DRAYTON – A new retail space and small hobby farm may be coming to the outskirts of Drayton.
Nicole and Dylan Knetsch, of 75 John St. in Drayton’s northeast corner, have applied for a zoning change to permit a retail area and hobby barn with a few highland cows.
Mapleton council received a planning report about the requested zoning change and heard from the Knetschs during a public meeting on Dec. 10.
Dylan Knetsch described the proposal for their 2.7 hectare (6.7 acre) property during the meeting.
“Our vision is to transfer our barn, which is 32 by 32 (feet), into a unique shopping store offering high-end home decor products also while immersing our clients in a beautiful rural setting, where they can enjoy the landscape as well as some hobby animals.
“We are confident our proposal will benefit and cater to the needs and tastes of local residents while also attracting visitors from neighbouring areas, thereby boosting the local economy and contributing to the increased tourism within the township,” Knetsch said.
“There’s definitely an increasing trend where people within city limits want to experience a more rural shopping experience – that’s kind of what we are advocating for. You see a lot of that with markets for food, and we are doing that on more of a home decor kind of feel.”
The Knetschs are hoping to house three or four highland cows, which would live in about a hectare (2.5 acres) of fenced pasture, he noted.
Knetsch described their plan for feeding the cows, providing shelter and dealing with manure, which will be used to fertilize the large pumpkin patch and fruit and vegetable gardens on the property.
“We would also offer free compost to neighbours if they want,” he noted.
And they’ve already been granted permission to bring any excess to a nearby neighbour’s manure pile.
Because the property is located within Drayton’s urban boundary, farm animals are generally not permitted.
“However in this case the property is located on the edge of town, it’s surrounded by a farm, it’s got open space that is natural hazard protection on the other side [and] there’s really no neighbouring properties around it so that’s something to consider when thinking about housing animals on this property,” said planner Linda Redmond.
Residential planning does not permit retail sales, which is why a zoning amendment would be needed to permit the home decor store.
She said there were generally no concerns from commenting agencies (including the Wellington County planning department and the Mapleton building and public works departments) about the proposed livestock or retail space.
“The retail use of the garage would not appear to hinder or limit the future use of the lands,” stated Wellington County planner Asavari Jadhav-Admane.
Wellington Source Water Protection noted “the property is located in a vulnerable area; however the activities would not create a significant drinking water threat.”
The Grand River Conservation Authority noted “the existing garage is partially located within the regulated area adjacent to the floodplain.
“However, it is our understanding that the proposal would only require internal renovation to the existing garage and no exterior grading and or construction is proposed at this time.”
The Knetschs’ neighbours expressed support for their proposed endeavour – Robert and Penny Francis gave a message through the township clerk and Haralambie Stirbet delegated on behalf of his wife and family.
“We are just side by side, the last two houses on the street,” Stirbet said, and “we are all in support of this. We have no concerns whatsoever.”
“I understand you were looking for retail space in our downtown for quite some time, which we just don’t have available, so I understand where this is coming from,” councillor Marlene Ottens said to the Knetschs.
She asked whether parking or public bathrooms would be an issue with the proposal.
Knetsch said they are planning to change the shape of the driveway to allow four or five vehicles to park, which he said, given the size of the store, would be more than enough.
For bathrooms, the couple plans to work in the store themselves and not hire any employees, so they don’t intend to offer public bathrooms.
The property is located in the part of Drayton that does not have servicing, Redmond noted.
“Those lots are all on septic and well; large lots, and it’s not anticipated that servicing will be added to that area.”
“I think this sounds like a wonderful venture and the zoning in the future official plan designation would certainly support a certain amount of it,” Redmond said.
Mapleton council received the report for information.
