TML has released its first Draft Official Plan

The Township of Muskoka Lakes (TML) has started the next phase of its Official Plan (OP) review that began in September 2019. A first draft of the OP has been released and is being reviewed by TML’s Planning Committee and the OP Working Group. 

Friends of Muskoka and the Muskoka Lakes Association have been actively involved in TML’s OP review since it began in September 2019, because this OP will include policies that will govern land use and development in Muskoka Lakes for the next 10 to 15 years. The OP sets out a long-term vision for Muskoka Lakes and contains policies to achieve this vision.  We thank our many supporters and members who have participated in the development of the policies through community visioning, online surveys, and virtual public meetings. 

Policies in the draft OP that are of significant concern to waterfront residents are section E. Waterfront and F. Resort Commercial Development. Also of interest are B. Vision and Objectives, D. Natural Heritage and Water Resources, and K. Mineral Aggregate Resources.

You may watch a live webcast of the OP review meetings starting at 9am on March 29th and April 1st and 12 noon on April 6th on TML’s youtube channel .  The agenda describes how the public may speak at the April 1st meeting (maximum 2 minutes) by registering with the Clerk at planning@muskokalakes.ca by 9am tomorrow, Tuesday March 30th.  This is an early opportunity to provide some initial thoughts on the policies or what may be missing from this first draft. You also may provide written comments on this early draft by emailing the Clerk at this same email address. 

After these meetings, another draft OP will be released and public meetings will be held which will be an important time for you to make your views known. FOM and the MLA will be providing materials and instructions to assist you in participating in these public meetings.