01/13/2026
BRCA Message to Council
Opposing Rezoning Application
Strong Community Response
Many community members have shared with us their emails to Council opposing the rezoning and planned subdivision.
The public meeting at which council will address this application is tomorrow evening at 6:30 at the municipal hall. All residents are invited to attend the meeting.
Below is the statement prepared and submitted to Council by the BRCA.
Burritts Rapids residents oppose application for severance and future plan of subdivision (ZBA-14-25)
On Jan 10th the Burritts Rapids Community Association (BRCA) held a Community meeting to discuss the zoning proposal with community members and to gauge community sentiment. It was very well attended. The members present were overwhelmingly opposed to the rezoning proposal and the future plan of subdivision as they understand it.
Here are the main concerns that community members raised:
Health and safety concerns, especially traffic
The proposed subdivision occupies 42 acres, representing a significant increase (more than double) of the currently settled area of the hamlet core (roughly 25 acres). The current plan is for 22 blocks zoned Residential (which permits duplexes and ARUs), leading to a possible increase of 22 up to 44 (and potentially more) new households in the hamlet, which currently has about 40 households on the island. Residents feel that this would result in significantly increased traffic, causing higher risk to cyclists and pedestrians (particularly children) in the hamlet core, through which all Ottawa-bound traffic would pass. This is not the only subdivision proposed along Burritts Rapids Road; a development of 29 blocks is proposed at 819 near Andrewsville, which would also use the hamlet core as a route to Ottawa, and Burritts Rapids Road as a route to Kemptville.
Residents are also concerned about both the location of the access road for the proposed development as well as additional driveways onto what is considered an already dangerous 90 degree curve on Burritts Rapids Road. The proposed access road would turn a three way intersection into a four way, creating more dangerous conditions for cars and pedestrians, as well as causing issues during the canal’s operational season when the swing bridge is closed.
Impact on local water supplies
Several residents reported issues with wells in the area last summer, and one resident had a well run dry. There is concern that an additional 22+ wells would put further stress on the local groundwater supply, and put the wells of existing residents at risk. Residents would like assurance that the municipality has assessed the capacity and refresh rate of the underlying aquifer, and that it is sustainable for existing wells before approving significant additional demands.
Impact on local environment and biodiversity
Some residents have reviewed the environmental impact study submitted by the developer and found that it had several issues and omissions. Residents have observed several species at risk on or near the site that were not accounted for in the study. There is also concern for the health and viability of the two wetlands on the site, and that development creates further habitat fragmentation.
Historic and rural character of the hamlet
Burritts Rapids is the oldest settlement in North Grenville, and one of the oldest on the Rideau River. Residents are proud of its historic architecture, its location on the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and its quiet rural surroundings. Residents were concerned that the proposed subdivision would not fit the historic nature of the hamlet, and conflict with the rural character of the area. The topography of the proposed site rises towards the south, and is visible from many points in the hamlet core, including the swing bridge, canal, and approaches to the hamlet. Any development on this site will become a dominant and highly visible feature of the landscape.
The North Grenville Official Plan contains goals and objectives related to Burritts Rapids, some of which residents believe the proposed subdivision does not comply with:
“To maintain the historic hamlet character and identity by requiring that the development of additional residences shall be limited to maintain the small-scale Hamlet character; Recognizing and protecting the cultural, natural and scenic values of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada, a Canadian Heritage River and UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
(Section 8.3.3)
Infrastructure challenges for handling septic waste
Nearly all residents of Burritts Rapids are on septic systems, and are affected by the increasing difficulty that waste management companies are having finding facilities to process waste, and resulting increasing costs to customers. North Grenville does not accept septic waste at its treatment plant, and it was felt that the municipality should not approve more development that uses septic systems until it can accept that waste for processing.
For these reasons, the residents we heard from in Burritt’s Rapids would like North Grenville Council to deny this zoning amendment at this time.
cc: Mayor Nancy Peckford, North Grenville
