A former waste transfer station in West Garafraxa is finding a new lease on life as an agricultural property.
On Aug. 27, councillors here held a public meeting to review the proposal for 6998 Sixth Line.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said the zoning bylaw amendment would shift the zoning from “A.34.1” Agricultural Exception to Agricultural Exception.
The change would restrict residential uses on a newly created lot and remove a zoning provision allowing for a private waste transfer station on the retained lot.
Centre Wellington director of planning Brett Salmon clarified the zone change is a condition of approval for a property severance approved by the county’s land division committee.
He noted the municipality had recently dealt with a surplus farm dwelling severance.
“This is another one.”
He said the property with the residence is being severed from a larger agricultural property.
“The owners are retiring and wish to sever off the dwelling.”
The larger farm parcel is being sold to another farmer, Salmon said.
Part of the requirements for this type of severance is to ensure another residence cannot be constructed on the larger severed agricultural parcel.
As such, Salmon said, the county requires zoning so there can be no residential use.
He noted the current property has a private waste transfer station, which has a separate zoning.
Salmon said that business has wound down and the retiring property owners are asking the site specific zoning provision be removed.
He agreed the lot area chosen appears unusual, but actually follows the contours of the plowed fields.
On the larger parcel all agricultural use would be permitted – with the exception of allowing a house.
Councillor Walt Visser asked if the waste transfer station would be cleaned up.
Salmon said it was only that day (Aug. 27) that the owners wanted that zoning removed.
Councillor Kirk McElwain asked for clarification that this had been a private waste transfer station.
He asked whether that fell under the control of the Wellington County waste transfer.
Salmon explained “It is a private facility which has existed for years and years.”
He noted the site had an MOE certificate of approval, “but they’ve chosen to wind it down to retire.”
Salmon suspected that under current regulations, “it would be pretty hard for someone to start something like this.”
McElwain asked if there was any burying on the site.
“Not to my knowledge,” Salmon responded.
McElwain asked whether any environmental assessment would be needed before the switch to farmland.
Salmon said the property will essentially just be land associated with the house.
But, he said, any environmental requirements to shut the transfer station down, would be controlled through the MOE certificate of approval.
Vince Starratt, solicitor for the applicant, said the business is no longer being operated from the site and the land is in the process of being cleaned up.
However Starratt said it was only surface waste connected with big bins which are being removed.
He also said this was not hazardous waste, but household refuse and garbage.
Starratt considered the proposal for the township since this type of transfer station would not be allowed anymore.
“It’s the right thing to do in this particular situation.”
Salmon noted that of the written correspondence on the matter, was a concern of whether wind turbines could be installed.
He added that it would be unlikely the land would be further subdivided.
“It is going to remain agricultural.”
