 

Port Cunnington Ratepayer Association (PCRA) Board members David Keeley and Michael Green attended Council earlier today for the public hearing of the Haystack Bay – Grant application. They spoke to this application on behalf of the PCRA; reading into the record a letter from the PCRA.

Michael and Dave report that there were many residents present who also spoke and expressed concerns with this application. The main concerns from the public were the road traffic, boat traffic, water quality, fishery habitat and impact on adjacent land owners.

As per the staff recommendation within the application’s report (#5(a)(iii)/8/9/16 – Z 19/16 LOB (Grant-Haystack Bay Marina) Report), Council deferred their decision. No date was identified for the application to return to Council. The applicants were advised to provide additional supporting documentation/reports prior to any future consideration of the application by Council.

Here is the resolution to defer for the By-law Amendment Application Z 19/16 LOB (Grant – Haystack Bay Marina).  Should you have any questions please contact the Township office.

Stay tuned for further information.

 

Haystack Bay Marina has applied to Township of Lake of Bays for planning approval to increase the number of slips at the marina from 20 to 64 and to build an additional retail space on the westerly waterfront portion of the property.

The Township Council will be holding a public meeting on August 9th at 9:00 am to consider the proposed by-law amendment.

Essentially Haystack Bay Marina has two parcels of land; one on which the marina store and shop/storage is located; the other on which the owners residence is located with additional docking shore side for the fireboat and police boat. According to the Boating Impact Study, the current owners are considering the sale of one or both lots, with the possibility that they would sell the marina and boat fueling business (easterly parcel) and retain the westerly parcel which contains the majority of slips and which would provide an income opportunity through slip rentals.  

They are requesting the necessary planning approvals from Council as the marina expansion/development exceeds that permitted under the Development Permit By-law, therefore a by-law amendment is required. 

Here is what the proposed site plan looks like:

  image001.jpg@01D1ED6F.6153A700

Possible concerns with this proposal include: additional boat traffic in Haystack Bay and a weak boat traffic report which does not incorporate all required information as per the Official Plan;  the additional traffic on Port Cunnington road associated with seasonal slip rental; the added vehicle congestion at the Marina’s locale and pedestrian traffic crossing road to access boats from an undefined parking area; extension of docking beyond max permitted which may  be out of scale with the neighbourhood; and a lack of planning rationale to support the application.

For those that may not recall, the Port Cunnington Marina – also accessed via Port Cunnington Road – is requesting expansion of its slips from 23 to 64+ slips and expansion of its parking areas to provide parking for 89 vehicles. Combined with the application from Haystack Bay these proposals could have a significant impact on incoming/outgoing traffic on Fox Point and Port Cunnington Road. 

This is another example of a planning application with too little information and we need to let council know we expect better information and analysis of these applications. You can do this by

1)      Showing up at Tuesdays meeting. It will be very important that Council see the faces of those concerned about this proposal when called upon to vote on this matter. It is difficult to ignore a room full of their constituents; show Council who you are. 

2)      Write a letter. Content should include a request to defer a decision until a comprehensive plan can be addressed and a consultation process established. I have provided a template below for your use. Emails can be sent to CSykes@lakeofbays.on.ca

Template Letter

Carrie Sykes, Director of Corporate Services/Clerk, Township of Lake of Bays CSykes@lakeofbays.on.ca 

RE: Notice of Public Meeting Respecting a Site Specific Amendment to development Permit By-Law No. 04-180 – Being Application Z 19/16 LOB (Grant – Haystack Bay Marina).

I understand that a public meeting for the above applications and for which notice was sent pursuant to the Planning Act will be held on August 9, 2016. I am writing to advise that I am opposed to the applications (you can add your specific concerns/reasons for opposition if you wish) and am sending this correspondence in formal opposition of the applications to the Township of Lake of Bays Planning Council. I request that Council deny or defer Bylaw Amendment Application Z 19/16 LOB (Grant – Haystack Bay Marina).received on July 20, 2016 until such time that a proper comprehensive planning application is received and quality public consultation is undertaken and public input received.

Furthermore, I am making my concerns known as a matter of record to preserve my right to appeal any decision of Council to the OMB and would request that notices of any future Council or Committee meetings (not limited to public meetings constituted pursuant to the Planning Act) be sent to me as well as any decisions on this and any future public meetings related to Grants – Haystack Bay Marina.

Download Template Letter in Word Format