Gravenhurst Council Highlights - Nov. 19, 2024
Home Building Centre Gravenhurst housing presentation
Robert Glecoff, an owner at Home Building Centre Gravenhurst, made a presentation to council about accessory dwelling unit (ADU) building plans.
An ADU is a form of residential unit. It is a separate, self-contained unit located on the property of a primary home.
Glecoff said the business wants to be recognized by the town as an approved ADU plans provider.
The ADU plans would be from Beaver Homes and Cottages, he noted.
Beaver Homes and Cottages is billed as a premium service offered at select Home Hardware Building Centres.
A Beaver Homes and Cottages consultant would be available to help with each ADU project from start to finish.
Mayor Lorenz thanked Glecoff for his presentation.
She noted the town looks forward to working with community partners to address the need for ADUs and said more information would be coming forward in the future.
Amendment to Dock Control Bylaw
Council members approved an amendment to the town’s Dock Control Bylaw.
Staff recommended amending the bylaw following discussions with the Gull and Silver Lake Residents’ Association.
The association had a series of changes it wanted to see to the bylaw.
The amended bylaw now allows boats to “dock, moor or anchor at a public dock or landing for up to 10 hours.”
This change applies across the municipality.
The bylaw had previously allowed for six-hour docking and mooring.
Council provides direction to proceed with new ward boundaries
Council members received a staff report on the Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review exercise and selected Option 2 for new boundaries.
If the related bylaw is approved by council in December, the new boundaries would come into effect for the 2026-2030 term of council.
The consultants and staff recommended Option 3 for the new boundaries, but after much discussion council approved Option 2 with the view it better suited the community.
The composition of council and how members are elected will remain the status quo.
There will be five ward councillors – one elected in each ward.
There will also be one mayor position and three district councillor positions; these roles will be elected at-large by all the residents of Gravenhurst.
The mayor will also sit on district council.
The review exercise was to ensure that residents have equitable access to their elected representatives.
The ward boundary review started earlier this year with assistance from the consulting firm Watsons and Associates Economists Ltd.
The review included an extensive public consultation process.
Tuesday, consultants provided council with an overview of their work and findings.
Kayla Thibeault, clerk, and Jonathan Gilston, deputy clerk, provided related remarks.
In selecting Option 2, council directed that when the related bylaw is considered for approval in December it includes ward numbering that is consistent with what the town currently uses.
Review the 2024 Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review Final Report and see Option 2 for details on the new boundaries.
New development charge rates
Council approved new development charge rates for the municipality, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
The town collects development charge fees from new construction projects to help pay for growth-related infrastructure investments in the community.
The town uses the money it collects through development charges to pay for such things as new or expanded roads, sidewalks, storm drainage systems, and parks.
Earlier this year, council retained Hemson Consulting to prepare a development charges study for the town.
As part of their work, consultants considered several variables to the town’s growth-related infrastructure needs.
The town invited the public to review the study and provide comment on Engage Gravenhurst – the municipality’s online engagement site – and at a public meeting.
In approving the new rates, council agreed to phase them in over a three-year period. This is to ease the burden on builders and encourage development.
Gravenhurst gets new Economic Development Strategic Plan
The town now has a new strategic plan for economic development.
Council approved the plan Tuesday.
“The economic development strategy focuses in on three key themes that connect to the corporate strategic plan, specifically: diversify the economy, build a commercial core and expand on heritage, arts and cultural assets as economic drivers. These activities help position Gravenhurst as a vibrant community with an open for business attitude that helps foster sustainable growth,” said Amy Taylor, manager of economic development, in a staff report.
Work on the new Economic Development Strategic Plan started earlier this year with assistance from consultants at McSweeney and Associates.
CAO Lucas update
Scott Lucas, chief administrative officer for the Town of Gravenhurst, provided an update on municipal activities.
He noted several staff accomplishments in recent months and touched on the status of various projects.
Lucas provides such updates quarterly.
New election sign bylaw
Council passed a new election sign bylaw.
In a nutshell, the bylaw stipulates that election signs are only allowed on private property.
“Through this … candidates, third party advertisers or canvassers for the parties would be we required to engage directly with a property owner prior to placing a sign, rather than potentially indiscriminately covering an area without any connection to the neighbourhood or property,” wrote Kayla Thibeault, legislative services director, in a staff report.
Clerks from municipalities throughout Muskoka worked together to craft the bylaw in an effort to provide a uniformed approach to election sign regulation across the district.
This is the first time a Gravenhurst bylaw has regulated provincial or federal election signs.
Council did remove one section of the bylaw – noted as section 3.8.3 – because they did not agree with regulating the distance between signs.
Muskoka Bay Resort denied sign bylaw exemption
Council denied Muskoka Bay Resort’s request for an exemption to the town’s sign bylaw.
The resort wanted permission to place two billboard signs side-by-side on property along Highway 11.
However, the bylaw states there must be at least two kilometres between billboards.
The intent of the stipulation is to reduce sign pollution along the Highway 11 corridor and other highly travelled portions of Gravenhurst roads.
Last month, council received a related deputation.
Report outlines new procedures for sign bylaw exemptions, fee changes OK’d
Council received a report about changes to how staff handle requests for sign bylaw exemptions.
Requests for sign bylaw exemptions will be vetted prior to an applicant requesting a deputation to council.
When an exemption is deemed necessary, staff will prepare a report for council’s consideration.
The applicant will be advised of the date the report will be heard, giving the applicant the opportunity to request a deputation on the same date.
Under the old process, applicants would present their case to council, without a staff report to provide context, leading to confusion.
On a related note, council approved an amendment to the User Fees and Service Charges Bylaw to cover the cost of processing the sign bylaw exemption request.
Starting in 2025, the fee for this additional process will be $200.
Muskoka Watershed Council update
Councillor Peter Johnston provided his monthly Muskoka Watershed Council update.
He said that on Nov. 28 there will be an integrated watershed management workshop in Huntsville.
Johnston reviewed the workshop agenda items.
Watch the update to learn more.
Update from the mayor
Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.
The mayor noted the Gateway to the Holidays kick-off is Friday.
Mayor Lorenz reminded the community that the Gravenhurst Santa Claus Parade is Saturday.
The parade starts at 11 a.m.
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.
Watch the meeting:
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