M​oon River ​​
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Property Owners' Association​
Paramedic Station moving from Port Carling to Glen Orchard
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 (Muskoka, ON) - The District of Muskoka marked a major milestone with the groundbreaking for the Glen Orchard Paramedic Station at 3843 Muskoka Road 118 West. This new station, purposefully located to optimize response times in West Muskoka, is set to be fully operational in 2025 and will replace the existing Port Carling Paramedic Station.
Full information is found here:
MRPOA e-News (Updated: June 21, 2024)
JW Marriott Canada Day weekend concert
A three-day weekend outdoor concert is planned but with residents concerned.
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Local Residents, The Muskoka Lakes Association and Township Council have been keeping an eye on this upcoming concert as a prelude to Big Plans JW Marriott has for a 10,000-person open-air amphitheatre to be built and operated from September 2024. The council heard how the Township would cope with huge numbers of people from various sources. Safety, Emergency, Sanitation, Housing, Traffic etc are a big concern.
The Township Council passed a by-law in May 2024 limiting private functions on private property to 500 people. (This is after JW Marriott received approval for the Canada Day concert, so it's proceeding.
After this new by-law, the Owners of JW Marriott have cancelled their amphitheatre plans and are relocating it to Niagara Falls.
More information can be found here:
Short Term Rental By-law and Licensing Still a work in progress
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May 16, 2024 Planning committee discussed a revised Licensing and By-law system with input form the February Public Planning Session.
Committee heard in February that the draft system was too stringent and onerous on owners wanting to offer their properties as STR. In the revised draft, the concern was that the pendulum had swung too far the other way and so committee has sent the By-law back for further revisions.
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Bala and Port Carling Arena redevelopment plans.
Council received and accepted a final report at The April 2024 session from consultants on the multi-phase study commissioned in 2023.
The first phase studied and evaluated the two arenas. In September 13, 2023 the consultant deemed both arenas at end of life and that they should be replaced. However this past March 14th 2024 Council meeting, the Director of Public works admitted under a question that there is lots of life yet in both arenas - perhaps just not for Hockey. But a repurposing of the buildings rather than tear them down might be an alternative.
Seven options were presented. Four for Port Carling. And in Bala three options are suggested with price tags of $24.1M, $51.6M and $42.4 respectively.
1. Demolish Arena and use as parking
Keep community centre
Build an covered outdoor ice rink behind the community centre
build a 3 lane pool and kids pool beside the community centre
2.Demolish Arena and use as a parking lot
Demolish Community centre. (no suggestion on replacement)
Build an NHL Arena
Build a 3 lane walking track
Build Five Pickleball courts
3.Demolish the Arena
Demolish the community centre (no suggestion on replacement)
Build a covered outdoor ice rink behind the community centre
Build a Gym / field house with 2 lane walking track
Incorporate new Library and Community centre
Build new 3 lane pool and kids pool
NO pickleball courts.
No decisions are imminent but could come later in 2024. This folds into a larger Asset plan for all facilities in the Township including Fire Stations, Community Centres and the Township Hall offices
More information can be found here.
MUSKOKA LAKES, ON – On December 13, 2023 Township Council approved the 2024 Operating and Capital Budget and Forecast.
The 2024 Budget has a net levy of $15,855,900, which represents a 14.3% tax rate increase over 2023. The estimated tax increase to a typical residential property valued at $500,000 is $93.14 to $743.68 per year. The 2024 Budget continues to support spending in key service areas that residents value while also making a $5 million contribution to reserves and reserve funds to support needed renewal investments in our local infrastructure.
Full information found here.
Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program 2024
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Continuing the inspection work to ensure our water is safe, a new program is rolling out. Initially starting in the North-east section of the Township, it will roll through Bala later. Letters will be sent to homeowners if inspection is required.