Township supports farm severance on condition more farmland retained
Council asks that odd-shaped lot be made more square to reduce its size
ARTHUR – Property owners are hoping to sever 0.8 hectares (two aces) from an agricultural lot to separate a surplus house from the farm.
The 22-hectare (50-acre) property is located just northwest of the village of Arthur.
In a report presented to Wellington North council on Feb. 9, county planners note “an opportunity to make the severed residential lot smaller.”
They recommended the township support the severance application, so long as it is satisfied with the proposed size of the severed lot and that the farm be rezoned to restrict residential development.
The county’s official plan permits surplus farm dwelling severances, in order to reduce costs for farmers to expand their operations, if:
- the remaining farm is big enough to make up a significant part of the overall farm unit;
- the severance does not make the remaining lands difficult or inefficient to farm;
- the farmland severed is kept to the minimum necessary for residential purposes (considering environmental and topographic features);
- the surplus house is habitable and not expected to be demolished;
- minimum distance separations are met; and
- the farmland is rezoned to prohibit residential use.
County staff say all the above criteria is met, or will be on the conditions of approval, except for the severed lot’s size.
“In terms of the overall farm operation, we have been provided with a farm information form including a list of other farm holdings owned by Shayne Deboer, which demonstrates that this application would constitute a farm consolidation,” the planning report states.
The county’s official plan also requires that all lots be adequately serviced with water and sewage disposal, have safe driveway access, and have suitable lot frontage, area and shape.
Councillor Penny Renken noted the proposed severed lot is an unusual shape, and asked if it could be made more square to reduce its size.
Township planning manager Curtis Marshall said the applicant is prepared to reduce the size of the severed lot, and if the back lot line was made parallel with Highway 6, the lot would be about half an acre smaller.
As the lower tier municipality is a commenting, not decision making, agency on severance applications, it submitted a recommendation to Wellington County’s land division that the size of the retained parcel be reduced and the rear lot line made parallel with Highway 6.
