Since 2004, the Municipality’s Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw No. 2004-035 required a 15 metre natural vegetative buffer be maintained along the shoreline with no exception for clearing for access to the water.
The Municipality of Hastings Highlands is a part of the County of Hastings. The County of Hastings updated their Official Plan in 2017. Subsections 26(9) and 27(1) of the Planning Act required Council to amend Bylaw 2004-035 Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw to conform with the County of Hastings Official Plan. Bylaw 2022-005 was presented to Council to amend the Municipality’s Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw to conform with the natural vegetative policies in the County of Hastings Official Plan.
Bylaw 2022-005 “Natural Vegetative Buffer” was passed by Council on May 4, 2022 to amend the Municipality’s Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw No. 2004-035 to require a 30 metre natural vegetative buffer to be maintained along shorelines, with an exception to clear up to 25% or 23 metres (75 feet), whichever is lesser, of shoreline frontage.
An appeal of Bylaw 2022-005 was received by the Municipality and has been submitted to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
To view a full copy of the Ontario Land Tribunal Decision re: Hastings Highlands Shoreline Preservation Bylaw 2022-005 visit Ontario Land Tribunal Decision – Case No. OLT 22-003939.