Mapleton council suggests changes to proposed farm severance near Alma
MAPLETON – Council here may support a surplus farm dwelling severance near Alma, as long as parameters shift.
The applicant wants to sever 1.1 hectares (2.7 acres) from a 38.8 hectare (95.9 acre) farm at 7487 Sideroad 30, about 2.5km northwest of Alma.
The lot to be severed has an existing home and barn, and the lot to be retained is farmland with two farm buildings.
Council considered the application on June 9, and passed a motion requesting the severed lot be made smaller, and the barn be kept on the retained farm instead of the severed residential lot “or that the land division committee refer the application back to Mapleton to work with the applicants on zoning compliance.”
Wellington County’s land division committee is the decision-making authority for severances.
The land is designated prime agricultural and core greenlands by Wellington County and zoned agricultural and natural environment by Mapleton Township.
Township planners recommended approving the severance, with conditions, including:
- driveway access to retained lands be provided or upgraded;
- residential use is prohibited on retained lands;
- zoning compliance is obtained for the two farm buildings on the retained lands, or those buildings are removed; and
- information about the use of the barn on the severed parcel is provided, and zoning compliance obtained or the building removed.
Mapleton planners say the application meets all of the county’s criteria for severances.
The barn is 650m2 and has been converted into storage and office space, and Mapleton is requesting documentation showing the conversion was done with proper building permits and that the use is permitted under the zoning bylaw.
“If the use is a home industry use, it cannot continue as such on a reduced lot,” states a township planning report.
“The use of a home industry is permitted as secondary to the main user of a farm operation over 25 acres in size.”
