by SUSAN MANN
The Ontario Municipal Board has dismissed an appeal by two municipalities in Perth County seeking an amendment to the county’s official plan that would allow severances of surplus farm dwellings.
There are agricultural-focused municipalities in nearby counties that permit severances of surplus farm dwellings through their official plans. But in Perth County’s case, with its single, county-wide official plan covering all of the lower tier municipalities, “the board finds that the refusal to approve an official plan amendment to permit severances of surplus farm dwellings is not unreasonable,” it says in the decision delivered by member J.G. Wong on Sept. 26.
The Municipality of West Perth and the Township of Perth South appealed Perth County council’s refusal to amend its official plan to permit the severances under certain conditions. The board says the municipalities’ proposed amendment is not appropriate and won’t require the county to amend the plan.
“We’re obviously a little disappointed,” says West Perth Mayor Walter McKenzie. “But we respect the decision that was made and appreciate the time that was put into it.”
McKenzie says it wasn’t so much a case of allowing surplus farm dwelling severances as it was determining that one part of the county couldn’t have a different set of rules than another part. The board took that matter into account and the answer is “no” there can’t be different sets of rules for different sections of the county.
McKenzie doubts there is a possibility of any further appeals after an OMB ruling. West Perth hasn’t yet had a council meeting to discuss the ruling but “our take on it is the decision has been made and we carry on.”
The two municipalities wanted the official plan changed to allow the severances because the county’s prohibition has led to a loss of population and a reduced property tax base. But the board didn’t find any evidence that on a county-wide basis or on a local level the existing prohibition on surplus farm dwelling severances “has negatively impacted the property tax rolls,” the decision says.
Perth Federation of Agriculture president Brent Royce says they’ve taken the position opposing the severances but many members are in favour of them. In general the federation is in favour of a uniform set of rules for the county.
The federation, which attended the board hearing as an observer and provided written submissions, is satisfied with the board’s decision. “We didn’t want to see divisions among lower tier municipalities.”
Royce says “this is an issue that won’t go away and will have to be readdressed at some other point in time” because there are people both in favour and against the severances. He notes it may come up again when the county reviews its official plan in a year or two. BF
Comments
Our family has been on the farm since 1852 and because of this no severance policy we must leave the land. Some farmer will purchase the farm and tear down the house because of tax consequences. This will be the third home lost on this 1 1/4 miles in the last 20 years. Do we want a county with no people in rural areas and no tax base? I will be looking for a country home in Huron county
Yes. Huron county not only has a surplus house severance policy, they are currently being far more flexible in applying their policy. I suspect this is because they are looking for tax money given the provincial cutbacks to rural Ontario. On the other hand, half of Perth county have chosen to turn a blind eye to the destruction of several good surplus houses. Apparently they are not concerned about the decrease in their rural population much like Prairie agriculture in order to protect livestock farms. Perhaps those in the south and west part of Perth abutting Huron might want to investigate separating from the rest of Perth.
June 23 2015 at 7:30 in Sebringville on this issue see Perthcounty.ca for details
Recently a property less than 3 acres fetched a price above the asking price as I understand it.
Located was just inside Huron, 1/2 mile from Perth.
Raube Beuerman
I guess you have been living in a shell or under a rock . Land in Perth for one but not limited to , has been selling for more than the asking price for years .
5 years ago when the estate of my father was settled the farm he owned was sold for more than the asking price in 2 days .
Many Perth County hog farmers have paid more than the asking price of a farm for years .
Who's talking about "farms"?
Raube Beuerman
So land does not include farms/farm land ? Maybe you thought you were talking about a building lot . With the current Ont. Liberal gov every small acerage is considered a farm with the support of Buy Local Buy Fresh . $7000.00 gross income gets you into that class . We have our General Farm Orgs to thank for not visiting that issue and rasing the gross income qualification because they want members dollars and member numbers .
This article is about severance policy and the others commenting under it are on topic.
You are not.
Please, read the article and comment accordingly.
Raube Beuerman
we need to divide the policy, making new lots and dividing existing farm houses I would argue are two completely different topics
Things are poised to change in the country side . You can't have protection of farm land and not allowing severances of houses and building lots when you are all in favour of rural natural gas . Also municipalities get their tax dollars from building taxes so that also is going to change . Otherwise you end up with municipalities being choked financially like they are in the Green Belt .
Post new comment