Minto supports rural residential severance with conditions

MINTO – An application to create a new residential lot on Road 1 North  is supported by council subject to conditions related to access, tree removal and zoning compliance.

Minto council recommended the county’s land division committee approve consent application B26/26 on Sept. 8.

The property is about 8.31 hectares (20.53 acres), designated secondary agricultural in Wellington County’s Official Plan, and zoned agricultural under Minto’s zoning bylaw.

The application proposes severing roughly 1.19 hectares (2.94 acres), with 115.4 metres (379 feet) of frontage from vacant land to create a rural residential lot.

The retained parcel would be about 2.17 hectares (5.36 acres), with 145.5 metres (477 feet) of frontage, and contains an existing dwelling and shed.

Planning co-ordinator Sama Haghighi told council the application is currently being considered by the County of Wellington Land Division Committee and staff found the proposed severance meets applicable requirements, including lot area, frontage and minimum distance separation requirements.

According to her report, the county’s official plan policies permit one new residential lot in a secondary agricultural area, provided several requirements are met.

Among the considerations, the lot must be at least 0.4 hectares, be capable of receiving individual services and have access to an opened public road and be compatible with surrounding development.

Haghighi also explained that minimum distance separation requirements are met for the newly created lot.

After receiving the report council members discussed the “unusual” configuration and topography of the property.

Mayor Dave Turton asked about road access and the location of the proposed entrance. Chief building official Terry Kuipers explained the existing dwelling is accessed from Road 1 North, while the entrance to the new severed lot would be from the 12th Line, at the upper-left portion of the property. 

Councillor Ed Podniewicz questioned whether the property’s frontage on two roads could allow another lot to be severed in the future.

Kuipers said that it “would not be possible” because of the property’s topography.

“The elevation between Road 1 North and the portion of the severed lot that fronts onto Road 1 North has an elevation difference of approximately 20 feet,” Kuipers said. 

He added the area is substantially lower and also contains a pond, making another residential building lot there impractical.

Deputy Mayor Jean Anderson also asked about the bodies of water and whether their relationship to the proposed property lines presented an issue.

Kuipers said it did not, noting the blue areas shown on the aerial image make the water bodies appear larger than they physically are. He explained the owner is seeking to divide the property between siblings while making the two resulting properties as equal as possible.

One parcel would contain the existing dwelling and a pond, while the proposed vacant residential parcel would also contain a pond.

Staff circulated the application internally before bringing it to council. The building department requested zoning compliance as a condition, while clerks and treasury required the owner to satisfy the town’s financial and other requirements and ensure accounts are in good standing. Public works requested the access, entrance permit and sightline/tree-removal conditions.

Council supported the application and recommended its approval by the county’s land division committee subject to four conditions: satisfying the town’s financial and other requirements; confirming satisfactory access and obtaining and installing the required entrance; completing any additional tree removal needed for adequate sightlines; and achieving zoning compliance.