This is a living resource where we will share everything you need to know about the proposed development in Cliff Bay, including how you can take action to help prevent it.
September 4, 2025: Joint Response
Joint response from the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA), Muskoka Bay Property Owners’ Association (MBPOA), and the Sunset Bay Cottagers’ Association
To: Minister Flack, Premiere Ford, the Gravenhurst City Counsel, and others
From: Ken Pearce
Sent: Wednesday, September 3rd 2025, 15:46
Subject: Muskoka Regional Centre re proposed Minister’s Zoning Order
Dear Minister Flack:
As you may know, the Province, through Infrastructure Ontario, is proposing to sell the Muskoka Regional Centre lands in Muskoka Bay, Lake Muskoka, Gravenhurst, District of Muskoka. The sale is subject to a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) being signed in a form satisfactory to the developer.
I am writing in my role as President of the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) to share the perspectives of our members, along with those of the Muskoka Bay Property Owners’ Association and the Sunset Bay Cottagers’ Association. Like many in the community, we share the goal of seeing this land used in a way that is appropriate, sustainable and respectful of Muskoka’s unique character. We are not opposed to development on the site, but we believe it is essential that any project proceed within existing regulations and in a manner that protects the natural environment and the beauty of the shoreline.
Our concerns with the developer’s proposed draft MZO relate mainly to the inclusion of units and restaurants over the water, additional units without shoreline setbacks and the limited potential for full-time, year-round jobs if the project is largely residential. For your review, we have enclosed our comment letter, a letter from our planner, Stephen Fahner of Northern Vision Planning Ltd., as well as a redlined version of the developer’s proposed MZO. We hope these materials will be helpful to you and your Ministry as you consider the proposal.
At this stage, we have not yet received the Functional Servicing Report, Traffic Study, Construction Mitigation Plan, Stormwater Management Plan or other related reports. Once these are available, we expect to have further comments, especially with respect to servicing, environmental protections and construction impacts.
We very much appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to ensuring that development in Muskoka reflects both provincial priorities and community values. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues further with you or your staff.
Ken Pearce
President, Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA)
(The following 3 attachments were included)
August 20, 2025: MBPOA’s Cliff Bay Development Action Plan
- Positioning Lake Muskoka as the National treasure it is. This is not NIMBYism – and we must be cautious about being labeled NIMBYs.
- Clarify the goal of MBPOA as achieving appropriate limitations on shoreline density through setbacks and rejection of sale of lakebed lots – Tom Closson will say this in communications.
- Target Provincial and local media in coordination with MLA and Bruce Parlette – There have been articles in Financial Post, Cottage Life and Muskokaregion.com and interviews on CBC. We will continue to pursue media attention.
- Develop and execute a Provincial Government relations strategy with Northwell – MBPOA and MLA are jointly funding this initiative and having biweekly oversight meetings with Northwell to direct them.
- MLA and MBPOA to set up meetings with the Gravenhurst Mayor and Councillors and CAO Scott Lucas to express our concerns. Also, MBPOA to encourage its members to write letters to express concerns.
- Tom Closson in messages to members will ask them to encourage their neighbours to join the MBPOA and to get involved.
- Support MLA at the Gravenhurst Market in displaying signs and handing out flyers informing the townspeople and encouraging them to get involved. Catherine Jacobson going door-to-door in strategic locations in Town to ask residents to put up signs.
- Tom Closson to keep members up-to-date on initiatives. MBPOA upgrading communication tools to send out communications to members to avoid periodic email system crashes.
- Volunteer to help Tom Closson add content regarding Cliff Bay to the MBPOA web site.
- Promote the sale of MBPOA “Save The Bay” signs and banners to be displayed around the interior of Muskoka Bay: 32 x 24inch sign, 36 x 48inch sign and 3ft x 6 ft banner. Catherine Jacobson, David Weinberg, John McMechan and Keith Duncan will arrange placement at strategic locations such as The Narrows, Tin Boat Sheds and Muskoka Steamships.
- Tom Closson to promote Bruce Parlette’s SavetheBay.ca web site and petition in his communications.
- Attempt by Garnet Rich to engage the Board Chair of Camp Shalom has so far not met with success.
- Make a joint submission with MLA to the Developers (including mark-up of proposed changes to MZO). Copies to be provided to the Province of Ontario and to the Town.
- Attract attention of reporters to do investigations into the track records of the principals.
Join the MBPOA today to receive updates and show your support
Muskoka Bay Property Owners Association (BMPOA) 