Jack Lake and Jack Lakers deserve better planning process and planning decisions from North Kawartha Mayor Amyotte and Council 

Natural Heritage of Jack Lake is well worth fighting for!
We all need to work to preserve our Natuaral Heriatge which attracted us to our lakes. /apsleywatch/custom_WebPage_Files/file/Vote%20-%20island%20-%20updated%20f%20-%20(1).pdf
Example of preserved Natural Heritage (click here) 
Example of currently damages Natural Heritage ( click here) 

Overview of Island redevelopment
Owner applied for a minor variance to demolish an  existing heritage type classic 1100 sq ft cottage and replace it with approx 3600 sq ft cottage which was stated by applicants planner to be in full compliance with in effect zoning expansion  requirements related to existing grandfathered cottages ...the only planning relief required for the new cottage  is an increase in buiding height BUT  for some unexplained reason the application mysteriously includes for recognizing (which in fact means PERMITTING) 2 full fleged cottages on the island  including a recently constructed structure immediately  adjacent to the  shoreline --  being a two story building which allegedly is only a cottage on the upper level.
The application details and planning reports  focus on the expansion of the principal cottage which is insignificant compared to the requested PERMITTING of 2 cottages on one lot which is unprecedented in our area and conflicts with in effect zoning and Provincial Policies related to "at capacity for development"  of Sharpes Bay. I submit the PERMITTING of 2 cottages is wrong and if that PERMITTING is required under the Planning Act  it should have taken place in advance of North Kawartha Township issuing a building permit and allowing the construction of the  2nd cottage.


Just prior to the Committee of Adjustment hearing Sept 5, committee  members received 15 submissions with 12 objecting to the application. At the public hearing the Township's Professional Planning Consultant "acknowledged that it would be a challenge for Council to make a decsion that day and based on public comments that Council may have staff further review application to determine if, based on site inspection whether application can still be supported"
This application was an obvious candidate for deferral until public submissions were reviewed and regardless of their professional planner's suggestion... the committee voted 4-1 to approve the application 


Notice of Public meeting for minor variance ( click here)

Application from island owners agent ( click here)

Supporting Report from Owners agent ( click here) 

Township Planning Report ( click here) 

My Summary Comments ( click here) 

My recommendations ( click here) 

How The Vote went ( click here)

Sept 8 2023   Public Hearing Complaint to Council ( click here)

SEPT 11 2023 LETTER TO MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING - PAUL CALANDRA ( CLICK HERE)  THE MINISTER HAS THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO APPEAL THIS DECSION TO THE ONTARIO LAND TRIBUNAL  BY SEPT 25

SEPT 12 2023   LETTTER TO MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AND PARKS  DAVID PICCINI ( CLICK HERE) 

SEPT 12 2023 LETTER TO MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY GRAYDON SMITH (CLICK HERE) 

Sept 25 2023   My Appeal letter ( Click here) 
I was aware that the Ford Government took away the rights of affected property owners to appeal Minor Variance....supposedly to speed up housing construction!!!  My appeal was based on the fact I have rights to appeal Zone Amendment decisions  which this application clearly was but disguised as a Minor Variance which strateficly avoid appeals . 

Oct 10 2022 Letter from Ontario Land Tribunal ( click here)  taking position that I was not eloigble for filing an apeal as I was not a specified Person under the  Act ( click here) I was awre that I was not a specified person 

Oct 10 2023  E mail  to Ontario  Land Tribunal ( click here) requesting tribunal to recognize application for two cotages is outside scope of Minor Variance and ....agree to a hearing .

Oct 5 2023 Haliburton news article re second dwelling on at capcity lakes  ( Click Here) 
Dysart Township Planner in updating planning documents proposes that second dwelling unit NOT  be allowed in waterfront areas and also NOT  be permitted on properties within 300 meters (1000ft) of lake trout lakes at capacity -But North Kawartha Committee of Adjustment  on Sept 5 2023 approved through a "minor variance"  to permit a new second cottage on an  island  about 5 ft from Jack Lake Sharpes Bay which has been categorized by the Province in 2017 as being at capacity for development. 

OCT 2 2023  LETTER TO MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AND PARKS (MOE) ( CLICK HERE FOR LETTER AND MOE FACT CHECK RESPONSES) 
                      FACT CHECK of statements made at Public Hearing  related to at capacity of Sharpes Bay - At public Hearing owners representative   told Council that Sharpes Bay at capacity was not in effect and when at capacity was considered that MOE would assume that the island had two existing cottages.Both positions were factually wrong. Township Consulatant Planner also told Council that the Province had already taken into account in determination of capcity that two cotages were included...also factually wrong.  MOE responded to me via mails that Sharpes Bay was at capacity for development and Official plan policies would apply and secondly the Ministry did not undertake an inventory of dwellings/cottages on Sharpes Bay. Committee of Adjustment made a decsion based on factually wrong information. 

Oct 16 2013  Letter to North Kawartha Council re Haliburton approach to "at capacity" lakes for secondary dwellings( Click Here) 
                       Update Oct 20  Clerk Parent advise Ambrose that Mayor Amyotte has decided not to allow this letter to be placed on the                                  Council agenda for Oct 24

Oct 16 2023  Letter to North Kawartha Committee of Adjustment -Fact Check Statements at Public Hearing    re "at capacity" of Sharpes Bay ( click Here) 
                         Committee of adjustement were mislead with Planning Fiction regading staus of at capacity of Jack Lake 
                         Update Oct 20  Clerk Parent advise Ambrose that Mayor Amyotte has decided not to allow this letter to be placed on the                                    Committee of adjustment agenda for Oct 24 

Nov 4 2023   Updated on further tree removal -Compare 2 pics showing further tree removal associated with preparation of  site  for construction of 3600 sq ft cottage replacing now demolished 1100 sq ft cottage (click here)   This picture is just prioer to the major shorelaterations and tree removal ( Click Here) 
North Kawartha Council ( Mayor Amyotte- Deputy Mayor Whelan-McLellan & McImoyl) approved this developemt permitting 2 cottages on island within sensitive at capacity part of Jack Lake withouit any conditions to preserve of restore natutal buffer zone along lake.