Rezoning of a former casket factory building in Mount Forest will move it toward the desired effect of the Wellington County official plan on residential development.
Township planner Linda Redmond told Wellington North council at its Sept. 10 meeting the plan by property owner Jim Hewson to change the zoning of his property at 350 Dublin Street to allow for a vintage car sales business is in tune with what the county would like to see developed in residential areas. Hewson has operated his portable toilet business out of the former factory, but sold it earlier this year and wants to establish a business to sell vintage cars and car-related memorabilia.
“It’s zoned industrial, but we would like to see it moved more to a residential use,” Redmond told council.
“This zoning bylaw amendment would allow for the sale of used vehicles as well as some accessory uses such as the sale of auto parts and memorabilia,” Redmond stated in a planning opinion report to council. “The property is currently zoned industrial and is located within a primarily residential area. The county official plan has provisions which recognize legally established uses which do not conform with the policies of an official plan but may be recognized as permitted use in the local zoning bylaw. It further provides direction that a council may consider zoning the property to allow a similar and more compatible use. In this instance the current industrial zoning would permit a wide variety of uses that may not be compatible with the surrounding residential area. It is staff’s opinion that the proposed site specific commercial zoning would be more compatible with the surrounding area. Additionally, with the C3 zoning category, it is possible that other future uses which are more in keeping with the intentions of the official plan designation could be accommodated on the subject lands in the future and would not adversely affect the transition to more compatible uses in the future.”
A major stipulation recommended by the planner is that the business would be conducted inside the current building with no vehicles parked outside.
“All of the uses must be located in the existing building and no outside sales whatsoever,” she told council.
Two neighbours of the property expressed concern about the possibility of outside storage of vehicle parts and cars.
“Nothing is going to really change from what it is right now,” Hewson said. “The casket factory is more like an old style warehouse. Our intention is to turn it into a showroom.”
“We are not intending to have a used car lot, most vehicles will be inside and it is not our intentions to have vehicles outside overnight or weekends,” he said in a letter to council.
Hewson owns about 30 vintage cars that could be sold from the property if the rezoning is approved. He also needs a commercial zoning to apply for a dealer’s licence from the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) which regulates car sales in Ontario.
Hewson also assured neighbors the business would not see vehicles test driven in the neighbourhood.
“I’m not going to let anybody get into one of my cars, ripping up and down Dublin Street,” he said. “To let somebody hop into a car and run the tires off it on Dublin Street doesn’t do me any good or anyone else any good.”
The business would also sell antique pop machines and gas station memorabilia.
Councillor Dan Yake said he had initial concerns about the proposed business, but after hearing details about how it will operate those concerns have been addressed.
“I think it’s one of those unique businesses that will attract people to our community,” he said.
Council approved the rezoning.
