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Please note that the previous notice incorrectly referenced a proposed draft plan of subdivision. This is a notice concerning a proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment and is not related to any proposed new
development.
Application File Number:
Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 58
(Public Participation and Consultation)
TAKE NOTICE THAT: The District of Muskoka Community and Planning Services Committee will
hold a Public Meeting on:
Thursday January 18, 2024, at 1:00 P.M.
Council Chamber
District of Muskoka Administration Building
70 Pine Street, Bracebridge
THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING IS TO CONSIDER a proposed amendment to the District of
Muskoka Official Plan of the Muskoka Area (Public Participation and Consultation) pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 17, 22, 34 and 53 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990.
AN EXPLANATION of the purpose and effect of the proposed Official Plan Amendment
accompanies this notice. This proposal pertains to the whole of the District Municipality of Muskoka.
ANY PERSON OR AGENCY may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal
representation either in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA).
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Feedback on the proposed OPA is strongly encouraged to be made in
writing, preferably before the public meeting date, but will be accepted any time prior to a decision
being made by The District of Muskoka Community and Planning Services Department at
pedinfo@muskoka.on.ca. Members of the public or agencies wishing to make oral submissions
either in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed OPA may do so by attending the Council
Chamber at 70 Pine Street. For those wishing to observe the proceedings (and not provide verbal
comments), the District’s webcast can be accessed at the following link:
https://video.isilive.ca/muskoka/live.html
Written submissions may also be submitted at any time until the date a decision is made.
AGENCY COMMENTS: Agencies (i.e. District of Muskoka, Lower Tier Municipalities, Utilities, and
Ministries) wishing to make a written submission should do so no later than January 17th, 2024.
PLEASE NOTE: All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record.
INFORMATION ABOUT APPEALS
IF A PERSON OR PUBLIC BODY would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the District
of Muskoka to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) but the person or public body does not make oral
submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to The District of Muskoka before the
proposed District official plan amendment is adopted; and, the person or public body is not entitled to
appeal the decision and/or may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario
Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so.
POSTING OF NOTICE AND NOTIFICATION OF DECISION
NOTIFICATION OF DECISION: If you wish to be notified of the decision of the District of Muskoka on
the proposed District Official Plan Amendment, you must make a written request to the District Clerk:
Amy Back, Clerk
District Municipality of Muskoka
70 Pine Street
Bracebridge, ON P1L 1N3 (705) 645-2100
clerk@muskoka.on.ca
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND MATERIAL, relating to the proposed official plan amendment is
available as indicated below.
For more information about these matters, including information about preserving your appeal rights,
contact:
The District of Muskoka Community and Planning Services Department
70 Pine Street, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1N3
In Person: By appointment only
Telephone: 705-645-2100 ext.4259
pedinfo@muskoka.on.ca
Please Note: All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record.
Dated at the Town of Bracebridge this 5th day of December, 2023.
EXPLANATION OF THE PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED OFFICIAL PLAN
AMENDMENT
The purpose and effect of proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 58 (OPA 58) is to improve
clarity and consistency in the public participation and consultation process relating to the three
community newspapers in Muskoka that ceased to exist as print editions, as of September 2023. On
September 15, Metroland Media Group announced that print editions of 70 community newspapers
and flyer delivery businesses would cease across the province, three of which reside in local
municipalities of the District of Muskoka. Print newspaper was the primary method to notify and
disclose District planning applications, and therefore an update to Section M9 of the Muskoka Official
Plan is required to establish alternative public circulation methods. The Planning Act provides
municipalities with the ability to develop their own procedures for giving notice of a public meeting to
consider various Planning Act applications (generally referred to as alternative measures) through
amendment to the municipality’s Official Plan, rather than following the prescribed regulations in the
Act. The proposed amendment is to add a variety of alternative notification measures to Section M9,
in accordance with the Planning Act including:
i. personal service or prepaid first class mail;
ii. e-mail;
iii. public notice signs;
iv. surveys, electronic or mail-out;
v. neighbourhood open houses and/or public information centres;
vi. neighbourhood working groups or focus groups;
vii. information meetings;
viii. statutory public meetings;
ix. electronically circulated newspaper;
x. District website or internet engagement platforms; and/or,
xi. any other methods as deemed necessary by the District Clerk
Read the official pdf notice at the following link: Revised Notice of Public Meeting Concerning an Amendment to The District of Muskoka Official Plan
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