‘MILF Manor’ reignites short-term rental debate in local township

Jayne McCaw specializes in luxury rental properties in some of Ontario’s most luxurious and desirable locations.

Her company, Jayne’s Luxury Rentals, has properties available on Lake Joseph, Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau, Georgian Bay and a number of other popular destinations.

It also has rentals available in the town of Oro-Medonte, right on Lake Simcoe.

One of them, an eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion located in Shanty Bay, just north of Barrie, was used to film the television show. The mansion of the MILF last september

The episode aired on The Learning Channel (TLC) a few weeks ago and has since reignited the issue of short-term rentals in the locality.

“There are no more short-term rental restrictions in Oro-Medonte,” McCaw said. “The production company rented the property without incident for 26 nights.”

McCaw says he’s watching the short-term rental issue in Oro-Medonte with great interest.

Bradford Today and InnisfilToday asked McCaw if she had been informed by township officials that short-term rentals (STRs) were legal in Oro-Medonte.

“Nobody told me. We have been following the case closely as these decisions could also have implications for rents in other areas where I operate,” she said.

On March 22, an appeal by the City of Oro-Medonte and the Oro-Medonte Alliance of Good Neighbors against an Ontario Funeral Tribunal (OLT) decision regarding short-term rental housing in the township was dismissed.

In its ruling, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice said it dismissed the appeal because:

• there was no procedural unfairness
• The OLT was correct in its interpretation of the existing zoning bylaw and made no error of law in finding that Bylaw 2020-073 did not constitute good planning.

At the time, Barry Sookman, president of the Oro-Medonte Association for Responsible STRs, said “the association is pleased with the outcome and hopes it will end all litigation with the municipality regarding STRs.”

The house where The mansion of the MILF was shot is listed on Vrbo, a property rental website. It is available for daily, weekly or monthly rental.

Seeking clarity, Bradford Today and InnisfilToday sent a link to the listing to Oro-Medonte officials with a direct question: Is this an illegal short-term rental? Yes or no.

“The City is not in a position to comment on the status of the property referenced in the Vrbo link you provided,” said Jenny Leggett, Oro-Medonte’s manager of communications and public relations. “I know you already know this, but please check the town’s website for the latest information on short-term rentals.”

Leggett provided this link.

The full text of the commune update reads:

“Although the recent decision of the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario did not uphold the community’s appeal of the 2023 decision of the Ontario Funeral Tribunal (OLT), it concludes the approach taken by the municipal council in 2020 in an effort to address the challenges associated with short term. accommodation in the municipality.

Going forward, the local council and staff will continue to use established rules and regulations to provide safe and respectful neighborhoods for Oro-Medonte residents.

The municipality maintains its position regarding short-term rental housing in Oro-Medonte. The decision of the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario is complex and focuses on specific areas of the law and is currently being reviewed to help with next steps. To view the decision, please see the decision of the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.”

David Johnston, a spokesman for the Oro-Medonte Grandparents Neighborhood Alliance, said the property is where The mansion of the MILF was filmed is in a neighborhood that is zoned residential.

“That means under the 1997 city ordinance, it’s only permitted for residential use,” meaning owner-occupied or rented out as a home, Johnston said in an email. “So what they are doing is a commercial activity that is not allowed. in a residential area.

“And here is the key point in interpreting the zoning bylaw: What is not expressly permitted is not permitted,” he added.

Johnston said he wasn’t sure, but suggested there might be a provision somewhere in the community bylaw that would allow a property owner to use their residential property as a temporary commercial film production site.

City officials say there was no such language.

“There is no provision in any municipal ordinance that allows a property owner to use their residential property as a temporary commercial film production site,” Leggett said.

The city was also asked if it would take legal action against the owner of the property where it was used The mansion of the MILFas it clearly shows a residential property used as a temporary film production site.

“The city does not release information regarding legal proceedings of any nature,” Leggett said.