Arthur Greenhouses will be growing in the near future as a result of Wellington North councillors approving a request to expand its greenhouse operation.
On Aug. 9, council reviewed the amendment proposal to rezone the lands and to allow the expansion.
The land is on the southwest side of 7470 Second Line, south of County Road 109.
Council also reviewed correspondence from applicants Patrick van den Eijnden and Johanna Baars.
“With this letter we want to provide you with extra information with the purpose to apply for a proper zoning for our greenhouse-operation and applying for a third greenhouse on our property.”
The farm is about 43 acres, and was used by the former owner as a horse farm. That included 10 acres in non-maintained pasture. The applicants purchased the property in 2007.
“When we applied for a third greenhouse on our property earlier this month, we were told that we are not properly zoned. We were very surprised about this as we understood in the past that our type of farming was allowed on the property, including selling our products from the property as a farm-outlet.”
“As well, the building permit for two greenhouses was issued in a couple of days by then Chief Building Official Harold Knox; at that time we applied for two of them, but indicated in the application for four of them for future expansion. We only were not allowed to put the two on the yard, because the minimum distance to the existing pond should at least be 15 metres, so one was erected on indication of Knox into the field, which was non-maintained pasture at that time.”
The operation uses approximately five acres for their own growing activities, approximately 23 acres are rented to a neighbouring farmer (cash-cropped), the remainder is bush (six acres are controlled by the GRCA), plantation (8.5 acres) and yard and lot-line areas.
Van den Eijnden wrote, “We and the industry consider our business as a small scale agricultural greenhouse operation with horticultural or specialty crops (annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, vegetables, field grown cut flowers). We market products modestly from our property, selling on farmers markets, fall fairs, garden shows, wholesale and use for landscaping/garden maintenance, which is also part of our business.”
He added, “Recently we were able to purchase the greenhouse of Roots and Shoots, because they went out-of business. It is identical to our existing greenhouses. Roots and Shoots was located between Arthur and Kenilworth on Highway 6, zoned agricultural-commercial in 2003.”
Van den Eijnden said, “We have no intention to expand in a way that we should need acres of greenhouses. And we are not and have no intention to be a garden centre, selling garden equipment, furnishings, pottery and so on. But we would like to retail some mulch, soils, soil amendments and landscape fabric, because there is not such a possibility close to Arthur and customers are very frequently asking for it. These products we already use for landscaping and garden maintenance.”
He concluded, “We think we are contributing the community of Arthur and surroundings.”
Planner Mark van Patter’s opinion was, “The proposed rezoning would be in conformity with the provincial policy statement as well as the official plan provided the operation complies with the definition of a commercial greenhouse and/or nursery, we have no concerns with the application.”
Van Patter added that minor accessory sales of associated products is also acceptable, provided that the degree does not approach that of a garden centre, as defined in the bylaw.
He noted garden centres are permitted in the highway commercial designation, but not in the prime agricultural designation.
The amendment recognizes and allows the expansion of a greenhouse and landscaping operation.
The business involves growing of nursery stock and greenhouse crops from seed. The plants are sold at farmers markets, wholesale and garden shows, with some modest farm gate retail sales, Van Patter concluded. The applicants also have a landscaping and garden maintenance business they run from the property.
Councillor John Matusinec said he is quite familiar with the operation and it seems well kept.
“I have no problem with this.”
Council had little issue with the proposal and the passing the bylaw to provide for the rezoning and expansion.
“We always like to see businesses in our community grow,” Broomhead said.
