PALMERSTON – The Town of Minto has approved a minor variance and is supporting a severance application to facilitate the construction of a semi-detached residence on a Yonge Street property here.
Town council took the actions at the March 15 meeting following a report from director of building and planning services Terry Kuipers.
Jennifer and Chris Clark applied for the variance to seek relief from required minimum frontage provisions on the 0.16 hectare property.
While the existing R2 zoning on the subject property permits construction of a semi-detached dwelling, the town’s comprehensive zoning bylaw requires a minimum lot frontage of 18 metres whereas the proposed lot would have frontage of 17.54.
“The relief granted will permit for a reduced lot frontage for the semi if it were to stay on one lot, as well as if it is split into two separate lots with distinct and separate ownership,” the report explains.
The report also notes staff “recognize the demand for housing in the community and are recommending the approval of the proposed minor variance.”
One neighbouring resident questioned the grading and drainage requirements for a semi-detached home, noting the area has historically had water problems.
“All types of residential development in the urban centers do require a lot grading and drainage plan,” explained Kuipers.
He added the plan must account for post-development off-site flows, ensuring they aren’t any higher than pre-development.
“So it allows the situation to stay the same, but it can’t displace any additional water off site than it does currently,” he stated.
Severance before county
A motion to approve the requested minor variance passed unopposed, as did a motion later in the meeting to support the requested severance of a vacant portion of the property from an existing single detached residence.
The severance application is currently before the County of Wellington land division committee.
