SELKIRK — Haldimand Council has approved a zoning bylaw amendment to facilitate the creation of a seven-lot residential subdivision at 36 Main Street West in Selkirk.
The decision, made during the November 19 Council-in-Committee meeting, includes a site-specific zoning designation with a holding provision, ensuring compliance with development standards before construction can begin.
John Douglas, Senior Planner with Haldimand County, presented the details of the proposal, which involves changing the zoning for a one-hectare section of the property from “Hamlet Residential (RH)” to “Hamlet Residential (RH-H)” with special exceptions.
The amendment reduces the required minimum lot size from 1,855 square metres (0.46 acres) to 1,064.9 square metres (0.26 acres) and the minimum frontage from 30 metres to 21.4 metres.
Douglas stated that staff did not consider the reduced lot sizes to be problematic.
The development is located within the settlement area boundary of Selkirk and is designated as “Hamlet” under the Haldimand County Official Plan. The proposal aligns with the Provincial Planning Statement of 2024, which encourages sustainable and efficient land use in existing communities.
The development will rely on private water systems and septic installations for each lot. A concept plan provided by the developer shows that the reduced lot sizes can still accommodate septic systems, parking, and housing.
The holding provision includes conditions for the submission of septic system designs and a stormwater management study, both of which must meet municipal and provincial guidelines. The stormwater study must also consider future development on adjacent lands.
The property spans approximately eight hectares, with around one hectare allocated for the subdivision. The remainder of the land, which includes agricultural areas and significant woodlands, will remain unchanged.
A section of the land will be developed in the future once a secondary access is determined.
During the meeting, Council members raised various questions.
Councillor Patrick O’Neill asked about feedback from residents of the two homes adjacent to the development. Douglas explained that one resident had expressed concern about being within the settlement boundary, as they had expected a more rural setting.
O’Neill also questioned whether the proximity of the fire station posed any issues. Douglas reassured Council that no concerns had been raised by Emergency Services or other stakeholders on this.
Councillor Rob Shirton inquired about the flexibility of the zoning regulations, such as if the developer could modify the project to include semi-detached homes instead of single-family dwellings. Douglas clarified that this would require a separate zoning amendment, as the current bylaw only permits single-family homes.
Shirton also raised the issue of parkland, asking whether more was needed in the area. Douglas confirmed that the Parks department had not raised concerns, but further consultation would occur during the plan of subdivision process.
Councillor John Metcalfe asked if the number of lots could be reduced from seven to six, considering possible complications with septic systems and other factors. Douglas confirmed that while the bylaw amendment would set the minimum lot sizes and frontages, the developer could opt to reduce the number if required by site-specific factors, such as stormwater management.
Finally, Councillor Dan Lawrence expressed concerns about the stormwater pond, specifically regarding maintenance issues such as overgrowth and mosquito breeding.
He asked if the pond could be relocated to the second phase of the development. Mayor Shelly Ann Bently echoed these concerns.
Douglas explained that the pond had been placed in the lowest part of the property to take advantage of natural drainage. He assured Council that the pond had been designed to meet the drainage needs of both the current and future phases of the development, and any need for enlargement would be addressed in future planning stages.
