Andrea Smith

The South Bracebridge Environmental Protection Group appealed the Town of Bracebridge's approval of an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to facilitate the development of a private school complex.

The Tribunal found that the proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and conforms with the applicable Official Plans, provided that the minimum buffer for wetlands and watercourses is increased from 15m to 30m.

The Tribunal also required the inclusion of a holding symbol that can only be lifted after site-specific environmental impact statements, including comprehensive amphibian and bat surveys, demonstrate no negative impacts on significant wildlife habitat.

The appeal was allowed in part to implement these amendments.

The appellant appealed the Township's refusal of a zoning by-law amendment application to remove a holding provision and permit an access dock in a Type 1 Fish Habitat zone to facilitate cottage development on a water-access island property.

The Tribunal dismissed the appeal, finding that the appellant failed to demonstrate that the proposed dock and associated boating activity would have no negative impact on the highly sensitive aquatic vegetation and potential species at risk habitat.

The Tribunal rejected the appellant's argument that detailed environmental impact studies could be deferred to the site plan approval stage, holding that such studies are required at the zoning stage to establish the feasibility of the development.