KENILWORTH – Wellington North council has unanimously supported an application to sever an industrial lot in order to build a concrete plant in Arthur, despite concerns raised by a delegate to council.
Urban planner Robert McQuillan attended the Aug. 12 council meeting virtually as a representative of Tribute Sorbara Arthur Holdings Inc., which he said owns 665 Eliza St. and the neighbouring vacant property on Eliza Street’s west side.
“We would like to express our objection” to the application to sever a portion of 510 Eliza St., the property adjacent to the one owned by his clients, McQuillan told council.
The application, by Clark Brothers Contracting Ltd., “aims to facilitate development of a ready-mix concrete plant,” McQuillan said.
He went on to say enabling such a development in that location “will jeopardize the township’s ability to achieve its plans for residential growth on lands that are zoned and designated future development north and northeast of the site.”
While the decision on the application lies with the County of Wellington, the township can comment on the application, and can require certain conditions to be met in order to complete the severance.
In this case, the township’s list of conditions includes payment of a $250 fee, parkland dedication requirements, opening and extending an unopened Macaulay Street road allowance, and conditions related to driveway access to existing and newly created lots.
But McQuillan asked council not to support the application, saying doing so “will enable a permanent land use that is incompatible with existing and proposed nearby residential uses, the school and community sites that are south of the property, and our plans for a residential community on the Tribute Sorbara lands to the north and northeast.”
He raised concerns about traffic, dust, noise and strain on Arthur’s ground water sources.
According to a staff planning report included in the council agenda, the 510 Eliza St. property is located within the “primary urban centre of Arthur,” and is currently designated as industrial in the county’s official plan.
“Primary urban centres are expected to provide a full range of land use opportunities, including residential uses of various types and densities,” the report reads, noting the official plan states “new lots may be created in urban centres provided that the land will be appropriately zoned.”
A rezoning application has been submitted to the township to permit a ready-mix concrete plant on the severed parcel, the report later states.
Both the severed and retained parcels will be serviced by private well and septic systems until municipal services are extended to the property, it states.
Mayor Andy Lennox made a point of telling McQuillan the township is “not the decision making authority” on the application.
“We do understand that this will go to the county, but we just want to express this point of view to the township as well,” McQuillan replied.
The motion on the application was pulled for further discussion, but when it came time for council to vote, the three members of council present – Penny Renken, Steve McCabe and Lennox – had no comments on the matter.
They voted unanimously in favour of a motion to support the severance application with the list of conditions.
