KENILWORTH – When properties are severed or lot lines adjusted, it’s important to Wellington North councillors that the changes have the smallest possible impact on farmlands.
That’s why they prefer severed lots to be as small as possible, with minimal prime agricultural land impacted.
So councillors were not impressed when they reviewed a lot line adjustment application that would see a previously severed lot grow to 2.4 hectares (six acres).
The application, regarding properties at 9180 Concession Rd. 11 and 6930 Sideroad 5 W., was presented to council on Aug. 11.
It proposes that 1.2 hectares (three acres) be severed from a 60 hectare (145 acre) agricultural property on Concession Road 11 and merged with a 1.2 hectare (three acre) rural residential lot on Sideroad 5 West.
The portion that would move from the agricultural parcel to the residential parcel includes about an acre of prime agricultural land.
The residential lot was previously severed from the rural lot, but does not yet have a home on it, just a shed.
The proposal to increase the size of the residential lot is to allow enough space to build a home, given natural areas on the property limit the space in which to build.
Township and county planning staff express no concerns with the application.
Council’s concerns
Councillor Penny Renken said she has “several concerns” with the application.
“We mentioned before that when [owners] are severing off property to make a rural residential we try to keep it smaller so you’re not taking as much away from the prime agriculture. So I was just wondering why this had to be six acres.”
County planner Jamie Barns said “typically we do try and keep residential lots to one acre minimum.
“But for this application it’s a little tricky because there’s a lot of greenland system features … which is why they’ve proposed slightly more space.
“And we do have policies in the county official plan that allow for some flexibility for slightly larger lots if needed.”
Renken asked if there was any possibility of the owners “just using the three acres that they have already.”
Barns said that would ultimately be up to Wellington County’s land division committee, that holds the decision making authority for severances and lot line adjustments.
The application also includes two driveways for the residential lot, of which Renken questioned the need.
It will be up to the township to decide whether to allow the two driveways further along in the application process, Barns said.
“Our strategic plan has preservation of agricultural lands, so I’m not too sure that I’m in favour of taking that land away from the prime agricultural when you have quite a bit of acreage there for a residential unit,” Renken said.
“I’m with you in terms of minimizing the lot size and I think we can submit that comment along with our consideration for this application,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
He suggested council direct staff to “reiterate our ongoing concerns about minimizing the use of agricultural land in severance applications like this in a general way that would give them the flexibility to continue to evaluate what is needed from a building envelope perspective.”
“So we’re accepting the six acres, just with that comment?” Renken asked.
“We don’t have all the information so it’s really hard to evaluate whether it’s necessary or not,” Lennox said.
“And we’re not really the decision authority … all we are is making comments.”
