Four cabins at Lower Beverley Lake Park will get one final winter of residential use before the arrangement ends for good.
However, those tenants have not yet been informed of this decision as of the Sept. 28 committee of the whole.
“The chair of Lower Beverly Lake Park Board, Penny Sawyer, has indicated that she will not provide any information to any of the tenants until such time as there’s been a formal evaluation done on the cabins. And at that point in time, she will then let them know,” Coun. Sue Dunfield told committee.
Those inspections were scheduled for Sept. 28, according to Shellee Fournier, CAO.
Rideau Lakes council has agreed to delay enforcement under the Planning Act for one final off-season, allowing the current occupants of cabins 2, 3, and the 10-11 duplex to return for the winter of 2026-27. The arrangement must end by May 1, 2027.
“They were never approved in the first place. They go against the Township’s Zoning By-law that does not permit year-round occupancy in campgrounds,” Fournier said of the winter use.
Following a closed session on Sept. 8, council confirmed the temporary enforcement direction put in place in 2023 has ended. It then approved one final extension, subject to several conditions.
“Council will not approve an ongoing residential use and no further winter occupancy will be offered after May 1st, 2027,” Mayor Arie Hoogenboom said while reporting council’s decision.
The cabins themselves are not being closed and will remain available during the regular spring and summer season.
The issue dates back to May 2022, when Development Services contacted the Lower Beverley Lake Park Management Board after learning four cottages were being used as winter residences.
The board was told the use did not comply with township planning rules and could not continue without the required approvals.
“The Township also understands that the cottages were winterized for this purpose without the required municipal permits or approvals being obtained and without the Township’s knowledge,” reads a Sept. 15, 2026, township letter to the park board.
According to Fournier, the cottages were originally intended for short-term shoulder-season or snowmobile rentals. Over time, they began being rented from late October until early May to people who did not have permanent winter housing.
The township says the occupants generally stay at seasonal campsites in the park during the regular camping season, move into the cottages in the fall and return to their campsites in the spring.
In 2023, the Park Management Board asked that the cottage use be grandfathered or exempted. The board argued the cottages were available for public rental and that revenue from the rentals was used to improve the cottages and the park.
Council instead put enforcement on hold while staff reviewed campground accommodation and possible policy options.
That pause did not change the zoning, legalize the winter use or grant the cottages grandfathered status.
Council has now confirmed the temporary enforcement direction has expired.
In its Sept. 15 letter to the park board, the township said it was providing a transition period to address the existing arrangements.
Before winter residents move back in, the township solicitor must approve the notices, occupancy terms and process for ending the arrangements. The chief building official and fire chief must also review the cottages, with any deficiencies corrected.
The extension applies only to the four identified cottages and their existing returning occupants. There can be no transfers, subletting, additional cottages, new tenants or replacement tenants.
Each occupant will be receiving written notice that the arrangement ends no later than May 1, 2027, and must agree to the conditions before moving into a cottage for this winter.
While building and fire officials will review the cottages, Fournier said the reason for ending winter occupancy is not directly related to safety or insurance.
It is a zoning issue.
Hometown News attempted to reach a cabin occupant for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
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