Council is awaiting clarification on potential MDS issues before making a decision on a re-zoning amendment to allow a parochial school on the township’s 8th Line.
On Jan. 10 council dealt with the application from Markham Waterloo Mennonite Conference through representative Russell Metzger for land owned by Anthony and Krystal Bowman.
A draft bylaw presented at the meeting would place the 1.07 hectare (2.64 acre) parcel within an agricultural exception zone. A site-specific exemption will allow for an additional use of a parochial school for up to 50 students and associated accessory uses subject to the regulations for reduced lots in an agricultural zone.
A report from Wellington County senior planner Linda Redmond points out that while Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) requirements cannot be met from three surrounding livestock facilities, MDS 1 guideline 42, measurement of MDS for lot creation, would be applicable. It states, “Where larger lots may be permitted … a suitable location must be identified for a 1 ha building envelope outside the MDS 1 setback.” Redmond pointed out the resulting MDS arcs would allow a suitable building envelope to be achieved.
In her report Redmond explained the site-specific exemption will also include a clause stipulating the lands are deemed to meet MDS 1.
While not formally objecting to the proposal, local resident Harvey Bauman asked if there would be any complications if his son, who owns the closest farm to the proposed school, were to apply for a building permit.
“There would be some complications, but there would be some applications to go through,” explained Mayor Neil Driscoll.
Chief building official Patty Wright noted that with a land use such as a school, the MDS arc “would actually double.”
However, councillor Michael Martin stated county planners had been able to come up with a solution in a similar situation in the township previously.
“I think we should get clarification,” said Driscoll.
Council agreed to receive the information from the public meeting and refer to the planning department for review of MDS impact.
