The District Municipality of Muskoka Planning and Economic Development Committee Agenda Meeting PED-4-2017 Thursday, April 20, 2017 9:00 a.m. Council Chamber, District Administration Building ____________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order 2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interests 3. Assigned Functions a) Approval of the Adopted Official Plan of the Town of Gravenhurst Report PED-4-2017-3 Recommendation THAT the Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan, as adopted by Town By-law 2016- 118, be modified in accordance with the modifications as detailed in Schedule “A” appended to staff report PED-4-2017-3, and approved as modified. b) Background for a Public Meeting Subdivision File S2017-1 (Donaldson) Town of Bracebridge Report PED-4-2017-4 Recommendation This report is provided for information. 4. Planning Programs a) 2017 Second Home Study Update Report PED-4-2017-2 Recommendation THAT the Second Home Study Update be initiated and proceed as outlined in the work plan appended to staff report PED-4-2017-2. 5. Federal or Provincial Initiatives a) 2016 Census – Permanent Population and Total Private Dwellings Report PED-4-2017-1 Recommendation This report is provided for information. 6. Information Items a) New Plans of Subdivision/Condominium Description Files i. Plan of Subdivision File S2017-1, “Donaldson Subdivision”, located in the Town of Bracebridge, was submitted on March 10, 2017 and deemed complete on April 4, 2017. b) Delegated Staff Approvals, Amendments and Extensions i. Condominium Description File C2006-1, “Echo Valley”, located in the Township of Lake of Bays, was amended by authorization on March 21, 2017 and granted a one-year extension to March 21, 2018. ii. Condominium Description File C2008-2, “Rosseau Developments – 2253100 Ontario Inc.”, located in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, was amended by authorization on March 24, 2017 and granted a two-year extension to March 24, 2019. iii. Plan of Subdivision File S2005-8, “Inveraray”, located in the Town of Bracebridge, was amended by authorization on March 13, 2017 and granted a two-year extension to March 13, 2019. iv. Plan of Subdivision File S2000-1, “Muskoka Highlands”, located in the Town of Bracebridge, was amended by authorization on March 13, 2017 and granted a two-year extension to March 13, 2019. v. Certificate of Approval for Lifting of Part Lot Control By-law 2011-140, “Muskoka Bay Villa Corp.”, located in the Town of Gravenhurst, was amended on March 16, 2017 and granted a one year extension to March 16, 2018. c) Final Approved and Registered Plans i. Plan of Subdivision File 44T-89007, “Settler’s Ridge – Phase 5”, located in the Town of Huntsville, was final approved on March 30, 2017 and submitted to the Land Registry Office for registration. 7. New Business 8. Adjournment Recommendation THAT the Planning and Economic Development Committee adjourns to meet again on Thursday, May 18, 2017 or at the call of the Chair. This agenda can be viewed in a larger font by increasing the magnification of the page. Please note that hearing-assistive devices are available in the Council Chamber. 70 PINE STREET, BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO P1L 1N3 Telephone (705) 645-2231 / Fax (705) 645-5319 / 1-800-461-4210 (705 area code) www.muskoka.on.ca To: Chair and Members Planning and Economic Development Committee From: Sam Soja Manager of Planning Date: April 20, 2017 Subject: Approval of the Adopted Official Plan of the Town of Gravenhurst Report: PED-4-2017-3 ____________________________________________________________________________ Recommendation THAT the Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan, as adopted by Town By-law 2016-118, be modified in accordance with the modifications as detailed in Schedule “A” appended to staff report PED-4-2017-3, and approved as modified. Origin The Town of Gravenhurst adopted a new Official Plan on December 20, 2016 and submitted the record on January 12, 2017 for approval by Muskoka District Council. Analysis Background and Purpose In June of 2015, the Town of Gravenhurst Council retained Planscape to undertake a 5-year review of its Official Plan, as required by the Planning Act to ensure the policies are updated to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), to be in conformity with the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP), and continue to reflect the interests of the community. Between July 2016 and December 2016, three drafts of the Gravenhurst Official Plan were released to the public for review and comment. District staff participated on the Town’s official plan review advisory committee and provided advice to ensure the new policies address Provincial and District of Muskoka interests. Technical guidance was also provided. The adopted Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan is the result of this comprehensive review process and is intended to replace the existing Official Plan, along with all schedules and appendices. The Official Plan sets out updated goals, objectives and land use policies to guide decision-making affecting physical change and land use throughout the Town over the next twenty years. Page 1 Circulation and Public Meetings The Town undertook an extensive public consultation process which exceeded the minimum requirements of Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act and associated regulations. This consultation process included two online surveys, one statutory open house, one special meeting of Council, two public workshops, one special Official Plan Review meeting, two statutory public meetings, advisory committee working sessions, as well as meetings with individuals, lake associations and other community stakeholders. Notices of public meetings were circulated to the required agencies and the public. Copies of notices and background information such as policy discussion papers, presentations, draft versions of the Official Plan, and summaries of the public comments were posted on the Town’s website. During this review period, the Town received comments from a variety of individuals and organizations both verbally at meetings and through written submissions. Throughout the process, District staff provided written comments on the drafts of the Official Plan in order to ensure consistency with the PPS and conformity to the MOP. Town and District staff met on several occasions to discuss these comments and resolve outstanding issues. This collegial process has resulted in minimal modifications being proposed to the adopted Official Plan. Since the time of adoption, a few additional comments have been submitted directly to the District of Muskoka. A summary of the comments and a response to each is attached as Appendix “I”. Copies of the submitted comments are attached as Appendix “II”. Modifications Modifications to the adopted Official Plan have been recommended to ensure consistency and conformity to planning documents, as requested by Town staff and/or to address technical matters. Proposed modifications to ensure consistency with the PPS, as listed in Schedule “A”, Part A, Modifications 1-8, can be grouped under the following headings: Allocation Targets for Residential Growth In accordance with the 2009 and 2013 Muskoka Growth Strategy reports, the percentage of permanent residential growth within municipally serviced urban centres compared to rural areas is projected to increase over time. Although the projections from the Growth Strategy have been included in the adopted Official Plan, this shift in residential growth is intended to occur incrementally. To achieve these projections, the Growth Strategy recommends setting a long-term minimum allocation target of 80% permanent urban residential growth and 20% permanent rural residential growth. The proposed modifications add this target to the Official Plan. Fish Habitat The PPS protects fish habitat by ensuring development and site alteration are not permitted in fish habitat except in accordance with provincial and federal requirements and are not permitted on adjacent lands unless it has been demonstrated that there will be no negative impacts. The fish habitat policies went through several rounds of revisions prior to adoption and the additional proposed modifications clarify the overall intent and ensure consistency with the PPS, while providing flexibility in implementation where possible. Significant Wildlife Habitat Page 2 The adopted Official Plan contains policies that require protection of significant wildlife habitat. To ensure appropriate implementation, a modification is proposed which provides a general definition of wildlife habitat and how its significance is determined. Environmental Impact Statements In accordance with the PPS, development and site alteration is only permitted within or adjacent to certain types of natural heritage features where it has been demonstrated that there will be no negative impacts. While several policies in the adopted Official Plan require the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine if proposed development can proceed, the requirement for a study can be waived or scoped by Town and/or District staff in certain situations where there is a relatively low risk of negative environmental impact. The proposed modifications clarify that exemptions to the completion of a full EIS would only be provided where the development proceeds in accordance with applicable regulations and best management practices in consideration of site specific circumstances. Adjacent Lands Where development or site alteration is proposed on lands which are located adjacent to