A consultant’s report says there’s still room for development around Trout Lake.
However, council approval is not going to happen overnight, if it even happens at all.
Jason Ferrigan, senior planner with J.L. Richards & Associates, says that based on modelling done by Brent Parsons with Hutchinson Environmental Sciences, 70 new lots could be created in North Bay.
“Council does have the ability for a limited amount of development on the lake subject to best management practices,” he says. “As Brent has indicated within his model that should ensure that total phosphorus concentrations and dissolved oxygen concentrations in the lake stay below both your municipal water quality objective and provincial water quality objectives as well.”
Fifty of those lots would be on the main basin of Trout Lake with 20 on Four Mile Bay.
Another 33 lots could also be developed in East Ferris, which would be up to council there to decide.
Beverly Hillier, the city’s Manager of Planning and Building Services, says this is the background piece needed to move forward with the next step in 2023, which involves updating policies within the Official Plan.
“In terms of what exactly they say and how that works out is subject to future public consultations and future decisions of council” she says. “It is updating the science to make sure we’re using the most up-to-date, relevant, peer-reviewed information that we have available so that we’re making the best possible decisions moving forward.”
For now, the prohibition on new lots within 300 metres of the lake continues.
If the proposal and policy changes are ultimately approved, the 70 new lots could be within that 300-metre zone but would be subject to specific requirements.
The report also recommends looking at allowing one sleeping cabin, or bunkie, per lot with a washroom facility but no cooking area.
