South Frontenac Council

Wilma Kenny | May 14, 2015

Mayor Vandewal opened the meeting with the announcement that a closed session would follow the regular meeting, to discuss “legal and land issues.”

Proposed Process for Official Plan Adoption

Every five years, the Township’s Official Plan has to be reviewed and brought up to date. In December 2013 the Township Planning Department forwarded a revised draft of the Official Plan to The Ministry of Municipal Affairs for review and comments. This plan contained a number of internal changes and provincially mandated changes. In October 2014, the Ministry returned a number of comments which have now been addressed in the current draft plan. Next steps in the process are: June 2, Council reviews the draft, and on July 13 the public will be invited to an open house presentation of the Current proposed Official Plan. This will be followed on Aug 18 with a public meeting before the final draft comes to Council in early September for adoption, followed by submission to the Ministry for final approval.

Larcon Zoning Amendment

This concerns a proposed lot addition and rezoning of a one hectare parcel of land on the Wilton Road on the southern edge of Harrowsmith. The lot addition would have to be rezoned as industrial to match the already existing industrial zone of the property it will join. Neighbour Pat Lalonde has twice expressed her fear that this industrial property will damage her property value and be incompatible with a residential area. (The stated plan is to eventually enlarge the storage rental business that is on the existing industrial lot.) Planner Mills noted that the Township’s zoning by-law would require a site plan agreement with stipulation for a substantial buffer combining berm and plantings along the road front before any further development could take place on the property.

Mills also recommended that “open storage” be removed from the list of possible uses within urban industrial zoning. Further decision was deferred until it could be confirmed that all the neighbouring residents had received notification of the proposal.

Planning Department Proposal

Planner Mills asked Council’s approval of his intent to set aside blocks of uninterrupted work time. He proposes using Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon to concentrate on review and assessment of large projects. CAO Orr supported this idea, saying that staff wanted Council to be aware of this change. Council agreed with Mills’ plan.