Guelph-Eramosa’s comprehensive zoning bylaw review is complete and a public meeting will be set so residents can have their say on the proposed changes.
On March 21 planning associate Kelsey Lang presented a report to council outlining changes that have already been made and are proposed for the zoning bylaw review. The township has been revising the bylaw to reflect changes since the last major updates in 1999, the report states.
Some of the major changes to the zoning bylaw include:
– accessory apartments: a separate bylaw was passed in June 2015;
– agricultural zone diversification and rural home industry: in April 2015 the permitted uses and definitions were broadened based on what is currently permitted in the Official Plan;
– garden suites: in April 2015 council decided zoning bylaw amendments were not necessary and the new process will allow for more flexibility;
– shipping containers: in April 2015 regulations were added regarding the use of shipping containers on agricultural property;
– zone options for increasing conformity with the official plan: implemented in May through mapping changes;
– home occupations: council decided in June to stay with the current bylaw;
– commercial zones: in June commercial zones were changed to reflect the Official Plan and made easier to understand;
– parking regulations: a separate bylaw was passed in June;
– prohibited uses – kennels and food carts: kennels remain on the prohibited uses list but food carts have been removed.
– industrial zones: in September uses were added and removed as per the Official Plan designation and objectives of each zone.
“We also discussed the process that we go through with this and the strategic planning committee decided that proceeding with a global repeal and replacement so the new bylaw will entirely replace the old bylaw was the decision that we would use,” Lang said.
“So the next steps would be for council to declare this application complete and set the public meeting date.”
Lang added the planning department will continue to receive comments and will have a finalized draft of the comprehensive bylaw review ready for the public meeting.
