Council will consider a bylaw to rezone back to agricultural land a portion of a property severed from a local grain elevator and weigh scale.
A public meeting, which is required as a condition of provisional consent to the severance by the Wellington County land division committee, was held in the Mapleton council chamber on Oct. 11. The land in question is owned by Mayor Neil Driscoll, his wife Barbara and his mother Margaret. The mayor declared a conflict and left the chamber during the public meeting and discussions on the matter. Councillor Lori Woodham was appointed to the chair.
The Driscolls are seeking to sever a 1.44 hectare agricultural commercial parcel in the prime agricultural area with existing grain bins, elevators and weigh scale, while establishing a right-of-way easement over the retained lands to facilitate truck traffic.
A 19.6 hectare parcel would be retained with both agricultural commercial and agricultural zoning. Structures on the retained parcel would include a dwelling and three out buildings.
Among the conditions required by the county is that the agricultural commercial zoning on the retained lands be rezoned.
“We don’t want to see another ag commercial use on that little piece of land,” said senior planner Linda Redmond, adding the county has no concerns with the rezoning.
Council directed a draft amending bylaw be prepared.
