Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Meeting

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee reviewed rural sign regulations, recommended approval of a commercial rezoning at 2095 Dilworth Road subject to environmental and development controls, and recommended a $41,952 development-charge exemption for a Fitzroy property. The Dilworth recommendation will go to City Council on October 8, 2026.

Topics Discussed

RURAL SIGN REGULATIONS

The committee unanimously approved an amendment to the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law, File ACS2026-PDB-PS-0068. The amendment adds Rural Residential (RR), Village Residential (V1 to V5), Mobile Home Park (MH) and Rural Commercial (RC) zones to the by-law definitions.

Staff said the uploaded report had omitted references to rural zones:

"The references to definitions of residential zones, institutional zones, commercial zones, and industrial zones in the version of the report that was uploaded did not include specific references to rural zones... it does require changes to ensure that the bylaw operates properly."

2095 DILWORTH ROAD REZONING

The committee recommended rezoning parts of the 87-acre property northeast of the Highway 416 and Dilworth Road interchange from Rural Countryside to Rural Commercial Subzone 4 (RC4) and Open Space Facility Subzone 5 (FAC5). The existing Environmental Protection (EP3) zoning would remain.

The property is adjacent to the Rideau River, Cranberry Creek and a provincially significant wetland. Residents raised concerns about flooding, stormwater runoff, private wells, wildlife and the potential effects of commercial development.

Judy, a resident who addressed the committee, said:

"80% of residents who submitted comments were against the rezoning. The main concern was flooding on their property, well water quality, and protecting the natural heritage of the area that increased commercial use will bring."

Written submissions must be received before the item goes to Council on October 8. Under the Planning Act, people who make oral or written submissions before adoption retain appeal rights to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS

The proposed RC4 zoning would include a holding provision requiring site plan control for all development, regardless of size. The holding symbol would be lifted incrementally by development area after additional studies and reviews.

The controls discussed include:

• A 50-metre setback from the Cranberry Creek provincially significant wetland.
• A 30-metre setback from local wetlands and watercourses.
• An additional six-metre setback from the regulatory flood line.
• A prohibition on development within the floodplain.
• Stormwater management designed to match pre-development conditions.
• Hydrogeological, environmental, civil engineering and traffic studies before site plans proceed.

The meeting record states that hydrogeological and terrain analysis found chloride and sodium levels in the groundwater exceeded what the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks considers treatable. Proposed commercial uses would therefore have to operate without relying on potable groundwater, with restrictions on food preparation and higher-occupancy uses.

Commercial buildings would be limited in size, and indoor self-storage would be capped at 300 square metres of floor area. An ancillary outdoor storage area of up to 500 square metres was also discussed.

David Brown identified the broader policy issue involved in the application:

"One concern that we have here is that although we look at things on a case-by-case basis, it is a challenge when we do something for one landowner, one applicant and then someone else in a similar situation comes forward."

He added that staff had worked to find a solution for the committee's consideration.

FITZROY DEVELOPMENT-CHARGE EXEMPTION

The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that Council recognize a 1990 prepayment for part of Lot 4, Concession 7, Fitzroy, as full payment of the property's development charges. The recommendation would exempt $41,952 in development charges for one dwelling unit.

The balance would be covered through the City's discretionary Development Charge Exemption Budget rather than charged to the owner. Staff said the cost would be absorbed by taxpayers and that similar cases could involve "20, 30, 40" other rural properties.

An inflation-indexing alternative would have valued the historic payment at about $11,000 and left a balance of approximately $31,000. That alternative was not adopted.

The committee's recommendation states:

"Therefore, be it resolved that the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee recommend the council that the prepayment for a part of lot 4 concession 7 Fitzroy in 1990 be recognized as payment in full exempting $41,952 of development charges in respect to one dwelling unit."

Motions

• Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law amendment — ACS2026-PDB-PS-0068: Passed unanimously. The amendment adds rural zoning categories to the by-law definitions.
• Zoning By-law Amendment for 2095 Dilworth Road: Carried as a recommendation to City Council. The proposal would establish RC4 and FAC5 zoning, with environmental setbacks, holding provisions and site plan control.
• Development-charge exemption for part of Lot 4, Concession 7, Fitzroy: Passed 3–2 as a recommendation to Council. The 1990 prepayment would be treated as full payment, with the $41,952 difference funded through the City's discretionary exemption budget.
• Inflation-indexing alternative for the Fitzroy development charge: Not adopted.

Attendees

The meeting excerpts identify the following councillors as present:

• David Brown, Chair
• Kelly, Vice Chair
• Kitts
• Luloff
• Skulski/Skolowski

The source material uses both "Skulski" and "Skolowski" for one councillor; the exact spelling is unclear from the excerpts.