Mapleton council has little choice but to support a zoning amendment to allow a horse barn on a property within the hamlet boundaries here.
The amendment was requested by Miriam and William Martin for the property at Part Lot 19 Concession 1 of Mapleton. The property’s address is listed as Yatton Road, but it is located within the hamlet of Wallenstein.
The Martins want to build a 660-square-foot shed to house a horse and carriage used for transportation. However, the property is currently zoned unserviced residential (R1A), which does not permit a barn.
Wellington County senior planner Mark Van Patter explained the main issue with the proposal is Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) II requirements cannot be met as required under section 6.17.2 of the Mapleton zoning bylaw.
The distances to the neighbouring dwellings are approximately 18 and 24 metres; while a 168-metre setback is required to Type B land uses.
However, Van Patter noted, council has supported similar applications in the past and said he is not aware of any issues with the neighboring property owners.
The planner also suggested council had little choice but to support the application.
“Wallenstein has a number of Mennonite residents whose primary mode of transportation is horse and buggy. It’s my understanding that the courts have ruled in favour of horse sheds in urban areas in the past, where horses are the main mode of transportation. During my site visit, I did notice several other sheds/barns within the hamlet boundary,” Van Patter stated.
Van Patter said he would clear up issues raised by council, including the height of the proposed building and total lot coverage of utility buildings on the property in a revised draft of the bylaw.
