MINTO – Town council has recommended approval for a lot severance on a historic Harriston property.
Ashley Sawyer, who recently joined the town staff as a planning technician/administrative assistant, advised council on Nov. 3 that owners Ralph and Irene Drost had applied for a severance at 116 Arthur Street.
“This lot is locally known as the ‘Meiklejohn Mansion’ and it currently operates as a bed and breakfast,” said Sawyer.
“The intent is to severe approximately half an acre of an urban residential lot and they will retain approximately one acre with the existing building on it.”
Sawyer said staff recommend the town support approval of the severance application to the Wellington County land division committee, provided the applicant could meet several conditions, including:
- confirmation that satisfactory access arrangements to the subject lands are made prior to the issuance of a building permit;
- completion of a lot drainage and grading plan; and
- confirmation the proposed lots and associated land uses, buildings and structures comply with all applicable requirements in the Town of Minto.
Councillor Judy Dirksen noted the proposed frontage for the severed lot is 23 square metres, nearly double the allowable minimum of 12 square metres.
“Is there any way there’s two lots there?” asked Dirksen.
“Technically they could split it into an additional lot if they wanted, but this is how they applied for the severance,” chief building official Terry Kuipers pointed out.
Council voted in favour of recommending the severance be allowed.
The Meiklejohn House is a stately Victorian-style home built in the 1870s by Alexander Meiklejohn who became the first mayor of Harriston.
