From the Township of Lake of Bays
The Township of Lake of Bays is continuing its review of the Official Plan, a document that will guide growth, development, and land use over the next 25 years.
Policy Directions Report Now Available
The project has now entered Phase Three, with the release of the Policy Directions Report for public review and feedback. This report builds on the background information and recommendations developed during Phase Two and incorporates feedback gathered through focus groups and a Public Information Session held in winter 2025. It outlines proposed policy changes for consideration by Township staff, Council, and the community.
The report serves as a living document designed to adapt as new input is received. It will play a key role in shaping the policies that will form the foundation of the Township’s new Official Plan. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to review the report, available on the Township’s website at Lakeofbays.on.ca/OfficialPlan.
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Upcoming Presentation to Council
The Policy Directions Report will be presented at an upcoming Council (Planning Matters) meeting.
- Date: May 27, 2025
- Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Location: Council Chambers (1012 Dwight Beach Road, Dwight) or via Zoom
Providing Comments or Questions
Community input is essential in shaping the Township’s future. Comments and questions can be submitted using the comment formon the Township’s website or by contacting:
- April Best-Sararas, Director of Planning Services
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 705-635-2272 ext. 1252
There will be additional opportunities for public engagement as the project progresses. For updates, visit Lakeofbays.on.ca/OfficialPlan.
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I remember the “first” official plan, printed on newsprint, back in the 70’s. A lot of people laughed at it, thought it was a waste of time.
Now the official plan consumes the full time work of half a dozen staff just in Dwight, let alone the district.
Everything has some kind of “documentation” in the current plan. Some make sense. Some are so arcane or long winded that no normal person engaged in trying to live a life and run a business really has time to research and follow the ramifications of them.
This plan is now hundreds of pages long and generally anyone wishing to do anything consults a highly paid “planner” (who often worked in the past for the Township administering the plan) to try to divine out what can and cannot be done and at what cost.
This whole process long ago ran away from my understanding.
This said, I do see some positive actions of the plan with regard to shoreline development. It seems to work not too badly in keeping structures a reasonable distance from view from the lake.
Then there are other parts of the plan that seem to be flight into dream land with little appreciation of the real world and I wonder why they exist.
It needs to have an “executive summary” of maybe 10 or 15 pages that covers the thing in terms a person can grasp and work with without paying for an interpreter. That would be my suggestion.