Council here is set to approve a rezoning to allow construction of a 7,200-square-foot workshop/implement shed for a tractor and farm implement repair business on Concession 12 in former Maryborough township.
Elmer Bearinger told council at a public meeting on Jan. 12 the facility is needed for operational, not expansion purposes.
Bearinger and his son are the only employees of the business, a situation he doesn’t see changing.
“We have no intent of changing what we’re doing. We’re just acquiring more indoor space. We’re working outside quite a bit,” he explained.
Bearinger also said he has “no intention of keeping” an existing 2,000-square-foot shop building on the property.
Wellington County manager of planning and development Mark Van Patter said the application is “a good example for council to separate the difference between a commercial application and a home industry use.”
If the business was considered a home industry, he explained they would be limited to a smaller building size.
“The provincial policy statement used to talk about small scale agricultural uses (being allowed in agricultural zones).”
That qualifier has been removed at the provincial level, said Van Patter.
“I think it’s envisioning larger (commercial) operations, but they have to be related to the farm … In my mind that’s what these folks are doing on the property.”
Van Patter noted the county policy still contains the “small scale” qualifier in its wording, “but I’m anticipating that will be removed.”
He continued, “In my mind its a relatively small scale agriculture-related use. If it was a home industry they couldn’t go beyond 2,500 square feet.”
Among the potential concerns with this type of operation, said Van Patter, “is ending up with a sort of salvage or wrecking yard and we don’t want that and the bylaw prohibits it.”
Bearinger indicated that scrap metal is hauled off of the property every year and Van Patter said, “when I made a site visit to the property it’s as neat as can be.”
“I certainly agree with Mark that they keep the yard very, very neat now,” commented councillor Dennis Craven.
Van Patter recommended creating a zoning bylaw to break the property into two zones. Most of the farm is to stay as agricultural, while the building cluster and outdoor storage component is to be rezoned to agricultural commercial.
Following the public meeting, council directed Van Patter to prepare a draft zoning bylaw for council’s consideration.
