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newsflash
January 25, 2019
Thank you for attending!

Thank you to the 40+ people, who braved last Saturday's frigid cold and unpredictable weather to attend our annual Open Board meeting at Bethune United Church in Baysville. LOBA members, members of other lake associations and the entire newly-elected Township of Lake of Bays council attended. Mayor Terry Glover spoke on the importance of collaboration and cooperation on current and future issues and we could not agree more. After LOBA committee chairs provided updates, CEO of Forests Ontario, Rob Keen provided an engaging and encouraging presentation about how our forests are managed and the values our forests provide - social, economic and environmental. To see Rob's presentation, click here .

There was more lively conversation over soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and bread pudding prepared by the UCW - thank you!

Mark your calendar for this event next year - Saturday January 18, 2020.
LOBA submits comments on Town of Huntsville Official Plan Review

As we have let our members know, the Town of Huntsville has been updating and reviewing their Official Plan. There is a stretch of South Portage Road that falls in the Town of Huntsville so it is appropriate for LOBA to provide comments, particularly on waterfront policies. Overall LOBA is pleased with the direction of the waterfront policies in the Huntsville OP and feels they are now well aligned with Township of Lake of Bays policies. We had some concerns which we relayed in writing and which you can read here .
LOBA submits comments on Provincial Bill 66

The provincial go vernment proposed Bill 66 in December 2018. Bill 66 included a Schedule 10 which allows municipalities to pass an “open for business” planning by-law that would exempt some developments from needing to conform to protective measures in key provincial acts and restrictions in Local Official Plans. 

Many groups objected to this provision. The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (of which LOBA is a member) submitted a letter to the Province ( read it here ) and LOBA submitted letters to the Township of Lake of Bays ( read it here ) and the Town of Huntsville ( read it here ). We are pleased to report that Municipal affairs minister Steve Clark announced on Wednesday that this controversial element of the legislation will be removed - read about that here . We will continue to monitor Bill 66, but are cautiously optimistic with this outcome.
Bubbler LIghting Update

In our January 11 Newsflash, we included a link to an article on Best Suggested Operating Practices for Dock and Boat House De-Icer Systems ( click here ).

Christopher Collings, Township of Lake of Bays By-law Enforcement Officer alerted us that the picture of the light in that article is compliant with the Township's Dark Skies By-law, which states all lights shining outside at night need to be facing down and/or recessed in a fixture. However, the description in the article states lights should be visible from all directions which would not be compliant with the by-law. It would be better stated that the sign should be visible from all directions and that amber lights shining on the sign be recessed or facing down. Thank you for that clarification Christopher!

To read the full Dark Skies by-law which includes images of compliant light setups, click here .
Reading and interesting links
 Friends of the Muskoka Watershed 2019 Chairman's letter to members
Norman Yan reflects on 2018 and thoughts for 2019

FOCA January 2019 Elert
Bill 66, Spring seminar, How-to ID carp, and more.

Township of Lake of Bays Economic Development update, January 15, 2019

Lake of Bays among municipalities to get provincial help for infrastructure planning

Dwight Winter Pantry is stocked and ready to distribute food to those in need
photo by Warren Prince, 2017 LOBA Photo Contest, Second prize winner, Landscape
The purpose of the Lake of Bays Association is to promote, sustain and enhance a clean and healthy natural environment, a well serviced community and a safe and peaceful Lake of Bays.

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