Public Consultation

Current public consultation opportunities

Official Plan review

Ontario's Planning Act requires that we review our Official Plan every five years and update it to make sure it stays in line with the latest provincial policies and Provincial Plans. The review process also gives us an opportunity to adapt the Official Plan to new and changing circumstances – such as climate change - in the Township and to be sure it conforms to the County of Lennox and Addington Official Plan. This review began in 2016.

The Township held three Open Houses in June 2019 to gather community input. Substantive revisions have been made to address the comments received from the public and agencies.

Public Meeting - Tuesday December 15th, 2020

The Council of Loyalist Township will hold a Public Meeting on Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 at 6:00pm, to consider the proposed comprehensive amendment update to the Official Plan. The meeting will be a virtual webinar. The webinar has been set up with no registration or authentication required to join. The public is urged to join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

Please click this URL to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87254783744

Or join by phone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): Canada: +1 647 558 0588 or +1 778 907 2071 or +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099 or +1 647 374 4685

Webinar ID: 872 5478 3744

International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbxipcyJEh

Draft updated Official Plan

The full draft updated Official Plan can be found at the following link:

Draft Official Plan - Red-line version - November 2020

Proposed update to Building By-law

Loyalist Township is proposing to adopt a new building by-law, to take effect on January 1, 2021. A draft version of the proposed by-law is available for review. Please return any comments to the Chief Building Official no later than noon on November 10, 2020. A public meeting will be held on Monday, November 23, 2020 to consider the new by-law.

ResiLienT Climate Action surveys

We are looking for ideas to reduce our community GHG emissions and want to hear from you! We have three short surveys that can help inform what will be included in the Climate Action Plan.

Climate Action Plan Community Initiatives Survey

This survey contains researched initiatives that could be implemented as part of our local Climate Action efforts. Let us know how you feel about each of these initiatives and pick your favorite! Have any feedback or ideas? You can add them at the end of this survey or email them to climateaction@loyalist.ca.

Public Transit Survey

An effective public transit system can be an important component of a connected, livable, and sustainable community. Loyalist Township Council identified improving the public transportation system as a key objective in the 2019 Strategic Plan and has committed to review, assess, and suggest enhancements to the transit system which could benefit the Loyalist Community. The purpose of this survey is to identify the transportation needs within Loyalist Township and to gather input which will be used to inform future decisions.

Source Separated Organics Survey

Organic waste is defined as any plant or animal-based material that is biodegradable, meaning that it breaks down into carbon dioxide, methane, or simple organic molecules over time. Examples of organic waste include food waste or yard trimmings. The purpose of this survey is to engage with residents on current waste practices and to collect feedback on potential source separated organic waste programs.

Recent public consultations

Interim Development Charges Background Study and By-law

The Development Charges Act, 1997 requires that the Township review and update its Development Charges imposed to fund growth-related projects every five years. This ensures the study remains relevant and aligns with current growth projections and growth-related capital plans. Furthermore, the updated by-law would also reflect any latest changes in provincial policy or regulation that would take precedence.

The current Development Charges By-law expired on January 24, 2021 due to an extension granted by the Provincial Government’s COVID Support & Protection Act, 2020. As such, an interim Development Charges Study and By-law was proposed at the currently imposed rates until a new By-law and Study are approved prior to formal consultation session(s) with Council and the development community/stakeholders. The approved Interim Development Charges Study is in accordance with Section 10(4) of the Development Charges Act, 1997.

As per Section 13 of the Development Charges Act, 1997. Notice of Passing of Development Charges By-law was published on February 11, 2021.

Water & Sewer Rates Consultation

Loyalist Township appreciates the feedback from each of the stakeholders that shared their questions during the Public Meeting on November 12, 2019 for Water and Sewer Charges and Rates.

At the meeting, Township staff recorded the questions received. Below is a response from staff to address each of the questions that were raised at the Public Meeting.

Responses to questions - November 12, 2019

If you have any further questions, or would like to know how it will affect your bill in correlation with your current consumption levels, please call 613-386-7351 ext. 154 or email info@loyalist.ca

Update - October 31, 2019

Notice of Public Meeting: Intention to Change Water & Sewer Rates & Connection Charges

In accordance with Township Notice By-law 2007-119, notice is hereby given that the Council of The Corporation of Loyalist Township intends to impose a rate decrease to water and sewer flat rates, a rate increase to water and sewer consumption based rates, and a modification to water and sewer connection fees based on the recent study completed by Hemson Consulting Ltd. on behalf of the Township. The increase to the bulk water hauler rates based on consumption will consistently reflect the discounted combined volumetric rate.

Connection charges	Existing charge	Proposed charge
Water residential*	$6,695	$7,545
Sewer residential*	$6,215	$5,580
Total	$12,910	$13,125
Water non-residential per daily m3	$15,535	$15,560
Sewer non-residential per daily m3	$14,421	$11,737
Total	$29,956	$27,297

User rates	Existing rate	Proposed rate
Water flat fee per month	$34.04	$28.50
Water consumption fee per m3	$1.71	$2.52
Sewer flat fee per month	$30.22	$25.50
Sewer consumption fee per m3	$1.51	$2.05
Bulk water per m3	$3.38	$3.58

*Single-Detached Dwelling and Semi-Detached Dwelling

The changes to water and sewer consumption and flat rates are to be implemented for the billing periods ending January 15, 2020 and February 15, 2020, depending on the service area, and effective for the January 2020 month end billings for bulk water haulers. The changes to the connection fees will be implemented on January 1, 2020.

A public meeting to formally present these charges and rates by By-law 2019-099 and By-law 2019-100 will be held in the Council Chambers, located in the Odessa Administration Building, on November 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. It is the intent that these by-laws will be adopted on November 25, 2019 at the following regular Council meeting.

If you are a person with a disability and need Loyalist Township information in another format, please contact 613-386-7351 ext. 100 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or e-mail info@loyalist.ca.

For further information regarding the proposed changes, please contact Brianne MacNevin, Senior Financial Analyst at (613) 386-7351 ext. 154.

Stephen Dickey
Director of Business Services/Treasurer

Project timeline

Loyalist Township is undertaking a review of our water and wastewater user rates and charges. The Township entered into an agreement with Hemson Consulting Ltd. to complete a water financial plan in order to meet its drinking water license requirement under Ontario regulation 453/07. Hemson presented the draft results of the water and sewer rates study to Council on July 29, 2019.

A well-developed rate structure will support water and wastewater services, be fair to all customer groups, and clarify to users how these essential services are funded.

There are three major components to the study:

Reviewing connection (impost) charges, including both a growth and existing capacity component (growth and club fee)
Reviewing user rates and impacts of various scenarios to update the fixed to consumption ratio or to implement a new structure
Establishing drinking water and wastewater financial plans

As a result of the presentation of draft rates and scenarios presented on July 29, 2019, it was resolved by Council to seek public consultation on the user rates and the following two scenarios:

Status Quo – retain the same rates structure at 60:40 constant fixed/consumption revenue recovery, but at lower annual rate increases compared to prior study; and
Transition over planning period to an eventual 40:60 constant fixed/consumption revenue recovery

Additionally, further analysis was completed for multi-residential properties and its actual equivalent residential units.

Project Timeline
All meetings held in Council Chambers at the Odessa Municipal Office:

July 29	Draft rate scenarios presented to Council by third party consultant, Hemson Consulting Ltd. Council directed to bring draft connection charges and two out of four user rate scenarios to public consultation
August 26	Presentation to development community by Hemson Consulting to obtain comments on the calculated connection (impost) fees. - Draft Connection Charges - Developer Consultation Presentation - Draft Growth Capital Projects
September 23 5-6:30 pm	Public Open House at Municipal Office, to provide an overview of the study process and details on the draft results presented to Council. Presentation by Hemson Consulting included. All public comments & feedback to be provided by October 4, 2019. - Draft User Rates - Public Consultation Presentation - Draft User Rates (non-growth) Historical Budget and Forecast Costs by Area
October 15 7 pm	Update to Council on results of consultations. Council to provide direction on final connection fees and user rates.
October 28	Report to Council addressing specific items as directed. Council directed to bring connection charges and one of two rate scenarios to public meeting November 12.
November 12 7 pm	A public meeting to formally present these charges and rates by By-law 2019-099 and By-law 2019-100 will be held in the Council Chambers, located in the Odessa Administration Building.

For more information about the draft study, please call 613-386-7351, ext. 154, or email info@loyalist.ca.

Back Yard Hen Public Consultation

Loyalist Township does not currently have a by-law regulating the ownership of back yard chickens, hens/other birds. With the growing popularity of owning backyard hens and the inquiries the Township receives, the Township is investigating an array of options to regulate backyard hens. Public consultation was undertaken throughout July and August, 2019, by means of a survey and with engagement sessions in Odessa, Amherstview, and Bath.

The results of the survey will be presented to Loyalist Township Council in October, 2019. Please continue to watch this page throughout the month of October for more information. If you have any questions please call 613-386-7351, ext. 120/121, or send an email.