Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Update

Staff and the consulting team will be bringing forward a draft Background Review and Directions Report on the Zoning By-law Update Project to a Special Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.

The purpose of the Zoning By-law Update Project is to review and update the Township’s Zoning By-law to conform with the recently approved Official Plan, as well as to undertake amendments to address technical/housekeeping issues identified by staff, the Zoning By-law Steering Committee and the public. The project includes a comprehensive community and stakeholder engagement program that is scheduled to begin during the summer of 2025.

The draft Background Review and Directions Report being presented to Planning Committee on April 29, 2025 will identify the scope of the changes required to the Zoning By-law, including those required to implement the recently approved Official Plan, as well as technical/housekeeping issues identified by staff and the Zoning By-law Steering Committee. The report does not make recommendations on how best to address the issues, but does, in some cases, identify options for consideration.

Based on the feedback received from the Planning Committee and the public on April 29^th, 2025, the draft report will be finalized for endorsement at a future Planning Committee meeting and will be used to help guide the community and stakeholder engagement component of the project.

The meeting Agenda will be published on Wednesday, April 23 by 4:00 p.m. and will be available for viewing online in the Township’s Government Portal. The Agenda link will be posted on the Engage Page and to social media once the Agenda is published.

Members of the public and other stakeholders are welcome to attend the meeting to observe and/or speak. Please Note: Anyone is welcome to speak at the meeting and no pre-registration is required. However, any presentation materials must be submitted to planning@muskokalakes.ca a minimum of 24 hours prior to the meeting and no hard copy circulation will be permitted at the table.

Participation Details

Date – Tuesday, April 29^th, 2025

Time – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location – Hybrid Format (in-person and electronic meeting via Zoom)

• In person - Council Chambers, Municipal Office, 1 Bailey Street, Port Carling ON P0B 1J0
• Zoom – Please see meeting details below

Zoom Meeting Information

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83275744506?pwd=ha5kIt6hqOKaKr6qXmZzrduyey5oBk.1

Passcode: 746964

Phone one-tap:

+16475580588,,83275744506#,,,,*746964# Canada +17789072071,,83275744506#,,,,*746964# Canada

Join via audio:

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Webinar ID: 832 7574 4506

Passcode: 746964

Phase II – Technical Review and Issues Identification – of the Township’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law Update continues. This phase of the project is largely technical in nature and involves the Steering Committee, together with the project consultants and staff, working to identify issues with the existing Zoning By-law and potential options to address these issues, and to identify how best to implement Official Plan policies following the recent Official Plan update. Valuable discourse continues with respect to what ultimate directions to take for the update. The Steering Committee meetings are open to the public and other stakeholders to observe.

Phase II will culminate in the presentation of a Draft Background Review and Directions Report to Planning Committee by the project consultants for input and feedback prior to consideration of its final approval. It is anticipated that the Draft Report will be presented to Planning Committee in April 2025. Members of the public and other stakeholders will have an opportunity delegate to Planning Committee.

The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Steering Committee meetings are not being live-streamed, but members of the public are welcome to attend in-person to observe.

The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Steering Committee meetings are not being live-streamed, but members of the public are welcome to attend in-person to observe.

The Comprehensive Zoning By-law Steering Committee had their first meeting on Monday September 23, 2024, the slides from this meeting can be found under the documents tab. There are two additional Steering Committee meetings scheduled for 2024:

• Wednesday, October 30, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers
• Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers

Steering Committee meetings are not being live-streamed, but members of the public are welcome to attend in-person to observe.

The Project Steering Committee shall report directly to Planning Committee and shall be responsible for the following:

• Provide advice, assistance and guidance to the Township’s selected consultant and sub-consultant and Township staff in completing the project in accordance with the approved Proposal for Consulting Services, including timing and budget;
• Review and provide input on matters such as, zoning issues identification, community and stakeholder engagement, and the various drafts of the proposed Comprehensive Zoning By-law;
• Ensure necessary zoning issues are addressed by the consultants; and
• Provide appropriate recommendations to Planning Committee on the appropriateness of all documents for public consultation purposes and recommend to Planning Committee the final version of a Comprehensive Zoning By-law suitable for approval by the Township of Muskoka Lakes Council.

Council Members

• Councillor Rob Bosomworth (Vice-Chair)
• Councillor Mary Ellen McIntyre
• Councillor Gordon Roberts

Citizen Members

• Barb Bridgeman (Chair)
• Shawn Donaldson
• Al Moran
• Frank Pottow

• Terry Ledger