Fort Frances meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Fort Frances council agendas packed with rezoning, camp sale, and shoreline contract — but outcomes still pending

Fort Frances residents are waiting on results from a busy stretch of late-June meetings, but none of the minutes have been published yet. The agendas show council and its committees were scheduled to weigh a major rezoning, a potential halt to the Sunny Cove Camp sale, a $671,610 shoreline contract, and a draft Reconciliation Policy. Here is what was on the table.

Regular Council Meeting — June 22

Council's agenda listed a vote on an official plan and zoning by-law amendment (C1-2026, B1-2026) to redesignate the Shevlin Wood Yard from Future Development to Mixed Use, which would clear the way for a housing development. A delegation by Marie Brady was scheduled to request relocating the housing development from 820 Fifth St. E. to the Shevlin Wood Yard to preserve green space.

A separate notice of motion was on the agenda to halt the sale of Sunny Cove Camp pending a procedural review.

Council was also set to award tender 2026-OF-07 to Allen Equipment for $671,610 for shoreline restoration.

On the BYOB events policy, the agenda included a recommendation not to permit BYOB events until April 2027.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published, so it is not yet known how council voted on any of these items.

Indigenous Relations Advisory Committee — June 23

The committee was scheduled to review feedback on a draft Reconciliation Policy and vote on recommending it to Town Council for adoption. The policy is described in the agenda as a living document for ongoing reconciliation efforts. The committee also planned to discuss a proclamation for National Indigenous Peoples Day, approve minutes from November 19, 2025, and consider amendments to the Reconciliation Policy based on public and stakeholder feedback.

Outcomes are not yet available.

Committee of Adjustment — June 24

The Committee of Adjustment was set to hear two minor variance applications:

• **A3-2026, 680 Sixth Street West:** Request to widen a driveway to 18.5 metres, where the by-law maximum is 9 metres.
• **A4-2026, 1125 Sunset Drive:** Details were not provided in the agenda.

The committee was also scheduled to receive verbal updates on the Shevlin Wood Yard Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment and on the Town of Fort Frances Community Improvement Plan (CIP) development, plus a status update on Committee of Adjustment applications.

Decisions are not yet recorded.

Coming up

Fort Frances Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation — Monday, July 6 (today): The board is scheduled to review and approve its 2025 audited financial statements, the 2025 Annual Performance Report, and financials for January to April 2026. The agenda also includes approval of siding repairs for four units at an estimated cost of $20,000 and a conditional approval of a $10,000 COCHI funding contribution.

Residents looking for outcomes from the June 22, 23, and 24 meetings should watch for published minutes on the Town of Fort Frances website.

Shevlin Wood Yard Rezoning and $671K Shoreline Contract Top Fort Frances Council Agenda

Fort Frances council’s June 22 meeting featured a slate of land-use and spending items, including a proposal to redesignate the Shevlin Wood Yard for housing and a $671,610 shoreline restoration contract. While minutes from the session are not yet public, the agenda provided the following rundown of key decisions and discussions.

Regular Council Meeting (June 22)

The meeting’s most significant agenda item was an official plan and zoning by-law amendment to redesignate the Shevlin Wood Yard from Future Development to Mixed Use, paving the way for a housing development on the site. A related delegation by Marie Brady requested that a planned housing development at 820 Fifth Street East be relocated to the Shevlin Wood Yard instead, in an effort to preserve existing green space.

Council also received a notice of motion to halt the sale of Sunny Cove Camp pending a procedural review. No vote tally was included in the agenda.

A tender for shoreline restoration work was listed for award: Allen Equipment was recommended to receive contract 2026-OF-07 at a cost of $671,610.

On the regulatory side, staff recommended that BYOB (bring-your-own-bottle) events not be permitted until April 2027.

Indigenous Relations Advisory Committee (June 23)

The committee’s agenda centred on advancing reconciliation efforts. Members planned to review feedback on a draft Reconciliation Policy and vote on recommending it to Town Council for formal adoption. The policy is described as a living document meant to guide ongoing reconciliation work. The committee also discussed a proclamation for National Indigenous Peoples Day and gathered public and stakeholder input on possible amendments.

Committee of Adjustment (June 24)

Two minor variance applications were before the committee. The first, for 680 Sixth Street West, requested relief from the 9-metre driveway width limit to permit an 18.5-metre driveway. The second application, for 1125 Sunset Drive, lacked detailed description in the public agenda. The committee was also scheduled to receive verbal updates on the Shevlin Wood Yard Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment, as well as the Town’s Community Improvement Plan development and a status report on committee applications.

Coming up

The Fort Frances Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation board meets on July 6. The agenda includes approval of the 2025 annual performance report and audited financial statements, review of financials from January through April 2026, and a decision to use capital reserves for siding repairs on four units, estimated at $20,000. The board also plans to conditionally approve a $10,000 contribution from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI).