Cottage country town council rejects proposed Lake Rosseau development as developer plans appeal

Seguin Township council has unanimously rejected the proposed Rosseau Springs subdivision near Lake Rosseau. Concerned residents praised the decision, while the developer says it plans to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Cottage country town council rejects proposed Lake Rosseau development as developer plans appeal Residents praise the unanimous vote, while the developer says it will appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal Ratepayers who opposed the proposed subdivision near Lake Rosseau say Seguin Township council made the right decision in unanimously rejecting the project, after planning staff concluded it conflicted with municipal planning policies. The council in the small community in Ontario's cottage country voted July 6 against official plan and zoning amendments that would have allowed the Rosseau Springs project to proceed.

The developer had revised the proposal by reducing the number of lots from 49 to 47 and increasing the required setback for septic systems to be at least 30 m from the shoreline, but planning staff said the changes did not address their broader concerns. Coun. Gail Finnson said she was pleased, but surprised, by the unanimous vote.

“I think we did the right thing,” she told CBC News. “I was really happy that we had a unanimous vote, that will speak strongly on our commitment to our official plan and our staff. ”-

Gail Finnson, Seguin Township Councillor Finnson said the decision was not about opposing development, but about following planning rules that direct developers to build in designated areas. “We make concessions all the time when it’s good planning,” she said. “But this was more than outside of our ability to do that as a township.”

Residents welcome decision Those who opposed the development in the town of 5,000 people were thrilled wih the decision. “We’re just so relieved,” said Wendy Carlan, who has owned a cottage in the area for 14 years. “They looked at their planning policies, environmental impacts and they listened to the community.

That's exactly what you hope your local council will do.” Canadian comedian and actor Martin Short, who owns a nearby summer home and had publicly opposed the proposal, also praised the outcome. “It's such a delightful thing when justice wins, and common sense prevails,” Short said in a statement to CBC News.

“So proud of our council members for their wisdom.” Developer plans appeal Holden Rhodes, owner of Rosseau Springs, said the company plans to appeal the council's decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. In an email to CBC News, Rhodes said council approved another development last year that was “almost 8x the density” of the Rosseau Springs proposal despite also being outside a designated settlement area.

Before last week's vote, planning consultant Leo DeLoyde, speaking on behalf of the applicant, defended the proposal, saying environmental studies supported the development and that it would help meet demand for year-round housing in the Rosseau area. He said the project was intended for people who wanted to live near the community, but could not afford waterfront properties, and argued it would contribute to the township’s future housing supply.