BSRA Comments

Draft Official Plan

Lakeshore Residential

Feb/05

Comments

1.   Official Plan Timing

Defer the official plan development process until the strategic plan project is completed, there is an opportunity to review the results and where appropriate, integrate into the official plan.

2.    Lakeshore Residential Two Classifications

We feel it is inappropriate to have two lakeshore residential designations.

BSRA has always maintained that lakeshore residents should pay their fair share of municipal taxes based on all residents having access to all municipal services.

The current draft proposes two classifications; Lakeshore Residential (LR1) and Lakeshore Residential-Limited Services (LR1-1). Clearly the classification difference is based on differential level of services. The draft explains the areas where municipal services will be limited. They include no year round residency, water use, sewage disposal and roads.

We believe that the current draft, if implemented, will result in property owners whose properties are zoned limited services requesting reduced taxes on the basis that they will not receive full services. BSRA will review its policy related to differential taxes for lakeshore residents.

Questions:

1. How does the municipality plan to implement and enforce non year round use for properties where zoning does not permit year round residency.

2. How will the municipality deal with properties currently used as a primary year round residence but zoned as seasonal use only ie LR1-1.