Mapleton holds public meeting for proposed broiler barn
MAPLETON – A new broiler barn may be built closer to the road than is usually allowed.
Owners of a 100 acre (40 hectare) property at 7589 Third Line, about five kilometres southeast of Conestogo Lake, applied for a variance and rezoning to permit the barn’s location.
The spot was chosen because it best aligns with the hilly topography of the lands, avoids GRCA regulated lands nearby and “is best suited for chicken truck traffic to the barn,” according to a township planning report.
But in order to permit the barn, a minor variance is needed for reduced minimum distance separation from the road and rezoning is necessary to build on lands zoned natural environment.
“Staff are satisfied that the proposal is in general conformity with the County of Wellington Official Plan and staff are supportive of the request to rezone the property,” the report continues.
“This location appears to be best suited for the functionality of the site.”
Wellington County planners also expressed no concerns.
The township held a public meeting on March 24 about the application. There were no questions or comments from the public or council.
The property owners include Stoney Knoll Horseshoeing and Merle Martin, and the application was submitted by consultant Cleon Martin.
While minimum distance separation rules specify the barn should be at least 30 metres from the nearest road, owners are hoping to build the barn 20 metres from the street.
The new barn is also technically located within the township’s natural environment zone, which means the construction would not be allowed without rezoning, but this is more of a mapping issue than an environmental one, officials say.
Mapleton’s natural environment zones usually line up perfectly to reflect areas regulated by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), but this is a rare example where those areas do not line up, because the GRCA reviewed the floodplain area and updated its mapping in November to more accurately reflect the area under the authority’s jurisdiction.
Township planners say “this has resulted in a suitable building envelope for the proposed barn outside of the hazard area.”
The owners are requesting the land be rezoned agricultural to reflect the GRCA’s re-interpreted boundary, and the GRCA has no concerns with the application.
Mapleton planner Linda Redmond said the township will eventually update its zoning bylaw to re-align the lands, “because otherwise we could run into some of these other problems down the road where it’s different.”
