To the editor,
I believe an article written by Pauline Kerr from May 2023, misrepresented my position with regard to my application to the Ontario Land Tribunal appealing a decision made by the Municipality of Brockton regarding a development at Lake Rosalind.
Kerr’s article stated our issue was that “it would impede the view of the lake from their properties.” In fact, our concerns were more complex including: the view to and from the water as allowed for in the county plan; wanting the lot coverage bylaw to be enforced as it had been since it was put in place and not allow more than double lot coverage compared to the bylaw; and concern for the lake health which appears to be deteriorating, among other issues.
Lake Rosalind is a small man-made lake outside of Hanover that has become a popular place to live. In about 2013 a bylaw was put in place to control the size of development by limiting lot coverage to 15 per cent. Some of the homes being built were excessively large; there was concern about water quality, over intensification, and lake sustainability. The bylaw was supported by the municipality, the Lake Rosalind Property Owners Association, and a study called the French Report (circa 1985) that indicated reducing or limiting development could have a positive impact on the future health of the lake.
After the bylaw came into effect and prior to this application, the bylaw was enforced. Lake residents have applied for variances, had difficulty getting even a minor variance approved, and have had to comply with the bylaw. I understand minor hard-won variances have been allowed to 17 per cent or so.
In March 2022, the Municipality of Brockton approved an application for a residence to be built at Lake Rosalind that included lot coverage of over double that allowed by the bylaw. As stated, the bylaw required a 15 per cent limit on lot coverage. The municipality approved 31 per cent lot coverage.
I submitted an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal that was heard October 2022. Lot coverage of 26.5 per cent was approved. This reduced lot coverage was submitted at the start of the hearing by the applicant. That equates to 76.67 per cent over the bylaw. To me that is unacceptable, but I have exhausted our options to appeal.
I would like to thank my neighbours who stood up to be heard against this development. In March 2022, when Brockton council heard the application, there were eight written submissions, a petition that was signed by 45 residents of the lake (collected manually in three days), and five people who spoke at the meeting, all against the submission. The Ontario Land Tribunal received submissions from seven people who were given Participant Status, who wrote against the development and in support of my application.
I believe the County Plan and municipal bylaws of our community set out the rules and guidelines that property owners rely on to live in harmony.
It is unacceptable when those bylaws are not enforced by our elected council. It is even more egregious when local reporters trivialize citizen concerns and do not report the facts.
Rhonda Mauer
Hanover
