Development News
Strawberry Island, Lake Simcoe
Strawberry Island is an island in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Congregation of St. Basil as a place of retreat. On previous visits to Toronto, Pope John Paul II has stayed here.It is about a one hour drive north of Toronto. The Basilians only use it during the summer holidays. (wikipedia.org)
In 2007 Trans America Group, based in Edmonton, purchased the 25.6 acre Ramara Township island in 2007 with plans to build mixed-use seasonal residential and resort accommodation. In 2014 the company submitted plans to develop Strawberry Island into a village-style community with up to 120 units. The concept plan includes 52 estate cottages, manor cottage flats, manor cottage terraces, central green space for recreation, a village centre, a general store, a community pool, tennis courts, a trail system, a community building with a clubhouse, administration and service centre, a main dock, two resident docks with 15 to 20 slips and gazebos.
Plans envision the village operating 8 to 10 months of the year.
“It’s a village where people could walk around, know all their neighbours like the old days. And it would be small — no more than 100 to 120 units in total,” Usprech said.
The developer would install septic/sewage systems, hydro and water.
“It wouldn’t be a burden on the township. We would be maintaining, so there will be no financial drain on ... Ramara,” Usprech said.
The developer plans to keep and refurbish a rock shrine built by the Basilian Fathers.
There would be a helipad for emergency use. (source)
There would be no vehicles allowed on Strawberry Island other than motorized golf carts. Residents and their guests would arrive by boat. The developer owns property at 4123 Glen Cedar Dr. in Ramara , near Marina Del Rey, which would be used for vehicle and boat parking.
Pros are local jobs in construction, maintenance, day-to-day operations; tourist dollars to local communities.
Questions are: sewage disposal (septic versus sewage treatment plant), First Nations land claim
Cons are concerns for the impacts of such density on the small island and Lake Simcoe: destruction of 5 hectares (12 acres) of significant woodlands/wildlife habitat, half of the wetlands on the island, decrease in species diversity, increase in phosphorus loading to Lake Simcoe, no impact study on Lake Simcoe lake trout or whitefish cold water fishery. Opponents say that the development proposal is not in accord with the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and the Provincial Policy Statement.
Approval Process:
Zoning by-law amendment before the township – currently zoned commercial, light industrial
Official plan amendment approved by township and now before county
Provincial Policy Statement compliance
Lake Simcoe Protection Plan
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Permit To Take Water
Sewage permit
Air permit
Timeline
(chronological order)
|
Date |
Event |
|
2014- summer |
Initial public notice meeting |
|
2015-04-27 |
Developer deputation to Ramara Township in Brechin |
|
2015-05-11 |
Opposition deputation to Ramara Township in Brechin |
|
2015-06-15 |
Ramara Township, Brechin, public meeting |
|
2015-summer |
Official Plan Amendment 18 adopted by Ramara Township |
|
2016-02-16 |
Review by Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (article) |
|
2016-03-08 estimated |
Simcoe County review of Official Plan Amendment 18 |
|
2016-11 |
Moffat Dunlap presents development concept (website) |
|
2020-10-16 |
TAG Developments Ltd. Sell Strawberry Island for $2.65 million |
News – Strawberry Island
(most recent first)
|
Date |
Source |
Title |
Comment |
|
2016-02-21 |
AWARE Simcoe |
LSRCA identifies adverse impacts in Strawberry Island proposal |
Kate Harries |
|
2015-03 |
Change.org |
Petition: Keep the Rural Zoning Designation for Strawberry Island in Lake Simcoe, Ontario |
Pamela Fulford |
|
2014-09-25 |
OrilliaPacket.com |
Sara Carson |
More Information:
Former proponent: TAG Development (formerly Trans America Group – Strawberry Development)
Opponents:
Facebook – Save Strawberry Island
Pam Fulford (pamfulford@gmail.com ) / 705.426.4200
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Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision. However, while the information is believed to be reliable, completeness and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
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