Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: May 14, 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: May 12, 2026 by video hearing
APPEARANCES:
Parties
Counsel/Representative*
Michael Bice Peter Solala Township of Georgian Bay (“Township”)
Self-represented* Self-represented* Did not attend
MEMORANDUM OF ORAL DECISION DELIVERED BY A. SAUVE ON MAY 12, 2026 AND ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL
1The Tribunal convened a second Case Management Conference (“CMC”) in respect to the Appeals filed by Michael Bice pursuant to s. 34(11) and s. 22(7) of the Planning Act, concerning the Municipality’s refusal of Official Plan Amendment (“OPA”) and Zoning By-law Amendment (“ZBA”) 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”.
PARTY STATUS REQUEST
3Prior to the first CMC the Tribunal was made aware that the Township would not be taking part in this appeal. The Tribunal had received no Participant Status requests but did receive one Party Status request from Peter Solala who lives on Myers Lake about 3 km from the subject land. Mr. Solala advised that he was also representing other neighbours, but they are not a formal association. The status request was not determined at the first CMC to allow for Mr. Solala to confer with a professional planner or lawyer.
4Mr. Solala informed the Tribunal that he had retained a professional planner who will be creating a planning report for use at the Merit Hearing of this matter. Mr. Bice did not oppose Party status being granted. The expectation and obligations of a party were explained to Mr. Solala.
5The Tribunal found that Mr. Solala met the legislative test for, and was granted, Party status.
MEDIATION
6The Tribunal notified the Parties that Tribunal-led mediation is an available option and that additional information can be obtained through the Case Coordinator.
MERIT HEARING
7The Parties informed the Tribunal that a two-day Merit Hearing was being requested. Mr. Bice expects to summon two witnesses: a professional planner from the Township and a professional planner from the District of Muskoka. Both planners were supportive of the application in their reports. He was advised to contact the Case Coordinator regarding the process to summon a witness.
8Mr. Solala expects to call one witness: the professional planner he has retained.
9The Tribunal set the date of Friday, August 21, 2026 as the deadline to submit to the Tribunal and the Parties any reports or documents to be used at the Merit Hearing. Particularly, the report to be created by Mr. Solala’s planning witness will require submission.
10The Tribunal scheduled a two-day Merit Hearing to commence on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. by Video Hearing.
11Parties 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/344779885
Access code: 344-779-885
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) 497-9373 or (Toll Free) 1-888-299-1889. The access code is: 344-779-885.
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.
ORDER
16THE TRIBUNAL ORDERS THAT:
Its rulings and directives are as set out above.
The Member is not seized.
No further notice is required.
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.