Get Involved and Have Your Say!
Loyalist Township is committed to community engagement to ensure that decision-making is well informed and provides citizens with the means and opportunity to share their ideas, experience and knowledge to issues that affect them. All opportunities to provide input are featured here.
Community Engagement Framework
The development of a community engagement framework was a key initiative identified in the Township's Strategic Plan 2019-2023. The Loyalist Township Community Engagement Framework was adopted by Council in April 2023.
The Loyalist Township Community Engagement Framework outlines the Township’s commitment to create a consistent and clearly defined process for what community engagement looks like in Loyalist Township.
Projects Open for Input
Loyalist Township is continuing work on the Community Hub project, an initiative which will involve upgrading the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre and the construction of a new Aquatic Facility.
The Municipal Act requires municipalities to adopt and maintain policies in respect to the manner in which the municipality will protect its tree canopy and natural vegetation. We are seeking feedback on this proposed by-law and policy.
Like an Official Plan, a Secondary Plan is developed with engagement and input from the local community, in accordance with the Planning Act, so that growth can be achieved while respecting the needs of current residents, ensuring compatibility with the existing community fabric and character, and promoting progressive planning principles.
Recent Public Consultations
Splash Pad |
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BackgroundDuring the development of the Recreation Master Plan in 2017, “strong and consistent support emerged for a splash pad”. Feedback received resulted in a splash pad being consistently one of the top three new recreational facilities desired in Loyalist Township. In September 2022, Council directed staff to report on the cost, availability and viability of splash pads located at Amherstview, Bath and Odessa. In December 2022, staff presented a report to Council providing an overview of feasibility considerations for a splash pad in Loyalist Township. Following the presentation of the report, staff were directed to develop a public consultation plan for 2023 to determine if the community still desires a splash pad and if so, establish the most suitable location based on preferred facility attributes. Project UpdateBased on the results of the recent splash pad public engagement, Council recognizes the community's desire for a splash pad. At the Regular Council meeting on July 10, 2023, Council received a report and adopted a recommendation to undertake a Parks & Recreation Master Plan which will be completed in 2024. Building off the input received through splash pad consultations, the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan will identify the preferred location for a splash pad with funding to be included in the 2025 capital budget. The report also identified that the 2024 Parks and Recreation Master Plan will also consider sports courts in the Township, and, given the generous offer of an anonymous donation towards the development of a skate park and pump track, that these amenities also be considered, and locations be identified in the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The complete results of the Splash Pad public engagement will be presented to Council at the Regular Council Meeting on August 14, 2023. Thank you again for sharing your input with us! We are committed to keeping you involved as additional information and engagement opportunities become available. |
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Loyalist Dog Park |
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During the development of the 2017 Recreation Master Plan, consultations with residents identified the demand for an off-leash dog park within the Township. Currently, there are no designated dog parks or off-leash areas in Loyalist. Off-leash areas provide safe spaces for owners to exercise and socialize their dogs. At the August 8, 2022, Council meeting, Council directed staff to develop a Dog Park Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee; the mandate of the Loyalist Township Dog Park Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee was to represent the community and review possible locations for a dog park in Loyalist Township in either Amherstview, Bath or Odessa and make a recommendation to Council on a park considering all features and requirements necessary for a successful dog park. The volunteer advisory committee reviewed all materials and possible locations for a dog park in Loyalist Township. To help inform the committee’s recommendation, residents were invited to provide feedback via a survey and/or participate in three in-person public engagement sessions. On November 8, 2022, the final committee meeting was held to review and discuss the public consultation results and finalize a recommendation(s) to Council. The Dog Park Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee recommended to Council that the public consultation resulted in no definitive preferred location for a dog park. Therefore, one specific dog park is not being recommended to Council; should Council consider a dog park in the future, further public consultation be completed, and funding options be reviewed for investment within Loyalist Township. On November 28, 2022, Council adopted the Dog Park Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee recommendation and directed that the grant funding originally intended for the dog park be directed to the Layer Cake Hall refurbishment project. Although the Township will not build a dog park at this time, reallocating this funding will further offset the cost of the Layer Cake Hall refurbishment that the municipality would have otherwise funded. For full project details, visit the Loyalist Dog Park project page. |
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Water and Wastewater Connection Charges and User Rates |
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Loyalist Township owns, operates, and maintains the following infrastructure to provide water and wastewater services to urban residents in the community:
In 2019, Hemson Consulting Ltd. undertook a review of water and wastewater rates and charges. This periodic review accompanies a water financial plan that is required by the Province of Ontario to retain a drinking water license. There were three major components to the study:
Project Timeline
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ResiLienT Climate Action surveys |
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From September until December 2020, three surveys were conducted to gather resident feedback that helped inform what will be included in the Climate Action Plan. The surveys focused on Public Transit, Source Separated Organics and Community Climate Action Initiatives. On February 8th, 2021 Council unanimously passed the motion to accept the ResiLienT Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan to act as a road map for local action and keep climate action as a priority for decisions. |
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Update to Building By-law |
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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. |
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