Master Servicing Plan Update

Atherley- Uptergrove and Rama Road Corridor

The Township is updating the Master Servicing Plan for the Atherley-Uptergrove and Rama Road Corridor area.  The current MSP was undertaken in 2006 and is now being updated in accordance with the Ramara Official Plan (2025).

What is a Master Servicing Study?

A Master Servicing Study is a long-term planning document that helps a municipality understand what infrastructure will be needed to support future growth and development. It looks at services such as: 

  • Drinking water 

  • Wastewater (sewage) treatment and collection 

  • Stormwater management and drainage 

The study examines existing infrastructure, identifies constraints and opportunities, and evaluates different options for servicing future homes, businesses, and community facilities. It also considers environmental impacts, regulatory requirements, costs, and community input. 

The Township is undertaking a Master Servicing Study to determine how future growth in the Atherley, Uptergrove, and Rama Road Corridor areas can be supported with appropriate infrastructure over the next 20 years. The study will identify preferred servicing solutions, recommended infrastructure projects, priorities, and next steps needed to support future growth. While the study does not result in immediate construction, it will guide future municipal investment, development review, budgeting, and any additional approvals or design work required before projects can proceed.

What is the Study Area?

The area being studied is within the Atherley-Uptergrove Settlement Area and surrounding area and the Rama Road Corridor. To determine whether your property is located within the study area, please view the interactive map below.

 

How do I participate?

Community input will play an important role in the Master Servicing Study. Residents, businesses, landowners, Indigenous communities, agencies, and other interested parties will have opportunities to stay informed and provide feedback throughout the process.  

Project updates and study materials will be posted on the Township's website, and a Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held to share information, present potential servicing solutions, and gather comments. Feedback received will be reviewed and considered as the study team develops recommendations for the future servicing of the Atherley, Uptergrove, and Rama Road Corridor areas. 

A Notice of Study Commencement was published on September 21. Please see the Notices section below to view the notice, which includes a link to join the project contact list.

Interested in being added to the contact list? Please complete the form below.

Project Timing and Overview

The project will be completed in several phases, including existing conditions assessment, development and evaluation of servicing alternatives, consultation with the public and interested parties, and preparation of the final study report.  

The current schedule includes: 

  • 2026: Study initiation, background review, growth analysis, environmental field work, and preliminary assessments.  

  • 2027: Detailed servicing analysis, evaluation of alternatives, consultation activities including a Public Information Centre, and preparation of the draft Master Servicing Study.  

  • 2028: Presentation of the final recommendations, public review of the study, and completion of the final report 

Information, Notices, and Reports

Notices, Reports and memos will be uploaded here as they become available 

 

Check back for report updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

The study will: 

  • Review existing water, wastewater, stormwater, drainage, and transportation conditions. 

  • Assess the amount of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional growth that may occur over the next 10 and 20 years. 

  • Identify environmental, servicing, and infrastructure constraints that could affect future development. 

  • Evaluate options for providing water and wastewater services, including maintaining private systems, creating new municipal services, or connecting to existing services in neighbouring communities. 

  • Assess drainage systems, stormwater management needs, and road crossings such as culverts and bridges. 

  • Develop recommendations for infrastructure projects, priorities, and implementation timelines 

Before significant new development can occur in the Atherley-Uptergrove and Rama Road Corridor, the municipality needs to ensure there will be is adequate infrastructure in place to support growth. A Master Servicing Study helps answer questions such as: 

  • Can existing services support future development? 

  • What infrastructure upgrades may be required? 

  • What are the most cost-effective servicing solutions? 

  • How can growth occur while protecting the environment? 

  • What projects should be prioritized and when should they be built? 

The study will create a long-term plan for infrastructure investment and growth management. It will help ensure that future development can occur in a way that: 

  • Protects local waterways and the Lake Simcoe watershed. 

  • Supports public health and safety. 

  • Provides reliable servicing for future residents and businesses. 

  • Identifies the most practical and cost-effective infrastructure solutions. 

  • Helps the Township plan and budget for future capital projects.

  • Once the Master Servicing Study is completed and endorsed by Township Council, it becomes a guiding document for future planning, infrastructure investment, and development decisions within the Atherley, Uptergrove, and Rama Road Corridor areas.  

  • The study itself does not approve development or authorize construction projects. Instead, it identifies the preferred servicing strategy and recommends the infrastructure projects that may be needed to support future growth. These recommendations will help the Township prioritize future infrastructure investments, establish implementation timelines, and plan for funding requirements.  

  • For larger infrastructure projects identified through the study, additional environmental assessment and design work may be required before construction can proceed. The Master Servicing Study will identify these next steps and the approvals that may be needed for each recommended project.  

  • Following Council endorsement, the study will be made available for public review, and the Township will consider the study's recommendations when reviewing development proposals and planning future capital projects. 

One of the main purposes of the Master Servicing Study is to determine if servicing is needed, what type of servicing is appropriate, and when infrastructure may be required to support future growth. The study will identify recommended projects, priorities, and potential phasing over the next 20 years. No decisions have been made regarding the timing of any future servicing infrastructure. Any construction projects would require further planning, approvals, design work, and funding before proceeding. 

The cost of connecting to any future servicing system is not known at this time. One of the study's objectives is to evaluate servicing alternatives and estimate the costs associated with different options. The study will examine how servicing could be provided and identify high-level infrastructure costs; however, specific connection costs for individual properties cannot be determined until a servicing solution is selected and more detailed design work is completed. 

No decisions have been made regarding future connection requirements. The study will evaluate a range of servicing options, including continuing to use existing private wells and septic systems where appropriate. Should a servicing solution be recommended in the future, any requirements related to property connections would be determined through future planning, approval, and implementation processes. 

If the Township reaches that stage, residents and property owners will be informed and engaged throughout the process. This will include opportunities to review information, provide input, and stay informed before any decisions are considered.

The previous Master Servicing Plan for these areas was completed in 2006. Since then, there have been significant changes to growth projections, environmental regulations, and planning policies, including the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. The Township's Official Plan, approved in 2026, requires the Master Servicing Study to be updated before major development can proceed within the Atherley-Uptergrove Secondary Plan Area and the Rama Road Corridor. 

Not necessarily. The study will evaluate a range of servicing solutions and as this is the initial step, the outcomes are unknown. The purpose of the study is to determine the most appropriate servicing approach to support planned growth while considering environmental, technical, and financial factors. 

That is one of the key questions the study is intended to answer. No preferred solution has been identified at this stage of the study. 

Similar to the water source, this is one of the key questions the study is intended to answer. The preferred approach will be determined through technical analysis, environmental review, regulatory requirements, and public consultation. 

Yes. Compliance with applicable provincial legislation, regulations, and policies is a key component of the study. The study will evaluate servicing alternatives within the context of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, environmental protection requirements, source water protection policies, and other applicable regulatory frameworks. Environmental considerations will be an important factor in identifying and evaluating potential servicing solutions 

Contact Us

Corporation of the Township of Ramara
2297 Highway 12, PO Box 130, Brechin, ON, L0K 1B0

T. 705-484-5374
E. ramara@ramara.ca

 

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