Property owners beware | Letters

Is the property your cherished home is built on now zoned Natural Constraint 1? That’s right Wetland.

This is now the case of many properties within the Municipality of the Town of Huntsville.

In 2023 the Town  enacted  the Community  Planning  Permit  bylaw. At the same time they updated their precinct ( zoning ) from Mapping provided by the District  of Muskoka. This new mapping  has many flaws and has increased the Wetland  Designation well beyond so called Wetand and their  natural features.  The new mapping can not be justified by air photos,  or natural  features. 

In 2019 the Town of Huntsville implemented policies that requires setbacks to development  from wetlands,  with a 30 m buffer as a standard. Proposed  development that do not comply with the new policy would be considered with an ESI or a Biologist  Report supporting a reduction of the 30 m buffer, of course at the expense  of the property  owner.

The District Manager of Mapping , was unable to justify  the extended/ expanded limits of the Wetland  Mapping and not willing to address  the inaccuracy  of the mapping provided  by his office or their  Consultant.  The Disrist Chair,  would not take any responsibility  for the Mapping provided by District  Staff, but replied, that the problem should be taken up with the local planning department.

The Town of Huntsville’s Planning department seems to be caught in the  middle and are dealing  with these issues as they arise. The answer  I hear from  everyone  is that the Wetland Mapping is a General mapping, to be used as a guide. That would be great if it  was reasonably accurate.  One wouldn’t expect  100% accuracy  but when the Natural Constraint 1 (Wetland designation) extends 300 ft beyond the actual Wetland there is something drastically  wrong with the system.

When you have to deal with both the new Wetland Boundaries and the 30 M buffer it becomes extremely  difficult  to have any further development  on many properties. 

If you own property near a stream,  creek, drainage ditch, pond, low lying area, puddle of water you need to be concerned.  One area  I found interesting, were the properties  on the south side of Ripple Lane. Most of these properties  the Wetland  Boundaries have been extended  almost  to the road allowance. 

Both the new mapping and CPP Bylaw are making it difficult for Rural Development and Affordable Housing.

You can check your properties zoning and air photos with Town’s  Planning Department or the Town’s  mapping system, tohm .

Property owners need to address these issues by contacting their perspective  Councilors  and get chages made that support Rural Development. 

Take up the challenge, defend your property. As one person said, We don’t own our property  we just pay taxes on it.

George W Hines

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