A plan to build a second residence on a 48.5-acre property just south of Mount Forest shouldn’t set a planning precedent, township planner Mark Van Patter urged council at its meeting Aug. 27.
“I wouldn’t want this to be a precedent,” the planner told council about the plan proposed by Jim and Debbie Hewson who are planning on establishing a breeding farm for standardbred horses on their property bordered by Highway 6 and Sideroad 2 East.
“It doesn’t meet the letter of the Official Plan, but there is some room for council to decide whether this is unique,” Van Patter said of options available to council to approve the amendment.
The couple is seeking an amendment to rezone the property, known as Hewvilla Farms, to allow for a second home to be built.
“The reason we are asking for a second house is to provide a primary dwelling for my wife and myself,” Jim Hewson said in a letter on the amendment. “The house presently on the farm is in good condition and has been remodeled and updated over the years. It is a two storey house and is presently, and will be, occupied by our son Matthew who is also active and will become more active in the day to day operation of the farm as we get started and able to expand. Matt is presently studying Equine Management through the University of Guelph in a diploma course. Presently I am unable to do the manual labour involved and rely on Matt to do most of my lifting and carrying. I have had chronic back issues for the past six years and in 2011 broke my right shoulder further limiting my strength.”
The second home, according to Jim Hewson, would allow the couple to keep watch over the horses.
“We already lost one colt last year as where the horses are boarded out, we weren’t able to be around enough to notice the mother was kicking the colt which resulted in an unrepairable broken leg.”
Jim Hewson said the colt had to be put down.
“Our goal is to have a first class breeding operation with quality brood mares and stallions,” the letter stated. “The brood mare we have now is a Western Hanover daughter (who is one of North America’s Top Stallions). She has a colt that is fathered by Sportswriter and is re-bred to Mach Three. Both of these studs are million dollar winners and breeding fees are $7,000.”
The couple got interested in standardbred breeding because of family involvement in the industry.
“This is the quality of the horses that we have now and are hoping to build our business foundation,” the letter said. “It is not being treated as a hobby. We are not working to be a large operation, but a quality one. We are also hoping to have a show place that will be an attractive entrance to Mount Forest as well as our customers.”
“I feel that where we are planning to build the new house is in the best suitable location on the farm, although it is not located in the building envelope of the existing house it is outside the building arc of the existing barn to the south belonging to (farmer) Pheres Martin The location is best suited because it is using land that is not good farmland, is off the highway and is keeping cars from entering and exiting on to a busy road. If this house is allowed we will have labour accessibility 24/7 and be able to provide the care needed for you foals and expectant mothers.”
Councillor Andy Lennox was the only councillor to raise concern about the proposed placement of the new house.
“I don’t have any problems supporting the horse operation,” he said. “I have a problem with the location of the home, it should be in the building cluster.”
Council approved the amendment.
