This public post is to let everyone know that an email was recieved by the Cottage Lot Team on May 10, 2019 regarding changes to regulations which affect our cottage lot structures. I will post the contents of the email, as they are public. Also I’ve made a private post (login to see it) where Breezy Pines Island Community (BPIC) can discuss details of the issue
May 10, 2019 Dear Cottager; This letter is to make you aware of the government’s recent decision to amend Ontario Regulation 347/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 to enable the issuance of new land use permits (LUP) for off-lot structures (e.g., docks, in-water boathouses, utility poles, driveways, etc.) associated with Algonquin Provincial Park cottage lots. The Algonquin Provincial Park Cottage Lot Policy (2018-2038) outlines several terms and conditions related to on-lot structures including cottages, sleep cabins and ancillary structures. Almost all cottagers, however, have structures that are not located within the cottage lot boundary which are not addressed by the policy. The vast majority of these structures are docks, but also include in-water boathouses and minor land structures located off-lot (e.g., utility transmission lines, driveways or water lines). To address these types of structures, the government posted a Regulation Proposal Notice on the Environmental Registry (EBR # 012-8567) in October 2016 to amend Ontario Regulation 347/07 to enable the Ministry to issue LUPs for private, non-commercial purposes in Algonquin Provincial Park where the LUP will support the use of cottage lots. Ontario Parks also consulted on an amendment to the Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan (EBR # 012-8560) proposing new terms and conditions related to structures associated with cottage lots, including limits on docks and other off-lot structures. Today the government has posted the decision notice for this regulation which you can view on the Environmental Registry Ontario website by clicking here or by going to ero.ontario.ca and searching ERO number 012-8567. All cottagers with docks or other off-lot structures are required to apply for and obtain a LUP for these structures. The deadline to comply with the terms of the regulation and obtain the LUP is December 31, 2020. Additional rent will not be charged for the LUP. The limit for the total combined area of all docks associated with each cottage lot has been set at 30 m2, however to allow cottagers time to reduce excess dock area and meet this limit, cottagers may apply for and obtain a LUP with an initial maximum of 60 m2. The total combined area will then need to be reduced to 30 m2 by December 31, 2023. The regulatory changes can be found in Section 38 of Ontario Regulation 347/07 (click here to view in E-laws), however, to assist cottagers in understanding the types, sizes and locations of structures that may be authorized by a LUP, and how to obtain the permit, a new fact sheet titled “Land Use Permits for Docks, In-water Boathouses and Other Off-lot Structures” has been added to the online Cottagers Toolkit at: http://www.ontarioparks.com/cottagerstoolkit/factsheets/algonquin. Ontario Parks has also administratively updated the Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan (Appendix A) to reflect the regulatory amendments. Please view the most recent version of the Approved Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan Amendment on the cottagers toolkit at www.ontarioparks.com/cottagerstoolkit/algonquin/. Some cottagers have been waiting for these regulatory changes so that they can apply for a work permit to build or replace their current dock. Cottagers can now apply for a LUP and once it is issued, Ontario Parks will be able to consider and approve work permits beginning early this spring. See the fact sheet for information on applying for a LUP. If you have any other questions related these new LUP requirements, please direct them to the Cottage Lot Program by email (algonquin.cottages@ontario.ca) or phone (705-645-7436). Sincerely, Sandy Dobbyn Senior Program Coordinator, Algonquin Cottage Lot Program