Municipal

As public consultations begin on a new trail master plan, it is already clear there are two very different visions for trail usage in Kawartha Lakes. One vision is favoured by motorized users and one is supported by non-motorized users.

Since 2019, municipalities were given the right to use photo radar on any designated road where the speed limit is 80 km or less. Toronto was the first jurisdiction to sign on, and since then they have been joined by 11 other municipalities and cities including Durham, York, Ottawa, Hamilton, Brampton, Peel, Waterloo, Mississauga, London, Pickering and Oakville.

 Kawartha Lakes could be next.

Councillor Pat Dunn, chair of the ORV task force, used the Sept. 21 council meeting to remind the mayor and other councillors about procedural hurdles that are still in place regarding the city’s final decision to route ORV traffic around the city rather than through it.

The Kawartha Lakes council chamber took on a decidedly somber tone as councillors, the mayor, CAO and clerk all wore orange shirts to recognize the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation that occurs Sept. 30.

After much passionate debate and suggestions of secret deals made between councillors, Kawartha Lakes council will be recommending that ORVs not be allowed to pass through Lindsay.

In a tie vote among councillors at the committee of the whole meeting, Mayor Andy Letham cast the deciding vote to halt the proposed route through Lindsay and instead look at another option.

A clear majority of Lindsay residents have said “no” to an ATV route running through the town, according to a city poll.

New homes, a park, a large grocery store, a good commercial plaza, and maybe even a recreation centre – all of this and more is being considered on Lindsay’s east side by Flato Developments.

Shakir Rehmatullah, president of Flato Developments, held a community open house at The Pie Eyed Monk in Lindsay recently — a chance for residents to get a sneak peak of the draft plans.