Councillors here are willing to look at side yard relief for a residential development across the road from TG?Minto in Palmerston – pending a written endorsement from an acoustic specialist.
The public meeting was to consider an application to amend the zoning for four lots on the west side of Toronto Street in Palmerston – opposite the TG?Minto plant. The properties are part of a subdivision by applicant Harj Gill.
The amendment would provide relief from side yard requirements from 7.6 metres (24.93 feet) to 4.8 metres (15.75 feet).
That would allow a 56 foot wide, semi-detached home to fit on the sites, which would be similar to the homes proposed on other lots in the subdivision.
While currently designated as residential in the official plan, the area lies within a residential exception zone relating to requirement of an acoustic study (compatibility with TG?Minto) and the allocation of municipal servicing.
The reduction for the side yards proposed is 63% of the normal standard.
Planner Mark Van Patter said it was his understanding the developer needs the extra space to accommodate the semi-detached dwelling design.
Van Patter noted there are usually two reasons behind the exterior side yard standards: to provide enough space should the actual portion of the street ever need to be widened; or to maintain the streetscape aesthetic with all the houses set back the same distance.
Given that Toronto Street is a county road, Van Patter said if the county roads department can support the application, he would as well. He added that since all four lots of the subdivision fronting Toronto Street would have a consistent setback, there should not be an issue with the streetscape appearance.
However, on the compatibility with TG?Minto, “the revision in exterior side yard will result in the dwellings being 9.18 feet closer to TG?Minto – noise source.”
While he said it was his understanding that the change would not present a problem in meeting the sound attenuation requirements of the acoustic study, he would still like to have something in writing from the applicant’s consultant.
Paul Ziegler, of Triton Engineering, said to provide privacy and sound attenuation, the proponents proposed a berm fence. He had contacted the firm that did the sound study to find out if the new distances would still work.
The answer he received was it would, but he did not have that answer in writing.
“They did not feel the extra nine feet was an issue,” Ziegler said. “It’s still do-able and achieves the noise attenuation.”
Mayor David Anderson asked if that written response could be forwarded, would Van Patter would be satisfied with the changed distances. Van Patter did not have an issue with that.
“Let’s get those houses up Harj,” said councillor Rick Hembly.
Council later agreed to the rezoning pending receipt of written information from the acoustic specialist.
