Following a period of public consultation and feedback, the Township of Lake of Bays Council repealed the Roads License Agreement (RLA) bylaw on February 11, 2025.
At the same meeting, Council adopted a new Unassumed Road Improvement bylaw focusing on procedures and policies for those who want to build new driveways or access roads on municipal land.
What this means for residents
The repeal of the RLA program and the adoption of the Unassumed Road Improvement By-law means:
Existing driveways and roads on municipal road allowance or Township-owned property, as well as those previously approved in Plans of Subdivision, will no longer require an agreement.
New driveways or access roads using municipal road allowance or other Township-owned property will require an agreement to make improvements under the new terms of the Unassumed Road Improvement Agreement By-law.
Reimbursement
Members of the public who applied under the program for a previously existing road or driveway can submit a request to the Township for reimbursement of any fees paid to date, including, but not limited to, the application fee, renewal fee(s), and any other expenses paid in compliance with this agreement. Please note that these requests should be accompanied by proof of payment and all requests for reimbursement will be considered by Council prior to any payments being approved. Requests should be addressed to the Clerk and sent either by:
Regular Mail:
1012 Dwight Beach Road,
Dwight, ON P0A 1H0
Email:
[email protected]
With the repeal of the Roads License Agreement (RLA) program, Township staff are also reviewing necessary changes to the Road Purchasing Program. Staff will present a report at an upcoming Council meeting outlining proposed updates to the policy and procedures. To allow sufficient time for this review, a new moratorium specifically for the Road Purchasing Program has been issued for an additional 60 days.
Next step
A letter will be sent to those who were originally notified about the need for an agreement, providing updated information regarding the changes. Residents are encouraged to visit Lakeofbays.on.ca/RLA for further information. Township staff are also available to answer questions or receive further feedback at [email protected].
Relevant Documents
Unassumed Road Improvement Policy and By-law
For more information, contact:
[email protected]
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This was the right, fair and equitable decision for all. It also shows good governance, with our elected representatives doing their duty, working for all people. Road License Agreements for existing roads can now fade off into the sunset, hopefully never to be heard of again, putting this finally behind us.
Thank you to all that made their voice heard, whether it was through a petition, word of mouth, writing letters, emails, comments or contributing to the legal challenge fund!
Hats off to the local media, that has provided balanced coverage of this important issue, without bias.