A proposal to temporarily rezone a parcel of land in Haliburton village to accommodate a small-scale glamping business has been unanimously rejected by Dysart et al council.
During a public meeting on July 22, council members voted against an application to allow six glamping pods on a 2.2-acre site at 77 Wallings Road, located near Haliburton Highlands Secondary School.
The application, submitted by the property owners and represented by Savas Varadas of Plan Muskoka, sought a three-year exemption under Section 39 of Ontario’s Planning Act.
The proposal included installing self-contained, pre-fabricated pods to accommodate up to 12 guests. The structures would be placed on platforms without permanent foundations, enabling their removal at the end of the term.
An existing building was to serve as a shared washroom facility, according to a report by TheHighlander.
“The glamping pods are fairly nondestructive to construct. They’ll be placed on a platform without the need for a foundation, which makes them easily removed at the end of the three-year period,” said Varadas.
He added that the owner was willing to install fencing, plant trees, and establish a shoreline vegetative buffer to mitigate neighborhood concerns.
However, council members expressed strong reservations about the project’s alignment with municipal and provincial planning policies.
Councillor Nancy Wood-Roberts cited the application’s failure to meet the criteria of Section 39, arguing it served private financial interest rather than addressing a temporary or broader community need.
“This is not meeting that guideline. It doesn’t meet any long-term needs of the community,” Wood-Roberts said.
Several neighboring residents also raised objections, including Doug and Mardi Tindal, who own a condominium next door. In a written submission, they pointed to concerns over noise, water supply, outdated traffic data, and enforcement challenges.
“No one who has tried to turn left out of Wallings Road [during summer] would find a May-based study credible… no matter what the year,” they wrote.
Haliburton Condominium Corporation director Pete Mitchell highlighted concerns about the area’s electrical capacity, stating that the existing condo building already struggles with hydro service.
“We’ve only been provided a phase-one service… the condo building is already challenged to provide additional services to its owners due to power limitations,” he said.
While Varadas asked the council to defer the decision to allow his client to address concerns, the request was denied. Councillor Pat Casey and Councillor Barry Boice both stated the application was incompatible with the surrounding high-density residential zoning.
Other councillors voiced similar opinions. Deputy Mayor Walt McKechnie questioned the township’s ability to manage after-hours noise and occupancy issues, while Mayor Murray Fearrey said the operation “should be in the bush or rural area, where it belongs.”
Councillor Tammy Donaldson acknowledged the concept’s merit but said “it’s just on the wrong property.” Councillor Carm Sawyer added, “I love camping too, but camping is in the woods, not on the main street of town.”
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality industry, this decision underscores the importance of aligning development proposals with official planning frameworks and community expectations, particularly when introducing commercial accommodations in residential settings.
Location, zoning compliance, infrastructure capacity, and neighbor relations remain key considerations when pursuing temporary or alternative lodging concepts such as glamping.