District ‘redefining’ how planning applications are handled

The Muskoka PlanHub is being launched by the District of Muskoka to support all the planning applications district staff process.

The program will be available starting May 1 through the district’s website and will be the only way to submit district-level planning applications. 

District Chair Jeff Lehman explains the project is funded through Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Rural Economic Development (RED) program. He adds he hopes the change makes the planning “easier and faster,” pointing out that the change comes amidst an urgent need for housing locally. 

“It’s part of our effort to modernize our planning processes and offer better service to our residents and businesses,” he says. “With the support of district council and the critical funding from OMAFRA’s RED program, our staff have done amazing work here to create a truly leading-edge tool.” 

Mayor of Huntsville Nancy Alcock, who chairs the district’s Community and Planning Services Committee, adds the tool will be available through the district’s website and says it’s part of their effort to make the process more “user-friendly.” 

“We are putting technology to work to provide better customer service to individuals and businesses as they navigate the planning and development process in our district,” she says.