While planner Mark Van Patter normally opposes additional uses on an agricultural property, this particular case is an exception.
Minto council recently approved a zoning bylaw amendment that recognizes existing retail and liquidation sales happening on site. Council made the decision following Van Patter’s comments on the proposal.
He said, the property is in an agricultural exception zone, which allows for an auction service, temporary housing of livestock, and accessory uses, including a single detached dwelling, business office, and indoor and outdoor storage and display areas.
The 8.53 acre property is at the intersection of County Road 87 and Highway 23, and Van Patter explained the amendment is to recognize an existing use that should have been incorporated when the property was rezoned in 2001.
The zoning allows for the auction and liquidation sales uses, and maintains the existing road entrances.
He said the property itself has an unusual background dating prior to amalgamation. In 1994, the property was rezoned to recognize an existing auction use, but in 2001 a larger portion of the property was rezoned to allow for expansion and more detailed wording was added to the bylaw.
A year later, when Wellington County developed its comprehensive zoning bylaw, the property was brought into compliance with it.
Under the Wellington County official plan, there is an allowance for councils to recognize legal non-conforming uses.
That recognition allows for limited expansion.
Van Patter said the business is well-established at its current location and is a part of the local economy.
