Community and Development Services

Community and Development Services is a customer service focused department comprised of 4 main divisions:

• Development Services
• Recreation and Facilities
• Fire Services
• Police Services

These divisions work co-operatively and in harmony with the balance of the administrative structure. The CDS divisions pride themselves on exemplary customer service and commitment to the residents of Lakeshore.

As a rapidly growing Town of 35,000, the Community and Development Services division is constantly updating its policies and procedures to respond to the many needs of our residents.

Numerous long term studies and plans have recently been completed with this department. These important studies will ensure Council and Community and Development Services are providing the services the citizens of Lakeshore require in a planned, cost effective approach. The 4 divisions are highlighted below. I encourage you to review the division pages for more detailed information.

Development Services (519) 728-2818

Kim Darroch  Planner
Morris Harding Chief Building Official

The Development Services Division provides planning, long range and land use functions for the Town of Lakeshore. The department also provides the building permitting and inspection function for our residents.

As a rapidly expanding community, this division is extremely busy. It functions with a mix of municipal staff and planning professionals augmented by outside consultants on a fee for service basis. The competent staff deal with a significant number of development and planning applications and an average of $120,000,000 of construction activity including approximately 450 new homes per year.

The division has recently completed a new Official Plan and is in the final stages of a new of a new comprehensive zoning by-law.

Recreation and Facilities

Todd Shoemaker, (519) 727-0470 Ext. 27

The Recreation and Facilities Division provides for the recreational needs of our rate payers and visitors to the Town of Lakeshore. Overseeing a 300 slip municipal marina (hot link) on Lake St. Clair, a twin pad ice facility (hot link) some 24 municipal parks (hot link) and the new Puce Sports and Rec Centre (hot link).

Coupled with the operations of the above facilities, the Recreation and Facilities Division also provides recreational and leisure programming for our citizens.

This division has completed a master planning process that will set the direction for recreation services and facilities for the next 15 – 20 years.

Fire Services

Don Williamson, (519) 728-0550

The Fire Services Division provides fire suppression, inspection and education services to the residents of Lakeshore.

Comprised of 5 stations, the department is made up of some 100 volunteer firefighters. Direction is provided by 5 full time administration  officers and clerical support staff.

The department also provides medical support to the Land Ambulance Service through a tiered response agreement. With 40 kilometres of 401 highway dividing Lakeshore, the department also provides emergency services to that  portion of the 400 series highway.

The Fire Services Division will be concluding a Master Planning Exercise in 2010 to plan for appropriate emergency services through 2020.

Police Services

John Collins, (519) 728-1810

The Police Services Division provides all police services to the residents and visitors to the Town of Lakeshore. Governed by a 5 member Police Services Board, this division provides services through an OPP contract.

The division functions in co-operation with, and as part of the Essex Detachment of the OPP. Besides providing all aspects of the day to day police services, the division also provides marine services to our 40 kms of Lake St. Clair shoreline and rivers.

Through proactive law enforcement, the service ensures that a safe environment exists within the 531 square kilometres of land area in Lakeshore.