Council here has agreed to expand the highway commercial zoning for a property in Dorking so its current use as a contractor’s yard meets the zoning rules.
Planner Mark Van Patter told council during a public meeting the hamlet’s grocery store is immediately east of the site. “It’s kind of a mixed use area,” he said.
The property had highway commercial zoning with a site specific zone to allow trucks to be stored there. Now, a new user wants permission for a contractor’s yard, for cement forming.
The land is Part of Lot 19 Concession 1 (Maryborough) and is about half an acre. It has a 2,400 square foot building on it.
Van Patter said he does not have many concerns about the proposal. He added the owner, Elmer Bowman, would also like some outside storage. Van Patter said that might include “some lumber,” and that could require a tree buffer.
Councillor Mike Downey was curious about the proposal. He said the land is already zoned highway commercial, and asked what difference the zone change would make when the change was from trucks to cement forms.
Van Pater said the land has been in that zone for years, but highway commercial, by itself, does not allow for the storage of trucks. Currently, with the extra zoning, it does allow them.
Downey said he did not like the proposal because if a cement form business falls through, the owner could no longer permit truck storage, and would have to start rezoning all over again.
“He’s already paying commercial taxes, but he’s restricted,” Downey said.
Van Patter agreed council might want to expand the permitted uses.
Mayor Bruce Whale asked about the buffer, and if it was for the view from the road, or for the neighbour.
Van Patter said it is for both, but that will not be onerous. He explained the buffer area is already planted half way with trees. “It’s a matter of filling in,” he said.
Van Patter said the Green Legacy program would be happy to supply the trees.
Council then agreed to consider the zoning bylaw at its next meeting on June 28.
