SO MUCH VACANT LAND NOT ENOUGH SUSTAINABLE HOMES (away from the water)
Not everyone can afford a home around the already congested lakes, and not everyone wants to live in affordable housing near the city. For those who love nature and the idea of a home and environment to care for and enjoy, can Seguin look at ways of providing residential lots in Rural Vacant Land?
The current guideline is over 30 years old only allows for 1 dwelling on a minimum 4ha or 10ac Rural zoned site. In 2022, how many individuals, and can the Township really afford this?
I’ve been told by Real Estate and Planning friends, that in cottage country Muskoka they are approving 17 lots in 20ac (~ 1ac lots) to cater to the demand of professionals and retirees escaping from Covid and the city. Instead of one home on 10ac, can we have more homes to provide vitality for more tax dollars and local life in rural communities?
As a professional, close to retirement with friends who are doctors, engineers, and one who dreams of opening a café with coffee, cakes, & pastries, we all share a dream of sustainable living in the country. We can’t spend $500-700K to buy another waterfront lot, or 10ac of land and another $1M to plop down one monster home to live in isolation. We and our families would love to live in a privately maintained cul-de-sac away from the road, on 1ac lots that face nothing but trees, but close enough to neighbours to enjoy community, security, and nature.
Can Seguin look into what my Planning friend calls Vacant Land Condo Plan (VLCP) adopted by Muskoka and other cottage country communities as part of the Ontario Condo Act? Or are there other case-by-case ways to provide more Residential lots on Rural Vacant Land to approve as a Sustainable solution to meet current and future demand and needs?
MORE SERVICES & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS
I’m a community member near the Grand Tappattoo Resort hoping it can survive and thrive with more sustainable and affordable homes in rural areas. The area needs more year-round local residential life to enjoy the restaurant and public facilities, to work there, and make the Resort and other local services viable (think Café, Corner Store, Gym). More residential catchments will provide more economic opportunities and services for the enjoyment of both seasonal and year-round residents. Without residential catchment within walking, or easy commute distance, I’m afraid sustainable rural life cannot survive, and we are doomed to ghost communities in Parry Sound visited by the wealthy on holidays. I wish that the corner store could come back with ice cream and poutine for the kids and old folks. And maybe a local gym to pop into to supplement the walk and bike ride up and down Otter Creek Road (especially during the winter).
What changes in the Official Plan can we make to allow residential lots in vacant rural land to provide more economic opportunities and services to create sustainable communities for locals living 10min outside of Parry Sound?
SO MUCH VACANT LAND NOT ENOUGH SUSTAINABLE HOMES (away from the water)
Not everyone can afford a home around the already congested lakes, and not everyone wants to live in affordable housing near the city. For those who love nature and the idea of a home and environment to care for and enjoy, can Seguin look at ways of providing residential lots in Rural Vacant Land?
The current guideline is over 30 years old only allows for 1 dwelling on a minimum 4ha or 10ac Rural zoned site. In 2022, how many individuals, and can the Township really afford this?
I’ve been told by Real Estate and Planning friends, that in cottage country Muskoka they are approving 17 lots in 20ac (~ 1ac lots) to cater to the demand of professionals and retirees escaping from Covid and the city. Instead of one home on 10ac, can we have more homes to provide vitality for more tax dollars and local life in rural communities?
As a professional, close to retirement with friends who are doctors, engineers, and one who dreams of opening a café with coffee, cakes, & pastries, we all share a dream of sustainable living in the country. We can’t spend $500-700K to buy another waterfront lot, or 10ac of land and another $1M to plop down one monster home to live in isolation. We and our families would love to live in a privately maintained cul-de-sac away from the road, on 1ac lots that face nothing but trees, but close enough to neighbours to enjoy community, security, and nature.
Can Seguin look into what my Planning friend calls Vacant Land Condo Plan (VLCP) adopted by Muskoka and other cottage country communities as part of the Ontario Condo Act? Or are there other case-by-case ways to provide more Residential lots on Rural Vacant Land to approve as a Sustainable solution to meet current and future demand and needs?
MORE SERVICES & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS
I’m a community member near the Grand Tappattoo Resort hoping it can survive and thrive with more sustainable and affordable homes in rural areas. The area needs more year-round local residential life to enjoy the restaurant and public facilities, to work there, and make the Resort and other local services viable (think Café, Corner Store, Gym). More residential catchments will provide more economic opportunities and services for the enjoyment of both seasonal and year-round residents. Without residential catchment within walking, or easy commute distance, I’m afraid sustainable rural life cannot survive, and we are doomed to ghost communities in Parry Sound visited by the wealthy on holidays. I wish that the corner store could come back with ice cream and poutine for the kids and old folks. And maybe a local gym to pop into to supplement the walk and bike ride up and down Otter Creek Road (especially during the winter).
What changes in the Official Plan can we make to allow residential lots in vacant rural land to provide more economic opportunities and services to create sustainable communities for locals living 10min outside of Parry Sound?