Your new Town Council held their Inaugural meeting in November and we held our first regular Council meeting on December 20, 2022. I’d like to thank the voters of Ward 4 for putting their trust in me to represent them on Gravenhurst Town Council for the next 4 years.
I’ve been appointed to serve as the Deputy Mayor, and I’m also the Council representative on the Municipal Heritage Committee, the group that recommends designation of Gravenhurst properties of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act, as well as heritage conservation and education in general in our Town.
My other appointment is as Chair of the Town’s Committee of Adjustment, the body that rules on Consents (lot creation (“severances”), lot additions and rights-of-way, etc.) as well as Minor Variances to the Zoning Bylaw (typically adjustments to setbacks to property boundaries, height, width, among other items). The Province’s newly passed More Homes Built Faster Act (formerly Bill 23) affects the Committee of Adjustment in several ways. Going forward, third-party appeals to the Ontario Planning Tribunal (OPT) are no longer permitted on Consents and Minor Variances; the only parties (outside from a few named parties like utilities) that may appeal are the Applicant, and the Town itself. This means that neighbours and the Lake Associations (like the KLRA), for example, are no longer permitted to appeal decisions of the Committee of Adjustment to the OPT. Anyone may still participate at the monthly Public Hearings held by the Committee (typically the third Friday morning of the month).
As well, the Act has removed the ability of the municipality to impose Site Plan Control on properties with fewer than 10 residential units. This process was used extensively in the past to impose conditions (like re-vegetation, retention of runoff, etc.) on waterfront residential properties through a Site Plan Agreement. Town staff have been reviewing other mechanisms that we may be able to use to help preserve the water quality of our lakes.
The major order of business that the new Council is embarking on immediately is the review and passing of the Town’s 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets. The Budget gets tabled at Council this week on Wednesday January 18th at 1PM. Staff will review the Recommended Budget at a high level, and outline the services delivered through the Operating Budget, along with the assets like roads, bridges and buildings etc. that are managed and maintained by way of the Capital Budget. The recommended “status quo” budget is suggesting a net 2023 Tax Rate Increase of 2.8% at this point. The Town share of your taxes is about 48% of the Tax Bill on rural properties (including waterfront). At a 2.8% increase, that would be about $15 per $100,000 of assessed value of your property. Council may adjust the Budget through the deliberations that will take place on January 31 and February 1. Your comments are encouraged, either at the Public Meeting to be held on January 18th, or by email to myself (see below) or Town staff. The Budget document is available online on the Town’s Budget page at https://www.gravenhurst.ca/en/town-hall/budgets-and-financials.aspx#2023
January also brings the implementation of the Town’s new Short-Term Rental Licensing Bylaw that was passed during the previous term of Council. All Short-Term Rental operators (anyone renting their properties out on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, etc. or privately for less than 28 days) must register and be licensed under the terms of the Bylaw. There is a $750 fee annually (for the calendar year) and several conditions must be met to obtain a license. Details can be found on the Town website here: https://www.gravenhurst.ca/en/town-hall/short-term-rental-accommodations.aspx
I look forward to hearing your comments on these topics and any others that may interest you. Municipal government is our closest level of government, and municipal services affect us all every day. It’s important to me to understand how they are working… or not working… for you. You can reach me through my Council email randy.jorgensen@gravenhurstcouncil.ca or by phone at (705) 646-4392.
Randy Jorgensen
Gravenhurst Ward 4 Councillor