MINTO – Town council has approved a minor variance application allowing Harriston resident Robert Harris to build a one-storey residential building on his property.
The property, at 167 Margaret St. S., is approximately 2,674 square feet in size and currently contains an existing two-storey building and a shed.
Harris is proposing to construct a 1,500 square foot one-storey house.
The purpose of the application is to seek relief from the required exterior yard setback of six metres (he is proposing three metres).
He is also asking for a maximum lot coverage of 45 per cent, whereas the permitted total is 40% in the R1B (low-density residential) zone.
“I’m asking for an additional five [per cent] so I have room to play with the house,” Harris told council.
The existing buildings are both located in the R1B zone and are to be demolished, creating space for the proposed home.
The report was presented at a May 6 council meeting, at which no speakers registered to speak against the application.
The report notes Harris hopes to split the land into two residential parcels through a severance application, which will be presented to council at a later date.
“What I’m proposing is not out of the normal … I’m going to split the lot so the inner house will be on a 50-foot lot and the corner house,” he explained.
“I hope to build two respectable residential houses,” Harris said. “In the last four years I’ve built nine (houses) in Harriston and brought nine new families.”
Notices regarding the minor variance were mailed on April 14 to property owners within 200 feet or 60 metres of the subject property.
Town staff recommended the variance be approved as the proposed relief met the four tests of a minor variance, subject to conditions, including:
- no encroachments, including decks, porches, balconies or steps, shall be permitted within the exterior side yard; and
- the reduced exterior side yard setback shall not apply to the garage.
“It’ll be nice to see a couple of new houses there and certainly an opportunity to keep our housing industry moving,” Mayor Dave Turton said.
Council unanimously approved the minor variance application.
