Wellington North township supports farm severance

KENILWORTH – Owners of a farm between Farewell and Wagram, west of Kenilworth, are looking to sever a half-hectare lot from a 41-hectare property. 

The severed lot has an existing home and would continue to have a residential use. 

The retained lot, which is zoned prime agricultural and designated by Wellington County as prime agricultural, greenlands and core greenlands, would continue to be used as farmland. 

The property, owned by Holtz Grain Limited, is located at 9029 Concession 11. 

Existing small sheds on the property would be removed. 

Wellington North staff recommended council support the application as long as five conditions are met, including: 

– the owner enter into an agreement apportioning any future maintenance costs on any municipal drain impacted by the application; 

– sufficient driveway access is confirmed for each lot; 

– all sheds on the retained land be removed, including foundations; and 

– the retained lot be rezoned to restrict residential development.

The application is being submitted under surplus dwelling policies, which are intended to help farmers “reduce their costs of acquiring additional farm parcels, where the impact on existing and future farm operations can be kept to a minimum,” according to the county’s official plan.    

County planners have no concerns with the application as long as the conditions of approval are met, and say the application is consistent with provincial policy and conforms with Wellington’s official plan. 

They are satisfied the application meets the following criteria for surplus farm dwelling severances: 

– the remaining vacant farmland is large enough to function as a significant part of the overall farm unit; 

– the severance does not render the retained farmlands difficult or inefficient to farm; and

– the surplus residence is habitable and is not expected to be demolished. 

“In terms of the overall farm operation, we have been provided with  ... a list of other farm holdings owned by Holtz Grain Limited, which demonstrates that this application would constitute a farm consolidation,” county planners state. 

The county’s official plan specifies the amount of good farmland retained with the surplus house is to be kept to the minimum size needed for residential purposes.

“Identified features on the subject property include provincially significant wetlands, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority wetlands and significant woodlands,” county planners state.  

As of Jan. 13, a site visit had not yet been completed.  

Council voted unanimously in support of the severance application, which will go to the county’s land division committee for approval.