Council concerned about undersized lots in proposed Ariss development
Development includes 16 houses with frontage on 6th Line
BRUCEDALE – Guelph/Eramosa councillors voiced concerns about undersized lots in a proposed Will-O-Homes development in the hamlet of Ariss.
The development includes 16 dwellings with frontage and access from 6th Line East, just behind the Ussher’s Creek subdivision.
“If the minimum lot size was an acre than it should be an acre,” said councillor Bruce Dickieson.
“I’m not against the development but I think the lots should be one acre.”
As presented at a March 23 council meeting, 13 of the 16 proposed lots are under an acre in size.
“I agree with councilor Dickieson,” said councillor Corey Woods.
“I’m supportive of houses going in there [Ariss], I’m supportive of the landscaping plan, the fencing sounds great, just my sticking point is the one acre size.”
Woods proposed the developer consider creating less lots to allow for the one-acre minimum.
“You’re not far off to meeting the minimum,” said councillor Mark Bouwmeester. “So I just question ... why can’t it be one acre.”
“We would have been happy to come forward with the lot sizes to meet the minimum,” said Brandon Flewwelling of GSP Group on behalf of the applicant.
He told council the undersized lots are due to “the physical constraints of the site,” noting all of the lot frontages meet the minimum requirements.
The property is home to the Kurtz municipal drain, which has been identified as an environmental protection zone in the township’s zoning bylaw.
Council amended the original motion to rezone the lands from an agricultural zone and environmental protection zone to a site-specific rural residential zone with a holding provision and environmental protection zone.
Council added an additional condition: that each lot be at least one acre.
Council voted unanimously to approve the amended motion and it will come back to council for final approval.
