A settlement has been approved by Gravenhurst council which, pending approval by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), allows the proposed Starboard development to move forward.
The agreement was approved during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Mayor Heidi Lorenz explains the project, spearheaded by the Toronto-based Rosseau Development Corporation (RDC), will see a mixed-used development built off Cherokee Lane near the Muskoka Wharf.
It’s proposed to include a condominium built along with commercial space, two boathouses, and various outdoor amenities like a boardwalk.
“In our Official Plan, the land has been identified for intensification and growth for several years, and this was reiterated in our recent Wharf Revitalization Plan,” says Lorenz. “This project will round out the existing development in the area and will contribute to the overall economic health of our community.”
After deferring the decision, council, by a split vote, rejected the project in Aug. 2023. However, town officials say RDC appealed council’s ruling.
They explain that “based on a variety of considerations,” including legal advice, financial implications, and policy compliance, council agreed to work on a settlement with RDC.
The project has been much discussed around the council table and town. Notably, a packed council chamber listened in Feb. 2023 to a Planning Council meeting discussing the project.
Officials say if approved by the OLT and pending anyone else appealing the decision, the proposed development will move forward.
If that happens, they explain the project would need to go through more approvals, a permit process, and inspections before construction could begin.
