MAPLETON – Officials here have denied an application to build a barn for a horse and buggy.
Mapleton’s committee of adjustment voted 3-1 against a minor variance application to build the barn.
Calvin Gingrich had hopes of building a single-stall barn to house the horse and buggy, his principal mode of transportation, on his property in the hamlet of Goldstone in Mapleton Township.
Gingrich requested a minor variance to permit the barn’s construction, because his 0.7 hectare (1.7 acre) property does not meet the 0.8 hectare (two acre) minimum for which the township’s zoning bylaw permits hobby barns.
Township staff had no concerns with the proposed hobby barn, which they say “maintains the intent and purpose of the (county’s) official plan and the (township’s) zoning bylaw.”
County planning staff also had no concerns.
The property, located on Sideroad 18, is zoned agricultural by Mapleton and designated prime agricultural by Wellington County.
The proposed barn would have a ground floor area of less than 200 square metres (2,150 square feet) and would meet all minimum distance separation requirements.
In addition to housing the horse and buggy, the barn would be used for hay and other storage.
Township planner Linda Redmond said if the lot was 0.8 hectares, a 1,000 square foot barn would be permitted.
“We’ve approved these types of variances in the past in many locations throughout the township,” she noted.
Next-door neighbours Judy and Darrell Heibein have lived in Goldstone for 40 years and attended a Sept. 10 committee of adjustment meeting to express their opposition to the application.
“While we have no objections to our neighbours or a stable to house said horse or two, we strongly feel that the sheer size and location of the proposed building would be nothing more than a detriment to our home, property and use of our land,” Judy said.
She suggested the barn would be used for more animals than just the horse and said “we certainly reject to that in our residential community.
“The size proposed is almost double the square footage of our home and certainly not necessary to house a horse and buggy.
“Their location, directly to the left of my back door, would severely inhibit the use of our deck and backyard due to smell, noise (and) dirt and could affect any of the other neighbours down this row of houses as well.”
She added, “Certainly the aesthetic appearance our little community enjoys would be changed forever.”
She said as a retired person with chronic health problems who is home most of the time, her “quality of life would surely be effected,” and expressed concern about the smells, ammonia, flies and manure.
Heibein suggested Gingrich either use his two-car garage to store the horse and buggy, build the barn at the back of his property, or make use of the land across the street, which she said is currently rented out to house horses.
“The applicant purchased this land less than a year ago knowing full well it was not the size of property nor had the requirements to allow a hobby barn,” Heibein said.
“We are asking council to deny the variance and hold the property owner to the bylaw requirements for buildings, assuring the size and location remains suitable to our little community.”
Gingrich said while he would really appreciate being able to house his horse and buggy on his own property, he will accept council’s decision if it isn’t approved.
Redmond noted Gingrich is currently housing his horse across the street where Heibein suggested, but there are plans for that building to be removed, which is why he needs to relocate the horse and buggy.
She also noted Goldstone is an agricultural area surrounded by farms.
Committee member Peg Schieck asked if there was space to build the barn between the existing garage and the back of the property, where it would be further from neighbouring homes and where existing trees would help contain any smells.
She also suggested splitting the barn into two buildings, one for the horse and one for other storage.
“It is quite narrow to think of trying to build another building back there,” Gingrich said.
He also noted manure would not be stored on his property – he would move it weekly or biweekly across the street to his father-in-law’s farm.
Committee members Schieck, Robert Stanners and Jeff Duimering voted against the minor variance, while Ed Benjamins voted in support of it. Committee member Dennis Suomo wasn’t present.
“I don’t think it’s desirable because we’ve had neighbouring landowners come in with concerns,” Schieck said.
“I think there is maybe alternative solutions that he could maybe have his horse and stall in a different location.”
Duimering agreed and Stanners added he feels “the building is bigger than what it needs to be.
“Unfortunately I think it’s too big and not desirable,” he said.
