HARRISTON – Minto council has approved a rezoning request to facilitate the construction of three semi-detached residences on a 0.57-acre parcel of land on Queen Street South here.
A public meeting on the proposal to rezone the property from R1-B to R2 was held on April 5.
“The application is before council simply because the R1-B zoning does not permit semi-detached dwellings,” explained County of Wellington planner Matthieu Daoust.
“The application generally conforms to the zoning bylaw, official plan and provincial policy and planning staff have no concerns.”
A report from Minto planning technician Ashley Sawyer notes the parcel is currently separated into three lots that were originally part of 195 Queen St. S. and used industrially as an automobile salvage yard from 1958 to 2011.
The report notes an official record of site condition, indicating the site contains no evidence of any contaminants in the soil, ground water or sediment, was completed for the property in 2019 and filed in 2021 with the provincial environment ministry.
Sawyer stated the existing three lots will require additional servicing to accommodate semi-detached dwellings, as they were originally intended for single detached dwellings.
“Each unit will be required to have their own set of services connected to the mains on their frontage and existing sanitary services will need to be inspected due to their age to see if they’re acceptable to use,” she explained.
“The cost of servicing is solely the responsibility of the developer.”
Deputy mayor Dave Turton said he was pleased to see no objections from local residents to the multi-unit residential proposal.
“It’s kind of surprising,” said Turton.
“This is a pretty big development, three duplexes, no questions from the neighbours or anything like that.”
He credited the reputation of developer and applicant Bob Harris for the lack of opposition.
“He’s built a number of duplexes around town … and he does really nice-looking houses,” Turton pointed out.
“I’m really happy the public are realizing that to get housing that we need to at least try to be attainable … this is the type of housing we need,” said Mayor George Bridge.
“Where it is located, it’s a great infill situation and to have those extra units come on board. I think it’s a real boon.”
A bylaw approving the zoning change was passed during the regular session of council.
