GORE BAY—The Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB) has agreed to a request from the proponent of a proposed 39 lot subdivision on Tracy Road in the municipality of Central Manitoulin to defer a list of draft conditions to be considered by the board for 60 days. This will allow the proponents time to discuss the draft conditions with the municipality.
At its meeting last week, MPB members also noted that although numerous concerns have been raised by residents around Lake Mindemoya concerning the lake being at capacity due to water concerns, the MPB has never been informed by the province that the lake is at capacity.
Theresa Carlisle, secretary for the MPB told members of the board at a meeting on Tuesday of last week that the original application for the subdivision was put into circulation on December 27, 2023 and as per the Planning Act, 120 days was provided for the board to consider and make a decision on the application. “I did prepare the subdivision draft conditions, however the agent for the application (Kristine Lang of Split Crow Partners Inc.) asked that a deferral of draft conditions be passed by the board. She wrote, ‘we would like the review of the draft conditions to be deferred from the agenda for March 26. This has provided a very short window for review. And we would agree to a 60-day extension to work through the revisions.’”
“So, this would be for an additional 60 days beyond the previous 120 days?” MPB member Richard Stephens asked.
Ms. Carlisle said if the subdivision proponents had appealed for no decision within the 120 days, “it would hold up the process. I’m comfortable with allowing for the extension.”
Mr. Stephens said the municipality of Central Manitoulin council, “had an information session with the developer proponents and members of the public last night. I’m not surprised to see this request.”
Ms. Carlisle inquired as to whether the board wanted to discuss the issue any further while it is on the agenda. “They (proponents) want to have further talks with the municipality on the draft. If we discussed the draft conditions, they would then become public.”
Board chair Lee Hayden said, “the letter (the MPB received) from M’Chigeeng First Nation stated they and Billings Township were not consulted on the planned development,” said chair Lee Hayden.”
Ms. Carlisle told the board members MPB had followed Planning Act requirements and M’Chigeeng, Billings, along with the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising had been given formal notice letter along with the municipality of Central Manitoulin and this notice had been posted on the municipality online site and advertised in The Manitoulin Expositor.
“So, we followed all procedures,” said Mr. Hayden.
“We have had a lot of letters of concern come in that the Lake (Mindemoya) is at capacity (for development),” said MPB member Ken Noland. “But in our Official Plan the lake is not listed as being at capacity. The only lake listed as at capacity is Lake Manitou.”
“This is correct. We have received no notification from the province that the lake is at capacity and that we need to cease development on (Lake Mindemoya),” said Ms. Carlisle. She explained Lake Manitou has been closed off for development between 2009-2018 except for a very few exceptions. The province had approved the MPB new Official Plan. It was also pointed out Lake Mindemoya has had studies carried out on it by the province, but the MPB has never been informed the lake is at capacity for development.
The MPB passed a motion to defer consideration to the conditions for draft approval for the development for 60 days.
