Council has finally passed the township’s new comprehensive zoning bylaw.
At its last meeting in October, council approved the bylaw, which had been delayed several times, particularly over the last six months.
Township officials wanted to replace the old bylaw, passed in 2000, because they felt the document had become cumbersome. The township first agreed to develop a new bylaw in 2007, when it approved the terms of reference. The new bylaw cost the township over $20,000 in fees from the Wellington County planning department, which was in charge of the project.
The intent was to produce a more user-friendly final document by:
– condensing the current bylaw, including a reduction of the approximate 126 maps previously used;
– making it more clear what is expected of everyone involved;
– eliminating duplication and ambiguity; and
– conforming to the Provincial Policy Statement and the county’s official plan.
Specific changes include:
– new environmental mapping;
– new regulations for home industry uses within the agricultural zone;
– revised regulations for the establishment of second dwellings in the agricultural zone;
– new regulations to address source water protection areas; and
– a reduction in the number of zoning categories, including some minor changes to the residential zones.
Perhaps the most tangible change facilitated by the new bylaw will be reducing the number of site-specific zoning cases through the elimination of non-existent uses, introduction of industrial and commercial agricultural categories, amendment of accessory structure regulations and addition of provisions for secondary dwellings on farm properties.
The new bylaw was delayed several times over the last few months because councillors were unsure about restrictions for parking commercial vehicles in residential areas and also about the minimum size of side yards.
Council eventually agreed to remove weight restrictions for vehicles and instead just use a provision in the new bylaw that allows one commercial vehicle – not longer than 30 fee or higher than 12 feet – to be parked in a residential zone.
Council also agreed to go with a minimum side yard size of 4.9 feet, and not 3.9 feet as originally proposed in the new bylaw.
Now that it is passed, anyone wanting to file an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) about the bylaw must do so by Nov. 10. A notice explaining the reason(s) for the appeal must be filed with the township clerk and be accompanied by the OMB fee.
