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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-11-10, Page 21THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2005. PAGE 21. HE council hears county’s severance arguments By Heather Crawford Citizen staff The Huron County Planning Department devised arguments for and against the granting of surplus severances on 50 acre parcels that were presented to Huron East council at the Nov. 1 meeting. There were several arguments supporting the surplus severances on 50-acre parcels. It was said that it would maintain the rural population, either by providing options for Just desserts Jean Watson, left and Elva Trapp were kept busy slicing pies for the hungry diners at Trinity Anglican’s roast beef supper in Memorial Hall on Sunday night. (Vicky Bremner photo) current residents or new residents. It avoids derelict farm houses and provides an alternative source of housing and also avoids vacant existing residences in a rural community. Surplus severances on 50-acre parcels avoids destroying good condition farmsteads and is a source of income for the farmer. Huron East staff members in a report stated that this would be the choice of the farmer. The new rule would maintain the assessment for the municipality and maintain heritage residential/rural structure in the municipality. It would maintain the social fabric of the area with families, etc. as well as follow the intent of the provincial policy statement for surplus dwellings. The new rule treats 100-acre and 50-acre parcels in the same fashion and provides economic benefits to urban areas socially, and by recreational and commercial means. There were several arguments opposing the surplus severances on 50-acre parcels as well. Some of the arguments listed in the report were that it would mean a loss of a farm residence combined with a 50-acre starter farm for small operators or young farmers. Huron East staff questioned this asking, if this is true, then why not allow the creation of 50-acre parcels to create starter farms? Another argument pointed out the possibility that the severed parcel will one day be owned by urbanites who are not accustomed to smells, noise, etc. and would be expecting a good variety of municipal services. Huron East staff commented that there is no difference between a surplus severance from a 50-acre parcel than a 100-acre parcel or a farm tenant. This is an outdated argument, the report stated. Other arguments against the change included the idea that it encourages non-farm residential demand/climate in an agricultural area and it fragments the rural countryside and restricts the long­ term flexibility for agriculture by imposing restrictions on future generations of farmers. Huron East staff wrote that the surplus residence already restricts the neighbours and it only places restrictions on the retained parpel and this is the farmer's choice. Also, a severed house imposes restrictions and may remove chances for intensive livestock operations on the balance of the farm because of the minimum separation distance or nutrient management requirements. The report also stated, there are enough lots in the countryside and the area doesn’t need any more. Huron East staff commented that this is a subjective statement and asked how many lots there are in the countryside. Another concern is that the farmer would lose control of the farmhouse and the ongoing possible rental income or access to that house for their future related farming activity; it removes rural houses from the rental market. The provincial policy statement requirement for no residence allowed on retained lands sterilizes the farmland from providing any further residence, even one for future farm-related residence. Huron East already allows surplus severances for 100-acre farm properties and this provides adequate supply of surplus severances. Huron East staff members stated that past experiences have not indicated an abundance of surplus severances; To the suggestion that it makes a small farm seem smaller, staff answered that the severances of a 50-acre lot could be an advantage for a young farmer who doesn’t need the house, and could buy 45 acres to farm. Another argument was that some rural projects look for large tracts of agricultural land where there have not been any or many residential severances (for example wind energy companies) and there would be an increase in land values. Staff answered that it should cost less to buy land without the house. The provincial policy statement retained farmlands in the case of surplus severances and it doesn’t state the size of the/parcel whether it’s 100 acres or 50 acres. Granting severances for surplus residences on 50-acre parcels treats 50-acre and 100-acre parcels the same. _ It’s an individual farmer’s choice to sever a surplus residence, Huron East staff concluded. 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