BRUCEDALE – Residents of Ariss Glen Drive are concerned about the loss of privacy that may result from a proposed residential development behind their homes.
“My concerns are in protecting my privacy, security and protecting my home’s value,” said Joel Smith, who said he lives on Ariss Glen Drive, directly south of agricultural land a developer is seeking to have rezoned in order to build more homes.
Smith was the only member of the public to speak at a public meeting on Dec. 9 to gather input on a zoning bylaw amendment requested by Will-O-Homes, but he said his nextdoor neighbour shares his concerns.
During the meeting, County of Wellington manager of planning and environment Meagan Ferris explained, “The intent is to construct single detached dwellings.”
She noted the county has received a draft plan of subdivision application that is being reviewed concurrently with the zoning bylaw amendment application.
The land on which the developer wants to build has no address, but has frontage on 6th Line, she said, adding, “It’s also next to the Kissing Bridge Trail.”
The approximately 19 acres, which was severed from farmland to the north, is currently zoned agricultural with a small portion zoned “environmental protection” – zoning Ferris said is associated with a municipal drain on site.
The plan is to change the zoning to a site-specific rural residential zone that would allow the land to be subdivided into 16 residential lots, most of which would have a lot sizes smaller than rural residential zoning normally allows.
Ferris said the properties would front onto a new municipal road with a cul-de-sac at the end. The last lot is proposed to be a park block next to the Kissing Bridge Trail.
Concerns in the form of written comments from neighbours related specifically to the draft plan, and included road location and design, parkland size, privacy and buffering, construction access and drainage, Ferris said.
“We’ve been working on the draft plan for quite a while now,” said consultant Brandon Flewwelling of GSP Group, speaking on behalf of the developer.
He said some initial changes have already been made, including the addition of the park block.
But Smith seemed unhappy with the plan presented.
“I have a public road in front of my house, and with this proposal we’ll also have a public road with right of way and open space access immediately behind my property,” he said.
As a remedy, he asked for seven-foot-tall wooden privacy fencing, as well as trees planted along the fence to increase the privacy and prevent public access.
He also asked that these things be installed before home construction begins in order to reduce the impact on existing homes.
“I would like to be included in the planning process,” Smith said.
There were also comments from township council members.
“At the end of the day, we want as little impact on existing residents as possible,” said Mayor Chris White.
Flewwelling responded saying, “there’s a willingness to work together to address these issues.”
Councillor Corey Woods asked how much of the development is to be fenced, and was told by Flewwelling fencing would be put up where the property abuts the existing subdivision.
Images shared in the presentation show four properties on Arris Glen Drive that would be impacted.
“I think it would be helpful if there was a privacy fence along the entire border of this property,” said Woods.
He also wondered why the lot sizes shouldn’t be required to conform to the zoning bylaw.
Flewwelling replied background studies have been done to confirm the lot sizes would not be inappropriate if they were undersized.
