Conn church proposal details almost complete

The issue of a parochial school, church, and cemetery at the southern boundary of Conn is nearly complete.

Council recent held another public meeting about the proposed rezoning of a seven acre property from agricultural to institutional.

The property is at Lot 1, Concession 14 and it is currently farmed. The new zoning would allow a parochial school, church, cemetery, and related uses.

The severance is already approved by the Wellington County land division committee, subject to the rezoning.

Mayor Mike Broomhead said at the previous meeting the applicants were directed to work out some of the issues with the neighbours.

County planner Mark Van Patter believes, “We’re pretty near the end of this one, in terms of process.”

He said earlier public meeting demonstrated a number of issues to be resolved.

“We’ve worked through most of those issues,” he said.

“But there is some additional information, I thought council needed to understand the issue.”

He cited the original severance, which dealt with the original parcel. Since then, additional severances have come from that parcel, which Van Patter described as minor in nature.

Those dealt with a sliver of land that ran up an existing road allowance between two residential properties in Conn. That land is being severed and moved to those residential lots.

Another item included a 20 foot wide drainage easement for the development of the church and school.

Van Patter noted the revised site plans were submitted to council, including the location of parking areas.

He said earlier site plans had generated a number of minor revisions. There are no large issues, he said.

Van Patter said the draft zoning amendment itself is much the same, moving the property from essentially an agricultural to institutional.

He said the site plan does not need to be finalized before the rezoning is passed.

Van Patter said the drainage matters, however, will need to be addressed under the site plan.

“I don’t see any reason why the rezoning can’t be approved,” Van Patter concluded.

Broomhead noted there was quite a bit of correspondence on the issue, although much of it was dated prior to a previous public meeting.

Councillor John Matusinec asked if this now alleviates concerns from the neighbours.

CAO/Clerk Lori Heinbuch stated the site plan control should address their remaining concerns.

Councillor Dan Yake added that since council has not received additional objections since the last meeting, he was ready to support it.

“They’ve certainly gone through a lot of work on it, and it is certainly something that will benefit the community,” he said.

Broomhead added there appears to be no objections from council.

There will still need to be a site plan agreement. The rezoning bylaw was passed during regular council meeting, following the public meeting.

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