After five weeks of intense proceedings, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) hearing about the proposed development on Langmaid's Island came to a close on March 5. Over 100 people viewed the proceedings online on the last day, up from about 60-80 on other days.
The Lake of Bays Association and Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation were well represented by our lawyer Harold Elston and four witnesses: Dr. Derek Coleman, Environmental Planner; Stephen Fahner, Land Use Planner; Mary Ann Peden, LOBA President; and Judith Mills, LBHF President. Both organizations believe that our concerns and objections were described well. The Town of Huntsville, the Township of Lake of Bays and Kelly Zytaruk were in accord with our position.
We are grateful to the many members who donated to the Langmaid’s Protection Fund, to help cover expenses for our professional services.
We now await the decision of the hearing Chairman, Mr. Gregory Bishop. It could take as little as a few weeks or as long as a year. The decision will be either refusal or acceptance of the application. If accepted, a phase 2 hearing will address a myriad of issues related to barging, land conservation methods, shuttles, garbage disposal, etc.
To read the final submission by our lawyer, Harold Elston, click here. This public document contains our complete argument in about 80 pages. The first few pages suggest that the decision is about a public versus private opportunity, and the consequences of supporting each opportunity. It is a complicated case: our hope is that Mr. Bishop will see the big picture and respond to the many potential negative impacts of the proposed development on Langmaid’s Island and the Lake of Bays community.
