Committee of the Whole - September 12, 2022

Please note that all Committee of the Whole decisions are subject to Council approval. The next Council meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding agenda items or decisions made at Committee or Council meetings, please email council@ramara.ca.

Lakeshore Drive Servicing 

At the July 11, Committee of the Whole meeting, Council directed staff to get the preliminary cost estimate for extending the water and sanitary sewer services on Lakeshore Drive from Simcoe Road to Concession Road 3. The municipal engineers, Tatham Engineering, provided two options of cost estimates to Council: Water and Sanitary Sewer Services or Water Services only. Within these two options, there are three variations for road reconstruction following the installation of services. In order to gain more information from the residents in the area, Committee approved for surveys to go out to the following:

1. Lakeshore Drive from Concession Road 3 to Concession Road A - A survey to determine interest in Water and Sanitary Services with no estimated costs.
2. Lakeshore Drive from Lagoon City to Concession Road 3 - A survey to determine interest with both Water and Sanitary Sewer Services with cost estimates. This will include sewer service on Maple Trail, Lone Birch Trail and Ridge Avenue, and water extension on Lakeshore Drive to Concession road 3 and Water only on Con 3 from Lakeshore Drive to Ramara Road 47.

Committee also approved choosing Option 1B. This entails water and sewer services on Lakeshore Drive from Simcoe Road to Concession Road 3, providing sewer service on Maple Trail, Lone Birch Trail and Ridge Avenue, and water extension only from Lakeshore Drive to Ramara Road 47 along Concession Road 3. This will also include full reconstruction of the affected roadways, but sub-excavation of peat would only occur where proposed services are installed.

Additional Residential Unit Placement 

Through the More Homes, More Choices Act (Bill 108), the Province of Ontario expanded the requirements and removed barriers for municipalities to permit 'additional residential units in their Official Plans and Zoning Bylaws. At the Special Council meeting on August 29, 2022, the Draft Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments, specific to additional residential units and agricultural uses, were presented to Council. Staff presented Council with a 30 metres proximity restriction for the additional residential unit; however, Council and the public expressed some concerns with the proximity restriction and requested an alternative solution that would still align with Provincial Policy. As the proximity of additional residential units is important on Rural and Agricultural properties to ensure that the character of the farming property and the farmland itself is protected, staff provided two solutions.

1. On farm properties, an additional residential unit must be placed within 30 metres from an existing building or structure on the property or use the same driveway access from the main house.
   • This will allow for the protection of farmland and the continuation of farming activities without creating roadblocks to developing the additional units. 
2. For non-farm properties, staff are proposing to maintain the 30-metre proximity to the main dwelling as additional residential units are not severable. This is important in order not to impede future infill development and intensification of the lots within the residential areas.

Committee approved for staff to make the appropriate changes to the draft amendments as discussed; and that the draft amendments be presented to Council for consideration at the September 26, 2022, Council meeting.

Accessory Structures on Waterfront Properties

At the Special Council meeting on August 29, 2022, a Draft Zoning Bylaw Amendment was presented to Council regarding accessory buildings. After some review, Council requested staff to investigate prohibiting smaller accessory buildings of a maximum of 15 square metres from being placed within 15 metres of the highwater mark. After some investigations, staff presented three options to Committee on how the Zoning Bylaw could be amended. Committee chose to go with Option 2 - to prohibit 15 square metre sheds within 15 metres of the highwater mark while allowing 15 square metre sheds that have a
maximum height of 3 metres to be within 1.2 metres of an interior or rear sideyard and 5 metres to a front or exterior side yard, if permitted. The draft amendments will be presented to the Council at the September 26, 2022, Council meeting.

Goose Management Program

At the August 22, 2022, Combined Committee and Council meeting, a resident-led Goose Management Committee provided an overview of the issues and negative impact geese are having on the Lagoon City community. Staff provided a report on what is involved in a Goose Management Program, where it could occur, and how it can be accomplished. The Committee approved for staff to create a Goose Management Committee that would investigate implementing a Goose Management Program for
Lagoon City, including costing and specific plans for controlling geese. The Committee also approved for staff to research what options can restrict residents and visitors from feeding wildlife.

COVID relief funding for the Ramara Chamber of Commerce

At the August 22, 2022, Combined meeting, the Ramara Chamber of Commerce requested $20,000 from Council for COVID relief funding. At that meeting, Council agreed to pay $10,000 and to investigate if Ramara's COVID relief fund could pay the additional $10,000. As the Chamber of Commerce's role is to support local organizations and the remaining COVID relief funding has been sitting in Deferred Revenues (similar to a reserve fund), staff recommends providing a one-time fund to the Chamber. Committee approved providing the additional $10,000 of COVID relief funding.

Proposed purchase of unopened road allowance between Lots 15 and 16, Concession Road A

The owners of 1545 Monck Road are requesting to purchase the Unopened Road Allowance (URA)  adjacent to their property to relocate the prescriptive easement that runs through their property. The prescriptive easement provides the owners, located southeast of 1545 Monck Road, access to their property. Selling off continuous road allowances could hinder potential development of other properties or restrict alternative accesses in the future. Committee approved for staff to proceed in
scheduling a public meeting and investigating leasing and buyback options for selling the unopened road allowance.

Rooted in Ramara Committee

Rooted in Ramara is a seed library that community members and families can access through the Ramara Recreation Department. The program began in early September, with help from the community, collecting seeds that will be stored in the winter and advertised to the community in the spring. Due to the overwhelming support and interest from the community, Committee approved creating a Committee that would help in the execution of the seed library and help with community
involvement and engagement.

Feeding Wildlife

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry strongly recommends that the public not feed wild animals, including birds. Due to animals becoming dependent on artificial food sources that are not healthy or attracting unwanted animals to homeowner's property, the Ministry recommends not feeding and observing all wildlife from a safe distance. Visit the Ministry's website to learn about how you can protect your property and wildlife.

Ministry's website.

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