South Frontenac Council

Wilma Kenny | Jul 06, 2016

Council Rejects Re-Zoning Application

The owner (Don Stricelj) of a legal non-complying cottage on Dog Lake in Storrington District replaced a roofed front deck (damaged by a windstorm) with a two-storey addition. Because this replacement structure was built illegally without a building permit, is located 5.5 metres from the lake, and is a storey taller than the original, when it came to the township’s attention the owner was required to bring the structure into compliance.

Accordingly, Stricelj applied for a minor variance to permit construction of a whole new addition on the non-water side (also within the 30-metre setback), claiming that the offending two-storey addition was just a replacement for the damaged deck, the lack of building permit had been the contractor’s fault, not his and therefore the existing addition should be allowed. Committee of Adjustment denied the application and the owner appealed it to the OMB. Now that the present rezoning application seeks to address both current and proposed additions, the OMB hearing scheduled for later this month has been adjourned.

The subject land is 1.5 acres and has a steep cliff in front of the cottage. Planner Mills indicates there is sufficient land beyond the 30-metre setback for further development, though the owner contends this would constitute a hardship as it would not accommodate the shape of his current blueprint.

Much of the discussion that followed focussed on the question of whether or not the front addition was constructed on the previous footprint of the damaged deck, rather than the closeness to the shoreline of the existing dwelling and proposed further addition.

Mayor Vandewal noted that if one landowner was not required to go through the same permit process as everyone else, it would “open the floodgates”.

Council unanimously denied the re-zoning application.

Canadian Guitar Festival Approval Squeaks Through

Event promoter Del Vezeau has applied for a noise by-law exemption to permit him to hold the annual Canadian Guitar Festival on his Loughborough Lake property July 22-24.

Council did not dispute the quality and significance of the guitar festival, but at the same time were not pleased with the fact that Vezeau has been sponsoring other events that have violated the noise by-law, in spite of protests from his neighbours. They also felt he should not be advertising the festival before applying for the noise by-law exemption.

Planner Mills said this has been an annual problem. At one point, Mills had suggested a permanent zoning change to permit the guitar festival, but Vezeau did not follow up on the idea. Councillors McDougall and Sutherland suggested the problem should be discussed with the township's lawyer. In the end, Council approved lifting the noise restriction, but not unanimously. (5-3)

Agility Competitions at Centennial Park Next Year

Arena and Recreation Supervisor Tim LaPrade asked Council to approve noise and camping exemptions to the Eastern Ontario Regional Agility Competition organizers. They will be holding the event next June at Centennial Park, and have asked permission for the competitors’ trailers to remain on-site throughout the event. Recreation and Public Works staff have met with the organizers to discuss logistics.

(Note: agility refers to dogs running obstacle courses: fun to watch, and open to the public free of charge.)

Medical Centres

Silvers’ application for rezoning to permit construction of a new medical clinic in Sydenham was approved, as was the proposal to renew the lease for the Verona Medical Clinic, which is owned by the township but managed by a community board.