KENILWORTH – Wellington North council is considering an application to rezone a property in Damascus to facilitate the development of a Mennonite church, cemetery and school.
“This church group has been looking for a location for their facility . . . for quite some time,” said County of Wellington manager of development Curtis Marshall.
He was presenting to council and members of the community gathered for a Nov. 4 public meeting on the application by owner Gary Martin.
The proposal would see approximately 2.7 hectares of a 12-hectare unaddressed property in the Damascus hamlet area rezoned from unserviced residential to site-specific institutional in order to build a church, cemetery and parochial school.
“This group does not use horses as their only method of transportation, and therefore was not able to establish this use in an agricultural area,” Marshall noted, saying a hamlet area is the group’s “preferred location.”
He said the applicant had also filed consent applications – for severance and to create an easement that would maintain access to both the severed and retained parcels – with the county.
An environmental assessment and flood plain analysis were also prepared and submitted to the Grand River Conservation Authority, Marshall said.
“The GRCA has indicated that they have no objection to the rezoning, provided that the wetlands and the floodplain are zoned natural environment, and that any of the recommendations of the studies are carried forward as part of the site plan approval,” he said.
Martin did not speak at the meeting, but Scott Patterson of Patterson Planning Consultants spoke on behalf of the applicant and the Markham Waterloo Mennonite Conference, which he said is looking to construct the project.
Patterson provided his own presentation, showing a map and photo of the property from 6th Line.
“The lands are currently vacant agricultural lands,” Patterson said, noting they are included in the Damascus settlement area.
He clarified the site-specific zoning was needed to allow for the proposed cemetery within the institutional zone.
“Due to the definition of school within the zoning bylaw, we have to add the connotation of a parochial school as well to make sure that the use on site can be permitted,” Patterson said.
Otherwise, the intent would be to conform to all other regulations related to things like parking and setbacks that are part of institutional zoning.
Following Patterson’s presentation, councillor Steve McCabe said although the land is in a designated hamlet area, it is farmland that would be taken out of production.
“I don’t ever really like the term vacant when referring to agricultural land,” said McCabe.
“While it might not be classified as ‘prime ag,’ it’s still being farmed.”
“I don’t disagree at all,” Patterson said in response. But he pointed out the land is designated for growth and development under provincial policy.
Damascus resident Jack Benham was the only other person to speak during the meeting, and he stood up briefly to express his support.
“I am in favour of this application,” he said, noting he has spoken to other residents about it, too.
“I had positive comments from anyone I talked to, and you people are welcome in our community.”
Feedback from the public meeting will be included in a report back to council on the application at a later date.
