Muskoka Official Plan Review

July was a busy month for the Muskoka Official Plan Five-Year Review! There has been progress and updates to this project. This includes:

• An update to the Work Plan
• Growth Strategy Update
• Resort Development Review Update including revised policies for public comment

Updated Work Plan

In early 2024, Muskoka District staff shared a workplan for the Five-Year Review of the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP), which was approved by Council. Since then, staff have been working on the plan updates, including public meetings and open houses.

New Direction from the Province

Recently, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) asked staff to revise the workplan to help streamline the process. The original plan proposed several individual Official Plan Amendments (OPAs) by topic, such as Growth Strategy and Resort Development. Each OPA would be reviewed and approved by Council and the MMAH separately. The purpose of this approach was to provide a focused format for CPS Committee and the broader Muskoka community, as well as incorporate additional public consultation opportunities for each topic.

Instead, MMAH now recommends combining the review into one overall amendment. This will allow for a single, coordinated review.

What’s Changing

The updated workplan will now combine all changes into one amendment: OPA 61. While each topic will still be reviewed and discussed individually with the public and CPS Committee, they’ll be approved together at the end of the process.

The Archaeological Master Plan was originally part of the MOP review work plan. This project was initiated in January 2025. While this project will remain ongoing, because of extended project timelines, this portion of the MOP review has been removed. Any updates to the MOP as a result of the Archaeological Master Plan will be processed through a separate OPA.

What’s Staying the Same

The rest of the original sections of the MOP under review remain, organized by component, as below.

• Component 1: Growth Strategy (previously referred to as OPA 63)
• Component 2: Resort Development (previously referred to as OPA 62)
• Component 3: Environmental Resiliency
  • Includes Watershed Management, Climate Action, and Mapping Updates
• Component 4: Lake System Health
• Component 5: Housekeeping & Provincial Policy Updates

Public meetings and open houses will still continue for each component. An overall statutory public meeting and open house required by the Planning Act will be scheduled once all 5 Components of OPA 61 are complete.

More information on the Updated Work Plan can be found here.

Growth Strategy Update

Staff have requested approval from the Community and Planning Services Committee for Component 1: Growth Strategy. More information can be found here.

Resort Development Policy

As a result of public comments received during the Public Meeting and Open House, the draft Resort Development Policies have been revised. The revised policies, including an overview of the revisions, can be reviewed here.

Public comment on the revised policy set is currently open. The commenting window will be open until the proposed amendment is brought forward to CPS Committee for initial approval, however written comments are able to be submitted and considered until formal adoption of OPA 61.

If you have any comments on the revised draft Resort Development policies, you can submit comments by:

• Email: MOP@muskoka.on.ca
• Phone: (705) 645 2100 Ext: 4467
• Mail:

District Municipality of Muskoka
Attention: Lisa Marden
70 Pine Street, Bracebridge, ON
P1L 1N3

A statutory Public Meeting and Open House is being held to obtain feedback on Official Plan Amendment 63 (Growth Strategy).

Click here to see the official Notice of Public Meeting and Open House for more information.

A statutory Public Meeting and Open House is being held to review the draft Resort Development policies and to obtain feedback from members of the public and the resort development community.

Click here to see the official Notice of Public Meeting and Open House for more information.

As part of the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP) Comprehensive Review, the District’s Archaeological Master Plan is being updated to refine the MOP’s Archaeological Resource policies by integrating the knowledge, perspectives, and priorities of Indigenous Nations that had a traditional tie or ongoing interest in the lands that now encompass the District. The project also includes updated mapping of significant or potentially significant archaeological resources, cultural heritage sites, ceremonial areas, and sacred sites, while establishing protocols for their protection and management, in addition to the creation of an Indigenous Engagement Plan.

Staff Report CPS-1-2025-3 has more information about this project.

Future opportunities for public engagement will be shared on the MOP Review Engage Muskoka Page, as well as through various communication channels including website updates, electronic and social media, and e-newsletters.

To be notified of project updates and future public consultation opportunities, join our courtesy notice list by subscribing this project and receive updates right to your inbox. From the project home page, locate the "Stay Informed Tool" (Just look for the big megaphone on the top right-hand side of your desktop computer, or scroll down on your mobile device). Enter your email address and hit subscribe!