Disclaimer: This paper is owned by Joe Kowalski, and operates out of Wilderness Tours.
The Council held a public meeting to declare that they “support Official Plan Amendment No. 39 for the property described as Part of Lots 12 and 13, Ross Concession 12 to re-designate the lands to Waterfront – Exception Five, to permit the creation of an additional eight new lots and one retained lot through the consent process.”
CAO Ivan Burton said that this motion would not create the new lots, and all eight lots would have to be applied for by the applicant.
He said that the studies required for the process, as well as letters and comments from the Forestry department, would not be required until the actual severance application.”
“Fifteen already exist, eight more will not negatively affect the area.” CAO Burton said. “A planned subdivision would not greatly benefit the area.”
“We received three public comments with this public meeting.” mayor Nicholson said.
County Planner Bruce Howarth spoke on the application. “I don’t have anything else to add, whenever we receive requests on an area, we do ask the Township host us so we thank you for that. What we’ll do is take the comment we’ve received in order to make a decision.”
Brian whitehead of Jp2G consulting spoke remotely due to a cold.
“Because Whitewater is both the local council and the approval authority for consent, there is enough flexibility for the official plan to approve these severances.” He said. “The position we’re taking is that it’s not an issue of circumventing any requirements we have, it’ll be the same criteria of a plan of subdivision.”
He said that the message given by the Ministry of the Environment came across as “paternalistic”, and the Council should not “worry too much about it”
“We know the exact scope of what is to be needed.” he said.
Joe Kowalski, the applicant, read a statement as part of his portion of the public meeting.
“Dear Mayor and Council, I ask your support to modify its Official plan to allow eight severances through consent to complete Voyager Bay. The previous Council supported the severances, but the County [of Renfrew] would not approve them without a plan of subdivision or a change to the Official Plan. The plan of subdivision process is too onourous for developers. If the plan subdivision policy is required, it will not only be the end Voyager Bay, but it will be the end of development for our region, except for large developers. If Whitewater Region is to have development, it must come from the consent process. An “intended consequence” of the planning act and the plan of subdivision is to thwart or stop rural development. Our future is tourism and residential development by regular citizens, and not just big developers.”
He said in 1989, he lobbied to have the riverside of Whitewater Region made into a national park by the Ministry of the Environment, which did not occur.
“Unsuccessful, I decided to do it myself and slowly acquired it myself. Although not a true national park, the concept of a truly free Whitewater Region is slowly becoming a reality.”
He said he was a clear proponent of “Whitewater Region exceptionalism”.
He said his plan was to bring hydro to the lots on Voyager Bay.
“I’m a firm believer in Whitewater Region exceptionalism and you
“Could you point out Voyager Bay on this map?” Mayor Nicholson said.
Kowalski admitted that his provided map did not have Voyager Bay.
“If I could afford it, I wouldn’t even do Voyager Bay, I don’t believe in selling land. I’m only doing it because the sales we’ve had right now is to colour all these green. If I didn’t do it, I’m not against waterfront homes, but I don’t want to build on the water, because i’d have ot build on the last wild section, and I just don’t want to do it.”
He said he chose to develop Voyager bay because it was ‘a very attractive piece of property.”
Allister Baird, a property owner near Voyager Bay, said that he was “absolutely in support of this”.
“We look forward to having new neighbors, new residents in the area. It’s becoming a community down there.”
Sam McCrae, who was building a cottage in the region, called the region ‘a beautiful spot and a beautiful region.”
Councillor Connie Tabbert asked how people would get onto their land, to which CAO Ivan Burton said that all the lands would ‘be able to be conveyed seperately.”
She then asked about Air-BnBs and whether or not the Township had ‘done anything on that.”
CAO Burton said that the Township ‘does not have anything on short-term applications at this time.”
“I see a whole lotta people moving in here.” She said. “I don’t think they’re gonna have as much privacy that they think.”
She expressed concern about Air-BnBs.
Joe Kowalski said he ‘didn’t think there’d be any issue’ with regulating AirBnbs.
Councillor Mark Bell asked as if there was a guarantee or formal agreement that hydro would be implemented.
“no there’s no guarantee.” Joe Kowalski said. “I just need to be able to afford to do it, and if I can afford to do it, I am.”
CAO Burton said that the hydro matter was ‘something they were aware of as staff, and was something that we want to be sure can proceed with the applications. Whether or not it will be a condition of the approval of the lots, or we’ll ensure that there will be the ability ot put hydro in the lot.”
Councillor Bell asked “how did it get to” twenty-three severed lots in the area, rather than the usual maximum
“The policies in the official plan state that you are permitted to have three severances as per th eoriginal holdings. The plan goes on to . When I explain it to residents, it just gets harder and harder to get more lots to severances.” CAO Burton said.
“My understanding since I arrived here in 2019 is that applicants would file three applications, and then two, and then two.” he said.
“I don’t want to see it be two-two-two, Let’s deal with it front-end and just deal with the development potential of this lot.” he said.
“Is there anything else specifically that you’d have to go through the subdivision process that you won’t have to go through with the consent process?” Councillor Bell said.
“These requirements are going to be managed as part of the severance process.” CAO Burton said, in regard to the studies required for the
“With a plan of subdivision, it provides us that opportunity to take a look at the development as a whole and where the impacts are. What we find is that when we’re developing lots, there will be an offsite impact.” County Planner Bruce Horwath said, saying that issues such as Stormwater impact all the properties, and that the plan of subdivision allows them to look at all the lots as a whole.”
Councillor Joey Trimm asked “could one of the conditions be determined that is possible and safe for emergency vehicles to get in and out?”
CAO Burton said that “could be reasonable”, and that there had been “considerable improvements to the provide road in the last few months.”
He said he didn’t hear any concerns about traffic flow during the major fire in the summer of 2022.
Councillor Mark Bell said that “we have ot make sure not to break up what makes Whitewater Special.” but that he didn’t think “these eight lots will make much of an impact.”
“There’s always a tipping point where we have to be careful with development.” Councillor Olmstead said. “We have to be very careful where and when development happens. I’ve been down here quite often, it’s a really remote area; i think it gives the public a really good chance to see the wilderness. I don’t think we should doing it all the way up the river, but I think this is the right thing to do.”
Mayor Moore said that the Council had already approved the motion out of order, and voted again publicly to follow the proper process.
The motion was carried.
