Council here is objecting to a minor variance application for a residential property in Alma.
The owner of the property at 41 Elora Street N. in Alma is seeking relief from the minimum rear-yard setback, and maximum floor area and height restrictions, for the construction of an accessory shed on the property.
Council agreed the variance was not minor in nature, primarily because of a substantial difference between the maximum allowable height for such buildings (15 feet) and the proposed height of the building (25 feet). The proposed building, at 1,500 square feet, would also be 500 square feet larger than the maximum floor area and would be within three feet, rather than the required three metres, of the lot line.
Council supported another minor variance application presented for comment at the Sept. 11 meeting.
The owner of a property in the former Peel Township was requesting relief from minimum side yard setback for a proposed barn with manure storage tank, for a property at 7544 on the Third Line. The proposal called for the structure to be within 135 metres off the lot line, rather than the required 138 metres.
Mayor Bruce Whale noted the manure storage component of the proposal made the difference a larger issue. However councilor Mike Downey argued the difference was insignificant.
“It’s going to stink at 138 metres too,” he pointed out.
Site plan agreements
Site plan agreements for two development projects in Moorefield were approved by Mapleton Council at the Sept. 11 meeting.
Council approved a site plan agreement with Christian Aid Ministries of Waterloo for development on the site of the former Rona Hardware building, at 16 Parkview Drive. Christian Aid Ministries is planning to open a vegetable processing facility on the site, to help feed the poor in Third World countries.
Among the site-specific requirements are installation of a water meter and a backflow device on the property at the owner’s expense and a condition that the main access to the building will be via Parkview Drive.
A site plan agreement with Moorefield Tire Ltd. for development of a warehouse on property owned by the business was also approved.
