Don't sell out Muskoka - election fever?

Port Carling's failed development

With Municipal elections looming, I've been thinking about the platforms upon which politicians must remain silent on: residents annoyed by tourists, abuses of land and lake, NIMBY projects, or the failed project in Port Carling.

Blasted it and ran out of $$$

All over Ontario we elect town 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 and by-laws (July 18, and in Feb.: Red Leaves Development, rezoning issues (2007).

It was with great trepidation that I read about the hearing regarding Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) for Bala Woodlands Resort. I can truly imagine the impact of a resort on such a small lake. It is criminal that most OMB hearings (75% according to Wikipedia) rule in favour of developers, in spite of elected planning town councils who have voted otherwise. 


Perhaps I fear so much because I have seen the impact of heavy tourist populations on our lake. My enjoyment, my life in cottage country, is diminished by those who do not have an understanding of such a life. Surely the Township of Muskoka Lakes By-laws would apply in such situations?

garbage from our shoreline

It states, “Whereas the inhabitants of the Township should have an environment free from unusual, unnecessary or excessive noise which may degrade the quality and tranquility of their life or cause nuisance, in the public interest;" and goes on to describe the bylaw rules. The problem is that the Township is hard-pressed to find the resources to protect residents. 

We have had tourists visiting (many who simply rent and care little for those of us who live here) who like to set off firecrackers and fireworks every night that they visit. Two weeks of nightly fireworks has a large impact, not only on us, but on our pets and our wildlife. We moved 400 km to find the peace that comes with a Muskoka evening


We have entertained fishermen (yes – ‘men’) who believe that fishing spittin’ distance off of our dock, the lake is theirs to pollute and exploit, with no regard for the rest of us. 

watch out for the rock!

Asian canoeists, unfamiliar with paddling a canoe, ended up on our shore one afternoon. They had no idea how to paddle, yet had been able to rent a canoe and, out in a brisk wind with which I would not have wrestled, managed not to master the basics of canoeing. So much for the new boating regulations. Rudderless, toothless and pointless.

using the lakeshore for a shooting range

We have had people burn bonfires that, on a hot, still day, drift across the lake, along with their loud music and party atmosphere. It spoils the solitude those of us require for our emotional well-being. We do not want to have to close our windows in order to keep out the noise or smell of the smoke. 


The two-stroke motors continue to pollute our air and our lake. They dump 25 to 40 percent of their fuel in the lake. The summer brings those noisy Personal Water Craft (PWC) and the bored young folk who like to go around and around our lake ad nauseum. I recall sitting on the shore one day, quietly sipping my coffee and trying to deal with a death in our family. The noise and smell of the machines was awful.


I hope the politicians make the right decisions, based on our needs as residents. They must listen to all stakeholders, but they cannot sell out residents for the almighty tourist dollar. I sit and weep and hope that they do so. Our grandchildren have the right to enjoy this land as much as we have done. Please do not sell out Muskoka.


Ontario Municipal Board Resources
1. OMB hearing for Bala Resort. Bracebridge Examiner. 2007
2. Doug Bryden's remarks regarding the hearings. Township of Muskoka Lakes Ratepayers Association.
3. OMB case #PL050714 Download the ruling from the TMLRA.
4. OMB  Members  Biographies
5. Selling  Muskoka by the Gallon. By Michael Enright

Big box stores are ruining small towns

The Strategic Vision in the official plan states that Muskoka will create “land use designations, and environmental and infrastructure policies to help ensure the long-term economic, social and environmental health of Muskoka.”

Business owners depend upon the winter sledders, as well as the summer tourists. In small towns in Muskoka, the rents are as high as some locales in Toronto.



You can read the discussion in Bracebridge:

"Deputy mayor Steve Clement recently expressed concern about the state of the downtown. Clement noted that several stores have closed in town in recent months. He wondered if rents are too high for some business owners.
Coates feels Bracebridge is mainly a business-friendly town and believes these storefronts will fill up soon."

For business owners who rent, they are paying Toronto prices, for a two-month, perhaps a 3-month season.  If they pay high rents, and have tourists in only the summer months, it makes sense that many businesses are going under. The shoulder seasons (June/September), are difficult seasons, bracketing summer as they do. While the tourists go home, seniors on fixed incomes have to watch their pennies.

To illustrate the issues around the big box stores...
Olives, for example, at Sobey's are 25 - 35% cheaper, because they get a bulk discount.

For a small business owner, like our friend Beth Ann, her markup is only equal to the net costs of Sobey's and she ends up making no profit. Beth Ann, I am sad to say, is letting go of her lease. She cannot afford to pay the prices her landlord charges, despite a booming business in the hot summer.

We love her store, with the yummy fudge, and her wonderful spirit.
But she cannot keep this up.
We make it our policy to support local businesses. It is important to us. But this isn't the case for those from the city.

Many stores are for rent in Bala, and stores have shut in Gravenhurst and Port Carling -many remain empty, or change hands many times. It takes an astute business owner to manage with a two-season business.

You have to make a mighty good dollar in this economy, and in a seasonal place like Muskoka it is difficult.

 Gravenhurst has been busily putting in Big Box stores; at the expense of smaller family-run businesses, but I cannot see that this is good for any of us. I enjoy shopping in smaller family stores, where people go out of their way to help us.

Do we need a big box hardware store, with its lights on all night?

It is the same, then, in a bigger place like Bracebridge, and it is a shame. Many shut down their businesses in the deep winter. Several eateries in Bala close by 3 p.m., since the contractors are on their way home and they provide most of their clientele.

The restaurants find it difficult keeping staff. There aren't places for them to live in summer. I am not sure the answer to this, except for landlords to understand the economy. The new mall in Gravenhurst is daunting. If I wanted a big box store...well, I don't! I spent a lifetime living in Toronto, and another in Ottawa.

I'd rather see Cottage Rose, than the Big Box LCBO!

Bracebridge has a lovely character.

Gravenhurst is changing.  Bleak skies, indeed.

More politics in Gravenhurst

While this post might belong in My Reflections and Musings, I do think that the powers-that-be must have a vision of their community. As Kerri said in her article:

From the Muskoka cottage to the blogosphere

May 27, 2009 - by Kerri MacDonald

Picture a writer in Muskoka and you’ll probably conjure up the image of a quiet evening on the dock, a weatherworn journal and what William Wordsworth...

Cottage Country is changing and it depends upon tourist dollars in both summer and the shoulder seasons. That said, since many leave town in in winter, summer dollars must be able to carry a community through the winter. I imagine, as a shop owner, or entrepreneur, to be outdoors selling at markets, or welcoming and embracing tourists and seasonal visitors in the sun and warmth, means you can spend the winter in other activities.

With a fair number of seniors (15%), we must ensure that there is enough of an infrastructure to support thousands of infrequent visitors, seasonal visitors, plus the families and neighbourhoods that support we full-time residents. We cannot run water, sewer, and other utilities on a part-time basis.

In a brilliant move, what with our aging population and shrinking student population:

Seniors’ housing planned for old BMLSS

June 10, 2009 - by Matthew Sitler

"The former Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School on McMurray Street is about to be sold. That’s the word from developer John Davies, who is currently working toward cementing his purchase of the school.."

Then, in a plan to create some vision of what Muskoka can be:

Residents 'appalled' at amphitheatre proposal

June 10, 2009 - by Karen Longwell
"Proponents of a proposed amphitheatre on Gull Lake heard boisterous opposition from area residents on Saturday."

What are they thinking? You cannot have both residential housing, private cottages, and a downtown Toronto-style theatre that will mix both local residents, young children, and retirees, right in the heart of this beautiful Gull Wing Rotary Park, with loud music and a night life. Muskoka tradition has included Music on the Barge.

The traffic would be terrible, with proposed seating for 3800 and 3000 more on the lawn. Gravenhurst is a delightful, small town. (Aside from the fact that they are filling Muskoka Wharf and paving paradise. Long-gone is the beautiful site of steamships pulling out of the dock, with the trees and the Precambrian shield framing the site, birds sailing on summer breezes. )

These places will have to be maintained year-round, without the audience to support it. Utilities will have to be put in place. They will need to have security for off-hours. But, with federal and provincial funding (your tax dollars at work!), $75 million would come from the government and the private sector would contribute $17.5 million.

Is this what councillors want Muskoka to be? Things are bad enough around The Kee in Bala* on a Saturday night, or on pub crawl night, when buses bring in drunk resort employees. We do not have enough housing or entertainment for young summer employees as it is.

The article states,

"A closed recital hall seating 800 to 1,000 people is also part of the proposal, and ancillary commercial uses, a restaurant and some housing/accommodation for performers is under consideration."

They also propose a closed recital hall. I am not sure that there is a market for that. The Gravenhurst Opera House has had concerts with 30 attendees, in a theatre that has 338 seats. I've been there for those! Not for me! Where are these people going to stay, park, eat, and even if they build it, will they come? For 4 concerts a week? Is this the best venue for a concert by Yo-yo Ma? Muskoka/Parry Sound has a long history of fabulous summer concerts, using venues that are perfect for summer tourist crowds.

The downtown core of Gravenhurst has been abandoned and the founding family entrepreneurs (pharmacists, grocers and family-friendly hardware stores) done out of business with the big box stores. The lovely buildings and restaurants, like the old Sloan's, forever changed. As along-time visitor to tourist towns like Niagara-on-the-Lake and other small-town tourism venues, I love those who have kept their character. Instead, Muskoka's Councillors are bringing Toronto north.

We'll get drunks out on boats, causing trouble, listening to free music, just like the incident in Bala. Resort nights are just drunk fests, designed to keep kids (summer employees) drunk, off the roads and in a bus on the streets. I'd rather my tax dollars went elsewhere - to support those in need, and help encourage small businesses, supportive housing, health care and not going to for-profit initiatives like this that will destroy a town's character. Tourism dollars were down by 30% last year, due to the rain in July. How can we depend on the weather to sustain such a venture?
~~~~~~~~~
*There have been several fatalities related to The Kee in Bala:

Friends question bar's connection to train death

September 17, 2008 - by Karen Longwell

It was supposed to be a fun evening out. A group of 36 friends chartered a bus from Orillia to Bala to see a David Wilcox concert.

Guilty plea in boating fatality

December 23, 2008 - by Matt Driscoll

It was an emotional day last Tuesday as a Bracebridge courtroom heard how a sunny afternoon on the lake ended in two lives destroyed.

Bala train mishap prompts calls for rail fencing at Kee

September 3, 2008 - by by Jacqueline Lawrence

Man facing three years for boating fatality

May 6, 2009 - by Matt Driscoll

As cottagers return to the local lakes, the case of Andrew Betteridge should stand as the ultimate cautionary tale. Last June, the 25-year-old...