A Breslau homeowner hopes to turn her one-acre Breslau property into three lots. As a first step, she’s seeking the zoning change needed to move in that direction. That bid was discussed Tuesday night at a public planning meeting in Woolwich council chambers.
Linda Pletsch’s application seeks to rezone the property at 116 Woolwich St. S. to R-4A from R-1 to permit greater density. After that, the property would be converted into three lots, with the existing home remaining on the largest portion, fronting on Woolwich Street. Two new, smaller lots would front on Joseph Street, explained Natalie Hardacre, a planner with the IBI Group representing the owner.
The smaller lots, with 50-foot frontage, would tap into water and sewer lines from the neighbouring Riverland subdivision, putting them on full municipal services.
She said the infill development would be in keeping with township, regional and provincial policies.
Director of engineering and planning Dan Kennaley said the township’s engineering department has identified some concerns with the plan, including grading issues that would have to be addressed before a severance could proceed.
Grading issues are what prompted neighbour Eleanor Snyder-McKee to object to the rezoning application.
She argued raising the grade on Pletsch’s property, required to bring it up to the elevation of Joseph Street, would see homes on the two new lots tower over her Berlin Street property.
“The development would put the back part of my property in a hole,” she said.
The loss of privacy and resulting drainage issues would lead to a drop in her property’s value, she argued, adding the new homes in the Riverland subdivision have already had a negative impact on her home.
As the May 1 meeting was for information only, council made no decision on the zoning. A planning department report will come back to council at a later date, after staff has reviewed the application and any comments from the public, Kennaley said, telling Snyder-McKee that her concerns would be taken into consideration at that stage.
