Innisfil Council received its first Class 1 Application, under the Our Shore by-law and Community Planning Permit System, for an in-water boathouse at 3718 Fairway Rd.
The new by-law requires all boathouses to come to council for approval, with a report from staff.
Ray Duhamel, of Jones Consulting Group, appeared before council as a delegation in the virtual meeting, urging the town to grant the community planning permit for the proposed in-water boathouse.
Duhamel noted that the boathouse will not have any impact on the neighbours, or on the environment – it is mounted on piers, for “a minimal footprint” in the water.
The owners worked with the LSRCA on the design and have received a permit; the design has also been reviewed by both the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and Ministry of Natural Resources, with no concerns.
The proposed boathouse is large, but will fit its setting, Duhamel noted.
The one-storey boathouse will measure 4.49 metres in height, 13.36 metres in width and 11.03 metres in length, and project 14.85 metres into the lake - every dimension exceeding the “standard” set out in the Shoreline Community Planning Permit by-law.
According to the by-law, maximum height is 3.6 m, maximum width 9 m, maximum length 10 m, and maximum projection, 10 metres.
However, Duhamel pointed out that the property is “unique” - at nearly 10 hectares, it is one of the largest waterfront properties in Innisfil, with approximately 152 metres of waterfront.
As a percentage, the boathouse “is quite a small percent of the overall property,” he noted. “We think it is a reasonable request,” especially considering the setbacks from the side property lines.
A staff report agreed that given the size of the lot, the structure “will not visually dominate shoreline.”
A proposed stairway and limited tree-clearance were also seen as appropriate, given the steep slope to the shore.
The report concluded, “The subject lands are an ideal example of a lot that is unique within the town and where variations to the by-law standards are appropriate.”
Under the by-law, the owners will be required to provide a community benefit contribution equal to one percent of the construction cost of “boathouse, dock and all other works associated with this application.”
Council approved the request later in the meeting.
Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson praised the new permitting process, and the applicant for following the process and working closely with the town and LSRCA – unlike some lakefront property owners, “where they build what they want, and deal with it later.”
