Southgate planning digest
New lots in Cedarville, an infill proposal in Dundalk and other planning matters were considered by Southgate Council at its Mar. 20 meeting.
FARM SEVERANCE
Mayor Milne voted to break a tie vote on a planning proposal for a farm severance.
The plan was to divide an almost 40-hectare property which already has an on-farm shop into two. The new owner was planning to add a shop in addition to buildings on the lot that would be created.
“So – future industrial parkways,” commented Deputy Mayor Barbara Dobreen.
“I just see this as another way to increase the number of on-farm diversified uses,” she said, noting there were several similar applications consulting with the conservation authority.
The recorded vote in which the mayor participated also had support from Councillors Monica Singh Soares, Jim Ferguson and Jason Rice.
The farm on County Road 8 was approved in August, 2022 for an on-farm shop (J-Fab Manufacturing).
One year later, August, 2023, the committee of adjustment, consisting of council members granted a severance to divide the property into two parcels.
The zoning application before council last Wednesday was for the zoning to recognize the size of the parcels - one of about 20 hectares and the other of about 19 hectares.
During the preparation of the zoning application, the intention to put a shop on the severed parcel was discussed.
The designation is rural, and she said she was not supportive of severances creating undersized lots.
The zoning change that came before council last Wednesday was one of the last steps. It recognizes the lots as an exception to the 40-hectare lot minimum area in the A-1 Agricultural zone.
The Southgate Official Plan allows one severance from an original 40-hectare parcel in the Rural designation, the planner noted. (Designation and zoning are distinct.)
He said that if the lands were designated Agriculture instead of Rural, that is when the requirement to have an OFDU is to be a bona fide farm. It is not a requirement in the Rural designation.
Mr. White added that in this case, the 18-hectare severed parcel has about five hectares of farmland, which is actively farmed.
Grey County planning requested the future shop size be reduced from 750 to 400 square metres to meet county planning rules for when lots are less than 20 hectares.
SIX NEW LOTS
Six new building lots have been created in Cedarville, which will be on individual services.
The lots are in the village of Cedarville on Feairs Drive, ranging from 3,400 to 4,900 sq. metres.
The lots were created by severances about a year ago, but the conditions of zoning and the road widening strip granted to the Township were not fulfilled then.
On Wednesday, the contract planner from Southgate said there were no new comments received, and recommended approval of the needed zoning change from Restricted Agricultural to Residential Type 5 and the road widening.
The existing road is narrower, so the road allowance will bring Feairs Drive to the standard 66-feet. The county has also requested what is called a “daylight” triangle on the corner with Grey Road 14 for sight lines.
Southgate public works has requested a turn-around space at the end of the road for maintenance.
The proposal by owners Peter and Rebecca O’Donnell came to a public meeting in January of 2023.
When originally discussed at a public meeting, neighbours asked about whether there could be a fence to protect from noise and dust during construction. Then-planner Clint Stredwick said that would be something that could be covered in an agreement.
At that time, it was noted that the plan was to sell the proposed new lots as building lots, so construction would not be all at once.
A Stage 1 and 2 archaeological study was done, and nothing was found to warrant more investigation, Mr. White said.
The proponent had a hydrogeological study on water supply, and new wells will be going into the aquifer. A resident commented that most existing wells were about 30 feet deep.
SEVERANCE CONDITION
Another file saw conditions of severance fulfilled to implement a severance for Ted Acheson on Sideroad 75. The severance of a lot from the farm and building cluster was approved in 2022, and the zoning recognizes the undersized lot. The lot is separated by the rail trail.
HAGAN & GOLD ST. INFILL
Another recorded vote was held for a proposal for semi-detached housing units after a tie vote on a revised plan. The mayor then broke the tie, voting in favour, along with Deputy Mayor Dobreen and Councillors Jim Ferguson and Martin Shipston. Opposed were Councillors Monica Singh Soares, Jason Rice and Joan John.
The planner described the proposal as “not ideal, but permissible” in his presentation.
After the vote, Mr. White told council he’s bringing a report forward next month on how new additional dwelling unit rules affect the township.
That will allow council to discuss how the standard they want to see going forward. “I do think you have more control than was originally portrayed in the media,” he said. “I wanted to assure council that you will have a say on how that works out in your community.
The proposal that was approved is a revised plan: two separate buildings, each with two units, one facing on Gold and one on Hagan.
Mr. White said the form was more compatible with the neighbourhood than the original proposal for back-to-back semis with parking in front. The new proposal would see each unit having a garage.
The proposal will provide more attainable housing in town, he said.
There will be a hold on the building until servicing is in place, as services do not go to the end of Gold Street at this time.
Mr. White mentioned that a letter had been received from the school parent council. The area is near Dundalk-Proton school which is very busy with drivers looking for parking at school pick-up and drop-off times.
M.T. Fernandes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Dundalk Herald
