South Frontenac Council - Apr 6/10

Wilma Kenny | Apr 08, 2010

Proposed By-law Amendments

The Limestone School Board has requested rezoning of four properties on Mill Street, preparatory to construction of an addition to the west side of the present school. The Board now owns three of the four lots. However, these lots are part of the Sydenham settlement area, which is a plan of subdivision. This prevents adjoining lots from merging without the permission of a ‘deeming by-law’.

Township planner Lindsay Mills recommended that Council approve only first and second readings, until the school board has purchased the final property, a deeming by-law has been passed, and the Ministry of the Environment has been consulted.

The school plans to construct a 13,000 square foot addition to their existing building but doesn’t anticipate an increase in enrolment. There were no comments from the public.

OP amendment

Council was notified of an application for an Official Plan amendment, which would permit three additional residential lots to be severed from a property that had already had three lots severed in 2008. The lot in question is large, 108 acres, and the three earlier severances are more than a kilometre from the proposed new ones, which are within the hamlet of Hartington.

Planner Mills said the reason for considering this proposal is because the Official Plan encourages development within hamlets. Two residents, Hanna and Dennis Saunders, had questions about the process of gathering public opinion, and concerns that development might adversely affect their well. This is not one of the water areas identified as highly sensitive, but their comments will be forwarded to the Ministry, and they will be notified of the public meeting to be held later in the process.

Amendment to New Development Charges By-law

Council amended the by-law that sets residential development charges, to include recreation. As a result of transfers from police & library funding to recreation, the total charges will remain the same. There were no comments.

Committee of Adjustment at Odds with Planner on Groundwater Issue

Planner Lindsay Mills reported his concerns about a group of consent applications from four separate landowners to create ten new residential lots on Holleford road, east of Hartington. Although there will be no more than three severances from each parent property, they abut each other, creating a virtual subdivision.

This is an area noted to have highly sensitive groundwater. Quality is of particular concern: the soil is shallow, and underlain by fractured limestone, causing potential for cross-contamination. There is also potential for drainage problems, due to standing water.

Mills said he fears the Committee of Adjustment (C of A) is ready to approve these severances without further investigation of the water issues.

Councilor Bill Robinson said water quality could easily be treated, and the applications should be passed. Councillor Larry York agreed, noting that there would have been no question if these severances had come one at a time. Councilor David Hahn said he thought the C of A was about to ignore the policies of Council, and their planner’s advice. All three are members of the Committee of Adjustment. The mayor referred the issue back to the committee, which meets next week.

KFL&A Public Health

At the township’s request, the Public Health Unit will continue inspect new and replacement septic installations for the Township, but fees will rise, to cover their full costs.