Step 1 - Application: Cottagers apply for 2022 Occupational Authority. Due by March 31, 2017.
Step 2 – Direction to Proceed: The Ministry issues Notice of Direction and Survey Instructions (please see section on Survey Instruction Package for details) to cottagers who applied for 2022 Occupational Authority. The notice will give direction on hiring a surveyor, removing invasive species (if noted on the lot), arranging for a sewage system inspection and other eligibility requirements as applicable. Note, the primary contact for the cottage lot will be the individual receiving the survey instructions.
The target date for the Ministry to issue Notice of Direction and Survey Instructions to those cottagers who applied for occupational authority by March 31 is April 30, 2017. Note: if there are any questions resulting from your returned structural report, then the Ministry may have to follow up with you and/or conduct a site visit to finalize your survey instructions.
Step 3 – Retaining an Ontario Land Surveyor: Cottager hires an Ontario Land Surveyor of their choice and directs them to contact the Ministry for authorization to proceed. Cottagers may seek quotes and hire a surveyor as soon as they receive survey instructions from the Ministry. The cottager then provides a copy of their survey instruction package to the surveyor in order to get a quote for service. The Ministry has compiled a list of Ontario Land Surveyors (found at the end of this fact sheet) who have indicated their interest in conducting surveys in Algonquin Park for this program and who were offered the opportunity to attend an information session to ensure their understanding of the requirements. Cottagers are not limited to the firms on this list. It is being provided as a resource to assist in your search.
Step 4 - Survey Instructions: Surveyor submits request for authorization to the Algonquin Cottage Lot Program by email to algonquin.cottages@ontario.ca Note: Surveyors are to confirm by email that they have been hired, and state the cottagers name and Lease or APL number. They must scan and attach a copy of the instructions form provided to them by the cottager.
The Algonquin Cottage Lot Program team will ensure the surveyor has the complete instruction package and will sign the Requirements for Crown Land Survey form, formally authorizing the surveyor to proceed. Target time to provide authorization to surveyors will be within one week of receiving authorization request (depending on volume of requests).
Step 5: Survey Submissions: Surveyor proceeds to conduct field work and then completes drafting of the Crown Land Reference Plan and Surveyors Real Property Report.
The Ministry will encourage surveyors to make every effort to complete the field work for both the Crown Land Reference Plan and the Surveyors Real Property Report during one site visit, however, there may be circumstances where the surveyor is required to re-attend the site to place monuments in accordance with the regulations.
Seasonality: Since the Surveyors Real Property Report will be identifying decks, patios, driveways and other features that could be obscured by snow, these surveys are to be conducted during snow free conditions.
In accordance with submission requirements set out in section 6 of the Instructions Governing Ontario Crown Land Surveys and Plans (November 1, 2010) the Surveyor must submit a signed Crown Land Reference Plan together with the Surveyors Real Property Report to the Algonquin Cottage Lot Program Lands Technician for review. The submission must consist of two separate packages (one package addressed to the Office of the Surveyor General, and one package to Algonquin Cottage Lot Program). No submission for review of a Crown plan is to be made directly to the Office of the Surveyor General unless specifically requested.
The Ministry recommends that surveyors submit these documents by November 30, 2017.
Step 6 – Survey Submission Review: The Algonquin Cottage Lot Program Lands Technician conducts an initial review and then submits package to the Office of the Surveyor General (OSG) for technical review and formal approval in accordance with the Instructions Governing Ontario Crown Land Surveys and Plans (November 1, 2010). Once approved, OSG will issue permission to deposit the Crown Land Reference Plan at the Land Titles Office to the surveyor.
Surveyor will deposit the approved Crown Land Reference Plan at the land registry office and provide a copy of the deposited survey plan to OSG.
OSG will provide a copy of the deposited plan and the proposed lot description to the Algonquin Cottage Lot Program. This legal description will be attached to the 2038 Occupational Authority Instrument (Lease or License of Occupation), once issued.
Target review period is two months from the date of submission to OSG.
Step 7 - Site Remediation: The Algonquin Cottage Lot Program Team will review the Surveyors Real Property Report and, if required, issue a “Notice of Direction for Structural Modifications” to the cottager outlining:
The Algonquin Cottage Lot Team will highlight which structures require modifications directly on a copy of the Surveyors Real Property Report and a copy will be enclosed with the notice of direction.
Where the ancillary footprint needs to be reduced, it is up to the cottager to determine which structure(s) they reduce in size or remove to meet the footprint requirement. The Surveyors Real Property Report will show the area for each structure to assist the cottager in making this decision.
Target Review timeline by the Ministry and issuance of Notice of Direction: two months from the receipt of the approved Surveyors Real Property Report.
If the survey was completed by November 30, 2017, this would enable cottagers to plan and seek contractors to conduct structural modification work within 2018 and 2019 snow free seasons.