Following a public meeting and changes to their proposed development, Halmont Properties Corporation, the developers of the lands at 939 Highway 60, received approval from the Jan. 14 Planning Council.
Their applications consisted of amendments to both the Huntsville and Muskoka Official Plans and a Community Permit Bylaw amendment to permit a residential development.
According to planning staff, the applications apply to the lands which housed the former golf course, and are being referred to as the ‘Grandview Backlands’. These lands are part of a larger property that includes lands to the south situated on a point of land which extends to Fairy Lake, referred to as the ‘Grandview Shorelands.’
Huntsville manager of planning, Richard Clark, said no new development is currently being proposed on the lands to the south. The planning applications submitted apply to the Grandview Backlands, which have an approximate area of 16.07 hectares, with 400 meters of frontage on Hwy. 60, 540 metres of frontage on Grandview Drive, 100 metres of frontage on Cooksone Bay Crescent, and 375 metres of frontage on Fairy Lake in Cooksone Bay. The proposed development will be serviced via Grandview Drive, Hwy. 60 and include a conservation block, a block for a pump station, and three open space blocks for green space and storm water management.
The planning applications were submitted to permit a residential development of up to 110 residential units, comprised of a mix of bungalow and two-storey townhouses.
“Following the Public Meeting, the applicant submitted revised materials intended to address comments received from the Town and other review agencies, as well as the feedback provided by interested members of the public and council. The revised submission included:
- An updated Concept/Overall Density Plan prepared by The Planning Partnership, dated December 11, 2025;
- An updated Traffic Impact Study prepared by Tatham Engineering Ltd, dated August 26, 2025;
- An updated Draft CPPA By-law;
- An updated Draft MOPA64;
- An updated Draft HOPA7;
- A Town Comment/Response Table; and
- A Public and Council Member Comment/Response Table.
“With all comments now addressed the applications are being brought back before Planning Council for consideration,” noted Clark in his report.
“As you recall, the lands are unique in Huntsville as they require development to maintain a balanced mix of resort commercial and resort residential uses — and that’s a 50/50 mix that’s required,” noted Clark at the meeting. “In this instance, the applicant is asking to advance a development that would include only a resort residential development on the portion of the lands… so all of the applications that are before us are to change the rules to allow this townhouse development,” he explained.
The representative for the development said new housing opportunities would be created, which would be ideal for families, empty-nesters, and people looking to downsize, thereby diversifying the different housing opportunities available in the municipality.
He said removing the requirement for a hotel or resort development was informed by a market study that noted that development is not appropriate for the lands. He said opportunities for commercial amenities for local residents along Hwy. 60 would be included, and added that 6 and 3/4 hectares of the entire property would be heritage and open space areas, and referred to the development as low in density.
The development will also include a connection to the existing Fairy Vista Trail, which will be conveyed to the Town.
Huntsville planning staff were recommending approval. Planning Council unanimously gave the applications their nod of approval.
You can find more information about this development HERE.
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