South Frontenac looks at additional dwelling units - April 4

Apr 12, 2023

South Frontenac Council met in April, in a combined council/committee of the whole meeting. The meeting included a public meeting dealing with one of the specific subjects in the township's new official plan, the approval of additional dwelling units on residential lots.

Senior Planner Christine Woods outlined the proposed changes, which would permit up to two additional dwelling units on residential properties, in the township, that satisfy certain conditions.

Additional dwelling units, which are known as granny flats, bachelor flats and other names, are one way for a rural township such as South Frontenac to diversify the mix of housing available, potentially adding affordable rental units.

The two units that would be permitted could either both be added units within the main building, or one unit within the main house, and a separate dwelling located no more than 40 metres from the main building. Second floor or loft units on top of garages are also part of the mix.

Christine Woods said that in preparing the amendment, township planning staff were mindful of the proposals for additional dwelling units that have come before the Committee of Adjustment, in recent years.

“The intent of the amendment is to simplify the process, and to bring our new official plan into conformity with the Frontenac County Official Plan, which promotes this kind of development,” she said.

When asked if adhering with provincial initiatives are forcing the changes, Woods said they are not, because the province only requires approvals be facilitated, for additional dwellings, in locations where public water and sewage systems are in place, which is not the case in South Frontenac.

Among the new proposals are to have the height of residential and ancillary buildings in the townships capped at 8 metres instead of the current 6 metres, and to eliminate the requirement that all ancillary buildings, including garages, need to be located behind the main residence on a lot.

“The requirement for a 20-metre setback from a roadway is enough to ensure that proper distances will be maintained,” said Woods.

The proposal also includes a 90-metre setback from a water body for additional dwellings, and 300 metres from a trout sensitive lake, making it unlikely any waterfront property owner in the township will be able to put in ancillary units. The setback for primary residence from the high-water mark is only 30 metres.

After all of the conditions that will need to be met in order to put in additional dwelling units, a member of the public said they are concerned that the regulations will make it harder than it is now, to get approval.

Councillor Scott Trueman said he shares that concern, and “we need to make sure that the process remains simplified and that extra studies and well capacity tests are only imposed when they are required.

As the public meeting came to a close, Woods said the comments will be incorporated into the final proposal that will be included in the official plan proposal that will come back to council in June.

Waste Site report from Cambium Consulting

There are some long standing issues regarding the Portland Waste site near Verona, which the largest in the township. However, initial data from test wells drilled in 2021 at the edge of the site indicate those issues are manageable, and it appears that the site will be able to continue accepting waste well into the future. The capacity of the site, as reported by Stephanie Reeder, senior engineer with Cambium, is 43 years.

There have been groundwater impacts in the vicinity of the Loughborough site, leading the township to purchase land and water rights. If all goes well, the site will be able to accept waste for up to 18 years, but at this time the approval is only for another two years.

In her presentation, Reeder talked about the smaller sites in the township as well, and about closure plans. All in all, the township remains in good standing with the Ministry of the Environment, the approval authority for all waste sites.

The overall landfill capacity of the township is 24 years at this time. If the land that was purchased by the township adjacent to the Loughborough site, and the work that is being done at the site ends up extending the life of the site, the overall capacity would go up to 30 years.

Mayor Vandewal said that he appreciates the relationship the township has developed with Cambium, and thanked Reeder for her report, which was presented in person for the first time in 3 years, due to COVID.

Inflation hits road marking costs

Council approved a staff proposal to sign a road marking contract to Provincial Road Markings Incorporated, for the next 5 years. The price per year, which was the lowest of 5 tenders, is more than double the amount that was paid in the 2019-2022 contract, and $82,000 over what was budgeted for this year, but as staff reported, inflation and other circumstances have had a huge impact on the industry. In order to save $25,000 from the tender price, some lesser roads will no longer have centre lines painted on them. The contract will still be $58,000 over budget for 2023.