Gravenhurst Council Highlights - Aug. 13, 2024
Development charges study underway
Andrew Mirabella of Hemson Consulting provided council with an overview of the development charges study the company is conducting on behalf of the town.
Development charges are fees that the town collects from new construction projects to help pay for growth-related infrastructure investments in the community.
These investments include such things as new sidewalks, parks, and equipment.
The principle behind the charges is that growth pays for growth.
Mirabella said the purpose of his presentation was to provide information about development charges in general, details about the draft calculated development charge rates, and next steps regarding the town’s development charges study, including public consultation.
Through the public consultation process, the town is looking for feedback on the proposed new fees.
Mirabella noted that development charges are imposed through a bylaw and that once in place the fees have a 10-year lifespan before they must be reviewed and updated.
Prior to passing a bylaw, provincial regulations require a development charges background study and related public meeting.
The town last passed a development charges bylaw in December 2019.
As part of the current study, Mirabella said Hemson has done a preliminary town-wide development charges calculation.
For a single detached unit, the rate is calculated at $13,879 versus the current rate of $5,768.
Mirabella noted the plan is to release a draft of the development charges study for public review in September.
At that time, the information will be available for review on Engage Gravenhurst, where there will be an opportunity for people to comment on the study.
A public meeting is planned for Oct. 23 at 3:00 p.m. – another opportunity for people to provide feedback – and council will consider approving the new development charges bylaw in November.
OSPCA presentation
Leslie Barrie of the OSPCA and Muskoka Animal Centre made a presentation to council.
Barrie provided council with an overview of services offered by the OSPCA and animal centre.
Gull and Silver Lakes Residents’ Association presentation
Jim Davis, representing the Gull and Silver Lakes Residents’ Association, made a presentation to council.
Davis spoke about the town’s draft Public Launch and Control Bylaw.
The purpose of the bylaw is to regulate the use of public docks, landings, and launches and prevent the abandonment of boats and materials at docks.
Davis said the association is asking the town to include site-specific provisions in the bylaw for the water access property owners of Gull and Silver lakes.
These provisions – site-specific to the Hewitt Street dock – would include:
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a 10-hour limit on docking a boat
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an overnight stay of up to two nights using a town administered permit system.
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allowance of small boats, canoes, kayaks to be stored on town-owned land adjacent to the Hewitt Street dock using a permit system.
Davis noted the association is working to establish a water transportation co-op.
He said through the co-op, members would offer to pick up or drop off members at the dock.
He said the co-op system can help relieve congestion at the dock.
Mayor Lorenz thanked Davis for the presentation and noted council at its September meeting will consider approving the Public Launch and Control Bylaw.
The mayor said council will look to staff to evaluate the association’s proposal.
Council defeats motion to review parking time limits
Councillor Penny Varney introduced a motion that asked staff to conduct a review of parking time limits on side streets.
Currently, a three-hour limit is in place.
The motion stated the time limit might not be required on side streets due to a lower volume of traffic.
Council discussed the motion in-depth but the majority of members voted against conducting a review of parking time limits.
Council repeals heritage designation
Council members repealed a heritage designation for the Severn River Inn.
The owners requested the removal of the designation.
The Municipal Heritage Committee considered the request earlier in June and supported the owners.
The request is due to high insurance costs for heritage designated homes. The owners say the only way to bring their insurance costs down is to have the heritage designation removed.
Council receives budget review and guideline report
Council received for information the 2025 Budget Review and Guideline Report.
The purpose of the document is to recommend a budget review schedule and a guideline for the 2025 budget.
Council will have to consider a number of budgetary pressures on both the capital and operations side.
The document notes the town is looking at a five per cent increase to its tax rate for 2025.
The draft budget will be available for review on the town’s website and the Engage Gravenhurst site on Nov. 8.
A related public meeting is set for Nov. 27.
Council will consider passing the budget on Dec. 10.
Council OKs expansion to Community Improvement Plan boundary
Council members agreed to expand the boundary for the town’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
The decision was based on a recommendation from the town’s Community Grants Committee.
Later in the meeting, council passed a related bylaw.
In 2023, the Economic Development Division received a number of inquiries from businesses located along Bethune Drive, adjacent to the current CIP area, seeking information about the program and requesting a review of the boundaries to include these locations.
The Community Grants Committee (CGC) met on July 8 to discuss the application process and make recommendations for the 2025 intake process to committee.
At that meeting, staff brought forward the discussion of expanding the CIP boundary to include properties of interest along Bethune Drive.
During the meeting, committee members reviewed mapping of the current area and three options for possible expansion brought by staff.
After a robust conversation regarding various aspects of the expansion impact, the CGC arrived at a recommendation that the CIP Boundary be expanded to include:
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Bethune Drive North to Coon Road, both sides of Bethune;
- Bethune Drive South to Bishop Street on the west side of Bethune Drive;
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Winewood Avenue East, to include the three commercial properties between Muskoka Beach Road and Bethune Drive North.
In 2024, approximately $159,000 was available in the CIP reserve for granting. The CGC approved just over $95,000 in applications.
It is expected that with the boundary expansion, the fund would still be able to address the number of applications received.
As part of the five-year capital plan, annual top-ups to the CIP fund have been presented and approved to ensure the town meets the needs of the area.
Year over year, Economic Development has tracked the financial spin-off from the projects funded; on average every dollar granted through the CIP program has resulted in $20 of additional investment by the applicants and/or owners.
As part of Gravenhurst's Downtown Revitalization project in 2012, a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) was developed to assist property and business owners that need building and façade improvements.
Council making changes to parking times in front of Gravenhurst Seniors Centre
Council passed a motion allowing extended parking times on First Street in front of the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre.
In the motion, they directed staff to report back with an amendment to the parking bylaw, identifying the extended spots on First Street, from Church Street to Winewood Avenue, for council’s consideration.
Council received correspondence from Lorne Robertson of the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre regarding parking time limits.
On behalf of the centre, he requested that the three-hour parking limit be removed on First Street, from Church Street to Winewood Avenue.
Robertson said the limit interferes with events at the centre – things such as anniversaries, celebrations of life, and birthday parties that tend to run longer than three hours.
Muskoka Watershed Council update
Councillor Peter Johnston provided his monthly update on the Muskoka Watershed Council.
Mayor’s monthly update
Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.
Mayor Lorenz noted that she is attending the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa on Aug. 18-21.
She will be attending the conference with Councillor Erin Strength and CAO Scott Lucas.
Mayor Lorenz also reminded people about the upcoming Severn Bridge Fall Fair on Sept. 7.
As well, the mayor noted that the Bay and Beyond infrastructure project is moving into phase 2. Details are on the Bay and Beyond site.
Additionally, Mayor Lorenz encouraged people to attend upcoming TimberBeast productions at the wharf. For details, see the TimberBeast Facebook page.
Lastly, she noted the town has released some baby turtles back into the environment.
Each year the town inspects for turtle egg nests while road construction projects are taking place.
Turtles will sometimes hide their nests in the shoulder of the road or nearby.
If any nests are found and they are at risk due to the construction project, they are safely removed and cared for until the baby turtles are ready for release.
On Aug. 13, the town released six baby turtles that were part of a nest discovered at a project site in early June. The release took place near the original location of the nest.
Saving Turtles At Risk Today (START), an Oro-Medonte Township organization, cared for the baby turtles until they were ready to make it on their own.
Council Highlights
Council Highlights is prepared as an overview of the council meeting. For the official record, please refer to the agenda and minutes on the town website at www.gravenhurst.ca.
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