Public meeting re Lyons Landing draws comments

Wilma Kenny | Mar 04, 2020

Ten residents and one neighbour of Lyons Landing came to Council to express unhappiness about the rezoning of eleven lots curving around the outside of Kona Crescent. The topography of these lots is awkward: the back portion of most of them drops off very steeply. The rezoning request, brought forward by the developer, would change the front yard setback from 20 metres to 10 metres. This smaller setback would permit house, garage and septic beds to be located on the relatively level area at the front of the lots, and would avoid having to blast, excavate and cut trees, in order to access the back portion of the properties.

Concerns included drainage and loss of rural nature, for the lots in question surround the current residents of Kona Crescent. There was fear that due to the small building envelope, the new houses would be taller, blocking views, causing light pollution, and possibly parking some of their extra vehicles on the roadway, because of shorter driveways.

The Lyons Landing subdivision, located just south of Inverary above the Collins Lake/creek wetland, was originally approved by the province in 1970, and these lots are the last to remain undeveloped.

Claire Dodds, Director of Development Services, said that because the lots already exist, the Township can only look at how best to use them. Neither the Health Unit nor Cataraqui Conservation Authority had any objections to the rezoning proposal. Dodds has visited the property and does not object to the reduced front yard setback. Mayor Vandewal asked whether the developer could build now, if the zoning was not changed, and Dodds said yes, but a 20 metre setback would require excavation of the slope that runs through the properties. Councillor Ruttan asked whether residents of adjoining properties would be able to comment on building permit applications.

“No: there is nothing that would prevent two-storey buildings,” Dodds said

Councillor Ron Sleeth asked whether any of the lots could have the house placed further back.

Dodds said she would ask the developer if the configuration of some of the lots could be adjusted, but added “none of the lots will easily accommodate a full 20 metre setback.”

Septic Systems Monitoring

Given KFL&A Public Health’s recent announcement that they “will no longer carry out the municipality’s responsibility for sewage systems under the Ontario Building Code Act and attendance regulations effective January 1, 2021”, Council agreed to request a staff report that addresses the township’s capacity to administer Part 8 of the Building Code (septic inspections) inhouse.

CAO Carbone said that two of the building department staff were already qualified, and bringing the work in-house would be compatible with the Township’s strategic plan.

Open for Business: South Frontenac

The township has successfully obtained funding from two sources for a two-year project “Open for Business South Frontenac: Streamlining Development Approvals for Rural Economic Growth”

This initiative is meant to improve and enhance the planning and building approval processes through new technology implementation and regional partnerships, and includes the purchase of a software package that will integrate technology, planning and building approvals with the municipality’s GIS system, and a two-year ‘temporary full-time’ employee to get the program up and running. The total project cost is estimated at $324,800 over two years. 63% of the project costs are funded by two grant programs – the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program ($139,208) and the Rural Innovation Initiative for Eastern Ontario (RIIEO) program ($66,354), with the remaining 37% being funded, as budgeted, from the township’s reserves ($119,238).

Council had to approve both the software purchase, and enter into an agreement between with both the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the County of Frontenac for the RED grant.

Congrats to the Basement-dwellers

CAO Carbone offered special recognition to Claire Dodds, director of development services and Tom Berriault, chief of building services, who along with Jamie Brash, facilities supervisor, have been conducting an in-house renovation of the lower level of the Township hall this past several months. The project is now nearing completion: the trio has opened up and maximized the use of “every square foot of space that’s down there,” while continuing to carry out their regular duties.

“They have gone above and beyond their daily jobs, creating positive change and getting ahead of growth. Many thanks to them,” he said.