Last winter I took my snowmobile out past Morlock Island to find out what the buzz was all about. All I had heard at that point was that someone had built a cottage without a permit. Really close to the water, too. I had to see it for myself. Here’s the picture I took that cold day in January 2022:
Briefly (full details are here), the owner of Morlock Island (Island 360C) replaced a 1960s cottage with a new structure. He had no building permit and a stop work order was issued. To protect the structure, the building was enclosed to protect the materials from the weather. This work was done under an arrangement between the owner and the township building department.
For the building to be legal, council would need to approve a special zoning bylaw amendment. I attended the special meeting on July 5, 2022, and listened to a presentation by John Jackson, the consultant hired by the township to complete a review of the site. Council supported his recommendation that the proposed bylaw amendment be denied.
If Carling is to have orderly development, we need clear bylaws backed by firm enforcement. I don’t know how construction of the Morlock Island cottage got as far along as it did. The only thing I know for certain is that Carling Township will never recover our investment in staff time in working on this case.
At this point in time I understand Carling’s order is being challenged by the property owner at the Ontario Land Tribunal. Like everyone else in the community, I’m waiting to hear the outcome.
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