BRUCEDALE – Guelph-Eramosa council doesn’t want a property on Division Street in Rockwood to be divided into three lots and it went out of its way to make sure Wellington County’s planning division knows it.
Meagan Ferris, a county planner, presented an application to council on Nov. 2.
The applicant is seeking to divide a large lot at 161 Division Street in Rockwood into three lots, demolish the existing home and build three single-detached homes in its place.
“Infill in urban centres is allowed” by municipalities, Ferris said. The application “is in an area with municipal servicing and meets the county’s official plan.”
She said there were no objections to date and recommended that council approve the request.
But Mayor Chris White said he’s opposed.
“I don’t like it. It’s too dense,” he said.
He added dividing the property in half and building two homes would be more palatable, especially in an established neighbourhood.
White said he agrees with the move from the province to intensify cities and towns rather than continue to sprawl.
“But I don’t want to see an established neighbourhood in Rockwood being intensified,” he said.
“This is different from greenfield development. I think traditional neighbourhoods should be left intact.”
White noted the property in question is 120 feet wide. Dividing it into three makes each property 40 feet wide which is smaller than the minimum 44 feet set by the township.
“The variance seems minor but it would be major,” he said.
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester asked if there would be a public meeting for neighbours to weigh in.
Ferris said a public meeting is planned for December and neighbours will be informed ahead of time.
Council amended the county planners’ recommendation to specify that the lot should be divided in half with only two homes allowed.
The matter will go to Wellington County’s land division committee, which will make the final decision after the public meeting.
