Representatives of Huntsville Long Term Care Centre Inc., also known as Muskoka Landing, were before Huntsville’s Planning Committee at its Aug. 15 meeting, looking for site plan approval.
Their proposal involves a four-storey, 121-unit addition to their existing 94-unit building. The plan also involves the construction of 14 townhouses along the shoreline, boat docking facilities and additional parking at 29 and 31 Helen Street.
According to the Planning Department’s report to committee, the lands consist of an area of about 5.3 hectares (13.09 acres) with 130 metres of frontage on Rogers Cove Drive and 231 metres of frontage on Fairy Lake.
Staff recommended approval of the proposed site plan, provided that the applicant grants the municipality a conveyance for the area where storm water flows as well as an easement for a public walking trail along the shoreline.
Site plans for the Muskoka Landing expansion.
“Staff are generally satisfied with the submitted materials however some revisions are required including the provision of a storm water management report, update to the lighting plan to ensure the proposal complies with the Town’s outdoor lighting bylaw and some additional details regarding landscaping,” said Huntsville Senior Planner Elizabeth Reimer. She also said the number of roofed structures such as a gazebo, garbage storage enclosure and a covered smoking area for staff will have to be addressed because the zoning for the property only allows one roofed accessory structure. She said one of the structures could be moved to a separate parcel and noted that staff would work with the applicant on that issue. In her report, she also noted that further clarification regarding parking would be required from the applicant.
“The noted revisions required to the plan aren’t anticipated to significantly alter the design of the site and accordingly staff are recommending that committee grant this development site plan approval at this time,” she said.
Committee also heard that a traffic brief will need to be approved by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) before the applicant can obtain a building permit.
Councillor Bob Stone asked about the public pathway and where it would be located. Reimer said it would connect to a similar pathway requested of the Grandview development, on the other side of the bay, and staff will ensure that the pathway runs along the shoreline as part of the site plan approval process.
Terziano asked what the pathway would be like. Al McNair, planning consultant for the applicant, told committee that the surface of the trail would be made of limestone screenings.
Committee approved the site plan pending the conditions cited above. You can find the planning report here and more about this story here.
The controversial four-storey height exemptions requested by the applicant wound up at the Ontario Municipal Board, which ruled in favour of the applicant.
The recommendation was ratified by Huntsville Council at its August 27 meeting.
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