Ned and Lily Krayishnik are still working to keep two residences on one lot, despite losing an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decision earlier this year.
On Aug. 15, Puslinch councillors heard from planner John Ghent, on behalf of the Krayishniks. Ghent was seeking a zoning bylaw amendment for the property at 6643 Concession 2.
The application would permit two existing dwellings to remain on the 11 hectare property. “That’s the bottom line purpose of the application.”
Ghent supports the township’s planning advisory committee which recommends a public meeting be held. He said a full presentation was already made to the planning advisory committee. He said another full presentation would be made after the public meeting at the time when a decision would be made.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said council was still awaiting a planning report from Sarah Wilhelm.
“If we haven’t received that report, should we be going forward with a public meeting?” Stokley asked. Wilhelm said if council sets a date, the report will be ready for council’s review a week or two prior to the public meeting.
If council wished to defer a meeting date, Wilhelm assured the report would be ready within the next several weeks.
Councillor Susan Fielding said, “There were lots of concerns raised at the planning advisory committee, but I’m supportive of moving ahead with a public meeting.”
Lever said while he supported moving ahead with a meeting, “You know I am not supportive of the application.”
He suggested Ghent work with the clerk’s office to determine a meeting date for late September or early October.
Background
Earlier this year, council took a hard stance against the property owners, who had overstepped municipal zoning by having more than one home where only one is allowed.
Legal action was taken to ensure that only one of three homes remain on the property owned by Ned and Lily Krayishnik.
The OMB agreed with Puslinch in that the property should only have one home, as per the county’s official plan.
In 2007, the Krayishniks bought a rural lot that already had a house, constructed in 1975. They applied to build a new house, but since the township zoning bylaw has limits of one dwelling per lot, it requested a $5,000 security deposit to ensure the original house would be removed.
That home was not demolished, and years later (according to the OMB ruling), after being threatened with a lawsuit, the Krayishniks applied for a variance to allow two dwellings on the lot. By that time, the 1975 home had been converted into a duplex – without a building permit.
