By Chad Ingram
Published April 27 2016
Haliburton County councillors approved thesite plan for an 83-lot subdivision near Bark Lake during their April 27meeting.
The subdivision will be located on the400-acre property that for years has housed the Bark Lake Leadership Centrealong the lake's southeastern shore. The property is owned by Hamilton-basedprivate school Columbia International College and is located in themunicipality of Highlands East.
The subdivision will utilize commonbuildings from the leadership facility including a community centre and sewagetreatment centre which will be updated.
Residents will not be permitted to owntheir own powerboats. Rather a set number of powerboats will be owned by thedevelopment's condo corporation and kept at a central docking location.
County planning director Charlsey Whiteexplained to councilllors the application adhered to numerous requirementsincluding environmental regulations. The size of the development was reducedfrom the originally proposed 110 lots to protect habitat of species at risk onthe property and accommodations for animals – snake fencing turtle crossingetc. – are part of the plan.
A Phase 2 archeological study must still beconducted on the property.
During a March 23 public meeting on thedevelopment an Irondale resident voiced some concerns about the projectquestioning whether the Crown land that also borders the lake might be part ofthe massive Algonquin Land Claim settlement.
White told council she'd investigated andthe Crown land at Bark Lake is not part of the settlement.
Access to the development will be through aright-of-way over Crown property and roads within the development will be private. Canada Post has said there will be no maildelivery although White said Wednesday that a central drop location may bepossible. Otherwise residents will have to get post office boxes.
White also said the school board will notrun buses to the development nor is a pick up/drop off location at County Road503 suitable.
County Warden Carol Moffatt asked if thismeant parents would have to drive their children to school.
White responded saying a condition of thedevelopment because of the property's zoning is that residency not beyear-round. She said anyone living in a residence year-round would be inviolation of municipal bylaws.
