City denies request to amend official plan

The preservation of lake quality on city lakes was made into an issue after two city residents asked city council to let them divide their Fairbank Lake property.

City councillors heard an application by Nellie and James Langdon at the July 13 planning committee meeting to divide their property to create a waterfront lot for a family member. But the lot would only have 27 metres of lake frontage, far less than the 80 metres required by the city.

Councillors were told by city staff the application would require an amendment to the city's Official Plan. Section 21.6 of the plan states that the lot created from a larger piece of property must be a minimum of two acres or .8 hectares with a minimum water frontage of 80 metres.

For the past 20 years, property owners on Fairbank Lake had supported the minimum water frontage requirement for lots to slow down development on the lake and preserve water quality, staff said. They recommended the planning committee reject the creation of the “substandard” waterfront lot and therefore the required amendment to the city's Official Plan.

Brian Burton, president of the Fairbank Lake Camp Owners Association, which represents 170 property owners, said if the application was allowed and an amendment to the official plan made, it would set up a precedent that would lead to more lakeside development and a deterioration in water quality at Fairbank Lake and other lakes in the city.

The vote was two to one against the application.