It’s been a long wait … but it’s finally over.
The severance proposal, in the south end of Damascus for a property on County Road 16 owned by Don and Ivadel Giles, has been on the books since the 1990s, but only now is getting a final approval from council.
Planner Mark Van Patter had requested time to review additional information on a rezoning application required for a severance. That new information had reached him on the date of the previous meeting.
The original proposal included expansion of the hamlet boundaries to allow severing their land into a number of residential lots.
However, when the plan was approved, the provincial mapping of the proposal was in error.
In 1995, West Luther council interpreted the official plan boundary to accommodate the two acres excluded when the maps were redrawn.
However, when Wellington County did its county wide official plan in 1999, a number of the smaller detailed maps, including Damascus were dropped. As a result, the definition of the urban boundaries of the community were further reduced. Van Patter said the issue came to light last year when the Giles approached the county about getting severances for that land. The application struck a roadblock until the matter is resolved.
At earlier meetings, Van Patter explained the intent is fix older errors and allow the Giles to proceed with what was originally intended.
Mayor Mike Broomhead said he trusted the current document would be to the satisfaction of council.
Van Patter’s notes explained the revised environmental mapping regarding the Damascus community was provided by the Grand River Conservation Authority.
“It is my opinion that the mapping is sufficiently different from the current natural environment zones, to warrant additional consultation with selected property owners.”
So, Van Patter recommended to council to split the matter into two bylaws to expedite the Giles request.
He said their application is not related to the natural environment zoning. Van Patter also noted a more comprehensive bylaw will be needed to incorporate the Damascus boundary revisions as well as to include the GRCA revisions to the Natural Environment Zone.
Council approved the bylaw affecting the Giles property.
