Innisfil council has received its first application under the Our Shore bylaw and community planning permit system for an in-water boathouse, located just outside the Barrie city limits off Big Bay Point Road.
The new bylaw requires all boathouses to come to council for approval, with a report from staff.
Jones Consulting Group's Ray Duhamel spoke to council during a virtual meeting this week, urging the town to grant the community planning permit for the proposed in-water boathouse at 3718 Fairway Rd.
Duhamel said the boathouse will not have any impact on the neighbours or the environment. It would be mounted on piers, for “a minimal footprint” in the water.
The owners worked with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) on the design and have received a permit. The design has also been reviewed by both the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, with the agencies raising no concerns.
The proposed boathouse is large, but will fit its setting, Duhamel noted.
The one-storey boathouse will measure 4.49 metres in height, 13.36 metres in width and 11.03 metres in length, and project 14.85 metres into the lake.
Every dimension exceeds the “standard” set out in the shoreline community planning permit bylaw.
According to the bylaw, maximum height is 3.6 m, maximum width 9 m, maximum length 10 m, and a maximum projection of 10 metres.
However, Duhamel pointed out the property is “unique." At nearly 10 hectares, it is one of the largest waterfront properties in Innisfil, with approximately 152 metres of waterfront.
As a percentage, the boathouse “is quite a small per cent of the overall property. We think it is a reasonable request,” especially considering the setbacks from property lines, he said.
A staff report agreed that, given the size of the lot, the structure “will not visually dominate shoreline.”
A proposed stairway and limited tree clearance were also seen as appropriate, due to the steep slope to the shore.
“The subject lands are an ideal example of a lot that is unique within the town and where variations to the bylaw standards are appropriate," says the staff report.
Under the bylaw, the owners will be required to provide a community benefit contribution equal to one per cent of the construction cost of “boathouse, dock and all other works associated with this application.”
Council approved the request later in the meeting.
Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson praised the new permitting process and the applicant for following the process and working closely with the town and LSRCA, unlike some lakefront property owners “where they build what they want and deal with it later.”
