It looks like the Running of the Bulls is going to be a permanent feature in Wellington North – and there might be more of them.
On Monday night, council here passed a zoning amendment switching the zoning from a temporary to permanent use.
At the same time, council has allowed an increased number of events, pushing it to six weekends per year, with 12 days between events. Previously, the limit was set at five events with 19 days between them.
In addition, council has not ruled out the possibility of a seventh event each year, which could be used as a fundraiser for Wellington North projects.
The property is the northeast half of Lot 27, Concession 5, former township of West Garafraxa. The rezoning would permanently allow a limited number of such weekend events throughout warm weather months.
Each event could possibly host over 1,000-plus persons and the bylaw passed by council considers a number of matters, including: public safety, services, traffic impacts, site plan control, and zoning restrictions to limit the scale of the use. During the remainder of the year, the land will be used only for agricultural purposes.
Planner Mark Van Patter offered background to councillors about the current proposal.
Council first passed a one-year temporary use bylaw for the inaugural event in 2003, and again in 2004. In 2005, it allowed a three-year temporary use.
Van Patter said councillors spent considerable time in 2003 ironing out potential concerns, which were included in the bylaw before council that night. He noted that during the past two years, few concerns have been lodged with the township about the event, and the operators have used two events to donate to projects in the township.
He said the permanent status still does not allow for additional permanent structures other than what is set out in the bylaw. When the events are not happening, the property is essentially for agricultural use, Van Patter said.
He also had no issue with the proposal to raise the number of events from five to six and to reduce the number of days between events from 19 to 12.
Van Patter did recommend the township solicitor review the development agreement in terms of noting the permanent nature of the rezoning.
Councillor Ross Chaulk asked for clarification on the number of events. He stated that when council first approved the venue in 2003 it was for three events. Each subsequent passage by council has allowed for additional events each year.
He asked if the sixth event being requested per year is the one to be used as a community fundraiser.
The short answer is no.
If a community fundraiser event was set, it would be an additional seventh event, approved by council via a minor variance.
Bruce Donaldson, acting on behalf of Marques, explained the request for six events resulted from weather in previous years where certain Running of the Bulls events were rained out.
He added the reduction of time between events was to allow scheduling of the runs during the warmer summer months.
Councillor Dan Yake asked if six is the maximum number of events planned.
“You have to be tired coming back,” he said.
Marques said he still wanted to be able to hold one event for the town.
Council later approved the bylaw adopting the changes,
