Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: May 06, 2026
CASE NO(S).: OLT-26-000037
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 22(7) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant and Appellant: Michael Bice
Subject: Request to amend the Official Plan – Failure to adopt the requested amendment
Description: To permit a detached dwelling and accessory buildings and structures on part of the Subject Lands
Reference Number: O25-02
Property Address: 65 Dayeo Drive
Municipality/UT: Georgian Bay/Muskoka
OLT Case No.: OLT-26-000037
OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-26-000037
OLT Case Name: Bice v. Georgian Bay (Township)
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 34(11) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant and Appellant: Michael Bice
Subject: Application to amend the Zoning By-law – Refusal
Description: To permit a detached dwelling and accessory buildings and structures on part of the Subject Lands
Reference Number: Z23-23
Property Address: 65 Dayeo Drive
Municipality/UT: Georgian Bay/Muskoka
OLT Case No.: OLT-26-000053
OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-26-000037
OLT Case Name: Bice v. Georgian Bay (Township)
Heard: April 24, 2026, by Video Hearing
APPEARANCES:
| Parties | Counsel/Representative |
|---|---|
| Michael Bice | None |
| Township of Georgian Bay | Did not attend |
MEMORANDUM OF ORAL DECISION DELIVERED BY a. sauve ON April 24, 2026 AND ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL
INTRODUCTION
1The Tribunal convened a first Case Management Conference (“CMC”) in respect to the Appeals filed by Mr. Michael Bice pursuant to s. 34(11) and s. 22(7) of the Planning Act, concerning the Municipality’s refusal of Zoning By-law Amendment (“ZBA”) and Official Plan Amendment (“OPA”) applications. The amendments are necessary for Mr. Bice to construct a backlot residential detached dwelling and accessory buildings, prohibit land division, and to conserve most of the land in its natural state on the subject land.
2The subject land is in a forested area with wetlands, watercourses, public and private open space, and cottage development associated with Myers Lake. Access is provided by a private road. The subject property is designated as Rural in the District of Muskoka Official Plan and Township of Georgian Bay Official Plan. The subject property is zoned as “OS1 Open Space” and adjacent waterfront lots are zoned “Shoreline Residential”.
3The Tribunal received and marked the Affidavit of Service of the Notice of CMC sworn by Mr. Bice as Exhibit 1. There were no issues with the Service of Notice of the CMC, and as such no further Notice is required.
4The municipality advised the Tribunal that they would not be participating in the appeal.
REQUEST FOR STATUS
5The Tribunal received one request for Party Status from Mr. Peter Solala, who lives on Myers lake about 3 km from the subject land. Mr. Solala advised that he was also representing several other neighbours who opposed the applications. Mr. Solala did not have representation and was not familiar with the Tribunal practice and procedures.
6After a brief discussion concerning the duties and responsibilities of a Party, it was determined that the Party status request should be adjourned to a further CMC for Mr. Solala, to contemplate hiring a representative and/or a professional planner.
7Mr. Bice opposes the request as the issues Mr. Solala are raising were already addressed in the Staff Report which supported the applications.
MEDIATION
8The Tribunal notified the Parties that Tribunal-led mediation is an available option and that additional information can be obtained through the Case Coordinator.
CMC HEARING
9A second CMC was determined to be necessary for both Mr. Bice and Mr. Solala to decide if they want to retain counsel or a professional planner to assist them.
10The Tribunal scheduled a second CMC to commence on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. by Video Hearing.
11Parties and/or Observers are asked to log in to the event at least 15 minutes before it begins to test their video and audio connections:
GoTo Meeting: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/442599157
Access code: 442-599-157
12Parties are asked to access and set up the application well in advance of the event to avoid unnecessary delay. The desktop application can be downloaded at GoTo Meeting or a web application is available: https://app.gotomeeting.com/home.html
13Persons who experience technical difficulties accessing the GoTo Meeting application or who only wish to listen to the event can connect to it by calling in to an audio-only telephone line: +1 (647) 497-9391 or (Toll Free) 1-888-455-1389. The access code is: 442-599-157.
14Individuals are directed to connect to the event on the assigned date at the correct time. It is the responsibility of the persons participating in the event to ensure that they are properly connected at the correct time. Questions prior to the event may be directed to the Tribunal’s Case Coordinator.
15As of March 30, 2026, all hearing events are governed by the Tribunal’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Direction. This Practice Direction requires a party, participant, or witness to include a declaration within each submitted document if generative AI was used to create or generate content.
ORDERS
16THE TRIBUNAL ORDERS its directions in this Decision.
17This Member is not seized.
18No further Notice will be given.
“A. Sauve”
A. SAUVE
MEMBER
Ontario Land Tribunal
Website: www.olt.gov.on.ca Telephone: 416-212-6349 Toll Free: 1-866-448-2248
The Conservation Review Board, the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and the Mining and Lands Tribunal are amalgamated and continued as the Ontario Land Tribunal (“Tribunal”). Any reference to the preceding tribunals or the former Ontario Municipal Board is deemed to be a reference to the Tribunal.