Ontario Municipal Board

The advice for aspiring writers is to write everyday. I find an idea and I usually pop the topic into a file. Much to my surprise, a topic of concern to us in Muskoka has been recognized in Toronto. Let me explain our situation here first!

All over Ontario we elect councillors who then make town planning decisions based on long-term plans for an area. It takes into account local and regional concerns, i.e., environmental issues, the enjoyment of a particular area, location of businesses that respect residents and prevent, or resolve conflicts between land use.

If a potential developer wants to put in condos, or high density land use in an area of low density residences, for example, the potential business developer first approaches the town council to seek a ruling or variance on original town plans. Once the councillors choose not to allow a developer in, since it often violates the spirit of their town plan, the developer may go to the OMB to protest the decision. This is what happened in Muskoka. The OMB often hears from local cottagers, or developers, who want to defy the town plan (July 18, Feb.: Red Leaves Development, rezoning issues.

The environment is of great concern here in the cottage country in Muskoka. It is a fragile environment and even more fragile economy (with tourism down by 30%). The Muskoka Wharf project, overdone, and blocking all views of the natural harbour, clutters a beautiful tourist attraction. It draws those with much cents, and little sense of the environment. I understand that tourism is important to our economy, but there needs to be a better use of this land. Many of the cottagers around us have been renting out their properties in high season. Unfortunately, it is to people who neither respect the environment or their neighbours. This seems to be the way of Muskoka.

Taboo is an expensive resort in the area. We popped in for a glass of wine and cup of coffee this summer and we had to fork out $25. I kid you not. Recently, Taboo having been turned down by the Councillors, fought it. As with many lakes, they are saturated and cannot support any more boats, cottagers, or citiots, and this plan does not fit in with town management. As always, the business owners went to the OMB to file an appeal and get new decision. Despite the fact that the Councillors said NO, it seems that the OMB, in its infinite wisdom, can over rule those who live, love, and work in this area. It is criminal that most OMB hearings (75 % according to Wikipedia) work in favour of developers, despite a planning council that determines the best development for an area in question.

Imagine my surprise when Global TV News featured a stree in Toronto, called OMB Folly! It seems that these North York councillors are well past any progress is keeping control of their city and the OMB fat cats, paid hundreds of dollars a day to basically overrule the town council, have been overturning local decisions. They do not understand land use, despite many of the council members having experience in land development and town planning.

The OMB has a long history of angering locals. Even the Toronto Mayor has weighed in on this issue. In a Toronto Star article it overruled a decision to keep out a big box WalMart. I laud North York, but hope that someone investigates this Board. There seems to be something wrong when appointed officers over rule fairly elected local officials.