A move to amend the zoning of a property to allow a welding shop, was recently deferred here so council can get a better grasp on the land being rezoned.
At a public meeting on April 19, Minto councillors considered amending the zoning of the 175 acre property at 5924 County Road 123 in Palmerston. The amendment is to allow for site specific commercial zoning to include welding and associated uses.
The land is currently occupied by a residence and a 7,000 square foot accessory structure.
In her report to council, planner Linda Redmond said the additional use is similar to other uses of the property, therefore she has no concerns.
The amendment would affect only 4.5 acres that are currently vacant.
CEO Bill White said Minto’s public works department advised the site does not have town sewer or water and there is a drain crossing the property that heads to Wallace Township. He also noted the town’s building department recommended a site plan before a building permit is issued.
The Ministry of Transportation had asked for a deferral of the amendment since the original notification referred to the entire property, and it was not clear to the agency that only part of the property would be subject to rezoning.
Redmond said the actual zoning amendment only affected the portion of the lands described. She believes the information in the public notice addresses that, but was uncertain where that satisfied the MTO concerns.
Redmond said the property is already zoned commercial with site specific zoning to allow a number of uses. The owner, proponent Janet Robb, however, would like to expand the use to include a welding shop.
Redmond said she has no concerns with that proposal.
But, prior to the meeting, she was speaking with the applicant, who has a concern with the actual lands being rezoned. The concern raised is that the area to be rezoned is a rectangular strip centred in the road frontage of County Road 123.
Redmond said the applicant would like to extend that boundary to the edge of the neighbouring property.
The request was for council to defer a decision until staff has time for further review and to possibly include that section of land with the application.
Councillor Ron Faulkner looked for clarification if the applicant intends to rezone the prime agriculture land and the natural environment portion of the property.
Redmond said Robb hopes to extend the area to a neighbouring property. The other side would remain in the same zoning because that is where the house is located.
Mayor George Bridge asked if there is a potential deferment because of the MTO’s concerns.
Deputy-mayor Terry Fisk asked why the MTO would want a deferral.
Redmond said the only thing she could think of was that the original notice included a map of the entire property – and that map did not outline the small parcel the amendment referred to.
The concern, she suggested, might have been related to another possible entrance onto Highway 23.
“So they are looking for clarification,” Bridge said.
Council deferred the amendment to a later council date.
