Update Announcement
This notice was updated on August 21, 2025 to extend the public comment period by two days due to an outage on the Environmental Registry of Ontario
This consultation was open from:
August 11, 2025
to September 12, 2025
Decision summary
A decision was made on October 29, 2025 to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Official Plan of the Township of Johnson as adopted by the municipal council by By-law No. B2025-1135 on March 19, 2025. The OPA will permit the establishment of a new private road and the creation of up to three new lots fronting on the road.
Location details
Site address
Concession 4, Lot 5, Plan IR-2351,Part 1, Highway 17
Johnson Township,
ON
Canada
Site location details
Concession 4,Lot 5, legally described as Part 1, Plan 1R-2351, and Part of Lot 5, Concession 3, located in Plan 58, Hinck’s Location, Township of Johnson, Algoma District.
Site location map
The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.
View this location on a map opens link in a new windowProponent(s)
David Ransohoff
1208 Pinehurst Drive
Chapel Hill,
NC
27517
United States
Decision details
On October 29, 2025, a decision was made to approve Amendment No.1 to the Official Plan of the Township of Johnson, as adopted by the Municipal Council through by-law No. B2025-1135, with one modification.
The adopted Official Plan Amendment was reviewed for conformity with the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario, 2011, consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, and regard for matters of provincial interest as outlined in Section 2 of the Planning Act.
This Amendment permits the establishment of a new private road, identified on Schedule A to the Official Plan, and the creation of up to three new lots for resource-based recreational use fronting on the road. The Amendment introduces additional criteria to guide the evaluation of any future consent applications for resource-based recreational use on the proposed lots. It also establishes a site-specific exception to existing policies, which otherwise restrict new private roads to condominium developments and require new development to front on a year-round maintained public road.
A modification was made to correct a policy reference and clarify the potential use of Site Plan and/or Consent Agreements, ensuring consistency with the Planning Act and strengthening shoreline management policies.
Pursuant to subsection 22(7) of the Planning Act, this decision is subject to appeal, allowing the applicant, public bodies, and the Minister to request a review by the Ontario Land Tribunal no later than 20 days from the date of the notice of decision.
Effects of consultation
As a result of public consultation on this OPA, the Ministry received no comments through the Environmental Registry of Ontario, and no additional comments through email to Ministry staff.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
159 Cedar Street
Suite 401
Sudbury,
ON
P3E 6A5
Canada
How to Appeal
This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from October 30, 2025 to begin the appeal process.
Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.
How to appealClick to Expand Accordion
This instrument decision can be appealed under the Planning Act and the Environmental Bill of Rights.
Start the process to appeal
Appeal Rights under the Planning Act
You can appeal all or part of this this instrument to the appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) by submitting a notice of appeal to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. You have 20 days to begin the appeal process.
Who can appeal
A notice of appeal can be submitted by:
- individuals
- corporations
- public bodies
A notice of appeal can’t be submitted by:
- an unincorporated association
- an unincorporated group
You can, however, submit a notice of appeal as a member of the unincorporated association or group.
You have to have made an oral submission at a public meeting or a written submission to the council before the official plan amendment was adopted.
Notice of appeal
Your notice of appeal must include:
- the specific part, or parts of the official plan amendment that you wish to appeal
- the reasons for your appeal
- the appeal fee, payable by certified cheque or money order to the Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario
Note: appeal fees and options for reductions are outlined in the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal's fee chart
Mail your notice of appeal
Send your notice of appeal to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing via the ‘issuing authority’ contact listed below.
AND
Send a copy of your notice of appeal to the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:
College Park
5th Floor, 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
David Ransohoff
1208 Pinehurst Drive
Chapel Hill,
NC
27517
United States
Registrar, Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca
About the Ontario Land Tribunal
There is an additional “leave to appeal” right under the Environmental Bill of Rights. This appeal must be commenced within 15 days of the notice of decision being posted on the Environmental Registry (ero.ontario.ca). For more information about this appeal method, refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, or https://www.ontario.ca/page/environmental-bill-rights.
Include the following:
This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.
Connect with us
Contact
Zeinab Seifpour
159 Cedar Street
Suite 401
Sudbury,
ON
P3E 6A5
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
On May 28, 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received for decision the Township of Johnson’s adopted site-specific Official Plan Amendment 1 (OPA 1), which was adopted by municipal council on March 19th, 2025, by By-law No. B2025-1135.
The purpose of OPA 1 is to permit the establishment of a new private road and the creation of up to three new lots fronting on the road; to identify the new private road on Schedule A to the official plan; and to include additional criteria by which a future consent application for three new lots for resource-based recreational use will be evaluated.
The current Official Plan policies limit the creation of new private roads to condominium development, limits development on existing private roads to infill on lots of record and requires that new development front on an improved public road maintained year-round, with exceptions only for approved condominium developments or infill on existing lots of record.
The Ministry will review the matter for consistency with applicable provincial land use policies and will consider all feedback received before recommendations are provided to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act.
The proposed OPA will be reviewed for consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement (2024), the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario, and matters of provincial interest under Section 2 of the Planning Act. Matters of provincial interest include the protection of ecological systems, conservation and management of natural resources, efficient land use and infrastructure, and other planning considerations.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
159 Cedar Street
Suite 401
Sudbury,
ON
P3E 6A5
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from August 11, 2025
to September 12, 2025
Connect with us
Contact
Zeinab Seifpour
159 Cedar Street
Suite 401
Sudbury,
ON
P3E 6A5
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
0By email
0By mail
0