ELORA – Centre Wellington council passed a bylaw on Monday night that granted a welding shop the right to expand its operations.
The shop is located at 7111 Noah Road, which is Lot 14, Concession 6 in old Pilkington.
The property is zoned agricultural, but the shop is considered a home industry and permitted because it serves the farming community.
Planner Brett Salmon told council in the committee of the whole on Aug. 8 that Creekbank Welding has operated from the site since the 1960s, manufacturing farm wagons and other farm implements, such as barn racks.
He said over the years, the business grew. Its most recent expansion was approved by a minor variance in 2000. The current floor space is 6,800 square feet. There are currently six employees who do not live on the property. The business hopes to increase its size to about 8,800 square feet. There would be eight employees maximum.
Salmon told councillors there were no objections to the proposal from the regular commenting agencies.
He said one neighbour had registered concerns, but had withdrawn those upon receiving a promise some things being done outside the shop would be moved indoors, and that would reduce noise.
Salmon noted the distance to the nearest home is “quite substantial.”
Councillor Walt Visser said the distance is 400 metres, and that is more than the township requires.
Councillor Kirk McElwain said he had heard there were concerns about it being unfair that a manufacturing business this size would be paying agricultural zoned taxes instead of industrial.
Salmon said his concern is if the business is legal, and tax policies are not the concern of his department.
“How they get assessed is up to MPAC [the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation],” he said.
Treasurer Wes Snarr said he is not sure off hand what the tax levy is for the property.
“I’d have to look,” said Snarr.
Councillor Mary Lloyd asked who enforces the rules regarding the number of employees at the site. Salmon said that is difficult to do.
“If it were up to me, I would have left it out,” he said, but the policy states it must be included in the zone change.
“We have to do the best we can,” he said.
He added, “I’m satisfied the use is a legitimate home industry and it meet the county official plan so I’m recommending approving it.”
Council did that.
