The Town of Huntsville Official Plan provides that:
"8.13.7 Those provisions of the lake plan that are related to municipal planning policy and that may vary from the general provisions of the Huntsville Official Plan are carried forward as specific policies applicable to the Lake."
Herein forms the summary of those lake-specific policies:
8.19 Waseosa Sub-Watershed
8.19.1 Background
8.19.1.1 Lakes Waseosa, Ripple, Palette and Jessop are four small closely associated and interdependent headwater lakes that flow into each other. Cultural and social history are also tightly interwoven and the residents of all four lakes are represented in common by the Lake Waseosa Ratepayer's Association, which was incorporated in 1963.
8.19.1.2 The four lakes covered by this lake plan are all relatively small.
8.19.1.2.1 Lake Waseosa has a surface area of 156.7ha, a maximum depth of 19.2m, a mean depth of 6.5m, a shoreline perimeter of 14.8km, and a wetland area of 15%.
8.19.1.2.2 Palette Lake has a surface area of 15.3ha, a maximum depth of 9.1m, a mean depth of 6.1m, and a shoreline perimeter of 1.7km.
8.19.1.2.3 Ripple Lake has a surface area of 18.1ha, a maximum depth of 10.3m, a mean depth of 6.4m, and a shoreline perimeter of 2.3km.
8.19.1.2.4 Jessop Lake has a surface area of 28.9ha, a maximum depth of 3.3m, a mean depth of 3.0m, a shoreline perimeter of 2.5km and a wetland area of 30%.
8.19.1.3 For the past 50 years an improved Provincial highway system has allowed substantial residential development both on a seasonal and permanent basis by people seeking recreational enjoyment in the beautiful Muskoka setting. The absence of any commercial development (other than a summer camp for diabetic children) and of any marinas or hotels enhances the quiet and undisturbed natural beauty of these four lakes and contributes to the overall enjoyment by the residents of the lakes.
8.19.1.4 Area residents have adopted a Lake Plan that provides a stewardship approach for residents around the lakes to work cooperatively to preserve the health of the lake and it's surrounding community.
8.19.1.4.1 As a precursor to development of the Lake Plan, the Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association commissioned various studies including a Limnology study of Waseosa, a Lake Density study of all four lakes and a Boat Density study of all four lakes in order to obtain an accurate and objective evaluation of current conditions.
8.19.1.4.2 The Lake Plan is subject to ongoing review and update, aligned with the Town of Huntsville Official Plan Review schedule.
8.19.2 Vision Statement
8.19.2.1 The area residents wish to protect and preserve the watershed and surrounding natural environment of Waseosa, Ripple, Palette and Jessop Lakes, for future generations to come.
8.19.2.2 Due to the small size and poor flushing rates of these lakes, it is preferred to take a cautious approach and assume the worst rather than assume the best when evaluating their respective carrying capacities.
8.19.3 Lake Character
8.19.3.1 Waseosa
8.19.3.1.1 Lake Waseosa is a long, narrow lake with a low ratio of surface area to shoreline. Available usable surface area of the lake is 17.7ha less than forecast needs. Total surface area per dwelling unit is 2.86ha less than the recommended minimum in Ontario. Coldwater fish populations such as Lake Trout in Lake Waseosa are approaching critical stress due to low dissolved oxygen levels.
8.19.3.1.2 Lake Waseosa is home to Camp Huronda, a camp for diabetic children of significant provincial importance. The only permanent camp of its kind, there is a long waiting list. The Canadian Diabetes Association has been developing a phased expansion plan to accommodate the demand without negative impact on the lake since 2005.
8.19.3.1.3 Residences on Waseosa tend to be modest in size ranging from 600 square feet up to more modern buildings of 2,000 square feet. While most are single story, there are a significant number featuring a walk-out on the lakefront side.
8.19.3.1.4 Most structures on Waseosa are well screened by vegetation and there are few structures on the water. Waterfront structures are primarily docks and boat ports, with a few older developments featuring boat houses. There are also a few very early residences with virtually no setback from the water.
8.19.3.1.4 Shoreline grades vary wildly from nearly flat glacial till and wetlands to fractured bedrock slopes of more than 50% grade and very thin soil cover.
8.19.3.2 Palette Lake
8.19.3.2.1 Palette Lake is not monitored through the Lake System Health Program, but is monitored by the Lake Partner program. It is currently well Over Threshold when that data is averaged in accordance with the Lake System Health Program methodology.
8.19.3.2.2 Available usable surface area of Palette Lake is 27.4ha less than forecast needs. Total surface area per dwelling unit is 3.7ha less than the recommended minimum in Ontario. Palette is one of the most over-developed lakes in Huntsville.
8.19.3.2.3 Residences on Palette still tend to be modest in size but may range up to 2,500 square feet.
8.19.3.2.4 The majority structures on Palette are well screened by vegetation and there are few structures on the water. Waterfront structures are primarily docks.
8.19.3.2.5 Palette features two points of deeded access that are shared by a number of back-lots forming cluster-developments which add to the total load on the lake carrying capacity.
8.19.3.2.6 Grades tend to be less than 20% over most of the shoreline, and soils range from glacial till to sandy peat bogs.
8.19.3.3 Ripple Lake
8.19.3.3.1 Ripple Lake is not monitored through the Lake System Health Program. It is now being monitored through the Lake Partner program, but there is as yet insufficient data available to determine it's recreational water quality. As it is so closely associated with Palette that the flow has been known to reverse direction, it should be assumed the water quality is similarly poor until clearly demonstrated otherwise.
8.19.3.3.2 Available usable surface area of Ripple Lake is 11.1ha less than current forecast needs. Total surface area per dwelling unit is 3.44ha less than the recommended minimum in Ontario.
8.19.3.3.3 While the density of development and building size on Ripple has not yet reached the same level as Palette, the character of the developed area is very similar and four properties are located on the narrow strip of land that separates the two so that they front on both lakes.
8.19.3.3.4 Grades range up to 40% near the north west shore. Soils are typically glacial till.
8.19.3.4 Jessop Lake
8.19.3.4.1 Jessop Lake is monitored by the Lake System Health Program. Despite having the highest percentage of undeveloped lots, the water quality is borderline at best. Spring phosphorous results are often at or near the threshold. This may be due to the extremely low flushing rate that traps and holds sediments. The only outlet is a small stream into Waseosa, which is often dammed by beavers.
8.19.3.4.2 Jessop has a high proportion of wetlands, at 30%, restricting the developable area.
8.19.3.4.3 Available usable surface area of Jessop Lake is at current forecast needs. Total surface area per dwelling unit is 2.85ha less than the recommended minimum in Ontario.
8.19.3.4.4 Jessop is almost exclusively developed as seasonal use residences which tend to be single story and less than 1,500 square feet. Most shoreline structures are small docks.
8.19.3.5 This area was settled and developed primarily by those who could not afford stately homes on the more desirable large lakes of the area. Many properties are still held by the descendants of the original owners. As families grew, it was common to subdivide or build small additional dwellings for the extended family. Consequently, accessible properties are often deep but with narrow frontages along the water. In general, residences on all four lakes tend to be compact.
8.19.4 Policies
8.19.4.1 The four lakes covered by this section (Waseosa, Palette, Ripple and Jessop) are all over-developed, as measured by all objective methods. Therefore there shall be no further lot creation on these lakes. Future development is limited to existing vacant lots of record and redevelopment of existing properties.
8.19.4.2 In the case of redevelopment or development of an existing waterfront lot that was legally approved prior to adoption of this section, the nature, location, size and architectural style of any structures or land use, including shoreline activity areas, shall be consistent with the character of these lakes, as described in the current edition of the Lake Plan as filed by the Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association on behalf of the local residents with the Town of Huntsville at the time of adoption. To more fully realize these principles, the Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association shall be consulted prior to approval of any such development or redevelopment.
8.19.4.3 The continued institutional camp use by Camp Huronda should be encouraged and protected. Notwithstanding 5.5.2 (iv), and 8.19.4.4, subject to MOE approval and monitoring of the required septic system, this expansion should be allowed to continue including the construction of new buildings where required to accommodate the target of 136 campers plus associated support staff.
8.19.4.4 The installation of experimental or unproven septic system technologies in or on lands that drain into these four lakes, their tributary streams, creeks or wetlands, is prohibited. Only designs and technologies proven to be safe and effective to the satisfaction of the appropriate Authorities Having Jurisdiction shall be permitted.
8.19.4.5 No new development or redevelopment of existing properties and structures shall be permitted on Waseosa or Jessop Lakes unless measures are incorporated to limit the sum total human impact of such development or redevelopment on the natural surroundings, in particular on the lake and waterfront, to and equal or reduced impact.
8.19.4.5 No new development or redevelopment of existing properties and structures shall be permitted on Palette or Ripple Lakes unless measures are incorporated to reduce the sum total human impact of such development or redevelopment on the natural surroundings, in particular on the lake and waterfront, to less impact than currently exists.
8.19.4.6 Light emissions shall be limited by by-law or where no such by-law exists, by site plan agreement, such that no significant and persistent architectural light is projected at an angle higher than 5 degrees above horizontal or beyond the property lines and shoreline through the use of such features as low-wattage lighting and motion activated fixtures. Such provisions should take into account the reflective properties of ice and snow.
8.19.4.7 Structure size shall be limited to 2,500 square feet in total area of levels above grade when viewed from the waterfront. Generally, the length of the side facing the water shall not exceed 1.2 times the square root of the area unless the architecture substantially blends the structure into the surrounding natural environment.
8.19.4.8 Building and landscaping materials, colours and finishes shall be selected so as to blend in and be compatible with the natural environment.
8.19.4.8 The Town of Huntsville, in cooperation with the Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association, shall seek opportunities to enhance existing public access points to facilitate the enjoyment of the lakes by area back-lot owners.
8.19.5 Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any development, redevelopment, condition, circumstance or other thing that would not otherwise be permitted if this section was not in force.