BradfordToday and InnisfilToday welcome letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter from Helen Crocker is on an upcoming zoning open house.
This Wednesday, Aug. 28 the town is hosting an open house for the residents of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury to inform the residents about the proposed changes to the town’s ADU Zoning By-Law. ADUs are additional dwelling units. The town is proposing three ADUs as well as the main dwelling be permitted on one single residential lot. Totalling four units on one lot!
This proposal is the most aggressive bylaw amendment our town has ever considered. It will affect all of our neighbourhoods. In the newer areas you could see a neighbour build an ADU “accessory dwelling unit” in the backyard. If this new bylaw passes as it is drafted it will drastically change our neighbourhoods forever.
The Town of BWG is going beyond what the provincial government requires. The provincial government only requires two ADUs and yet the town is proposing three. One wonders why the town is going beyond the provincial requirements? Actually, if you read the staff report CAO-2024-4, it’s very clear why the town is proposing to go beyond the provincial requirements. The town wants federal funding. In order to qualify for this funding the town needs to introduce fourplexes.
What have other municipalities in our vicinity chosen?
Innisfil, Newmarket, King City, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Scarborough, Toronto and Pickering all allow for only two ADUs as well as the main dwelling making a total of three units on one single lot. Let us follow their example and allow only two ADUs, which is what the province has required.
Lastly but extremely important: why are fourplexes part of this discussion? These are not required by our government. In fact Premier Doug Ford has stated that he does not believe Ontarian's want fourplexes in their communities.
How will this new proposal impact our neighbourhoods?
Consider this:
- Increased traffic.
- Parking challenges.
- Burden on our aging infrastructure. Remember it was built for single residential residences and certainly not four residential units per lot.
- Overcrowding of our schools.
- Burden on our hospital.
- Has a study been done to ensure that this intensification will not impact the Bradford canal and Lake Simcoe? The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority website warns “too much phosphorus can lead to excessive weeds, toxic algae, and oxygen depletion. A significant amount of phosphorus comes from storm water as it moves through paved surfaces in densely populated areas.”
- Does the town have bylaws in place to protect current residents from trespass lighting, noise, the shadow effect? If the town wants to implement new zoning bylaws then introduce bylaws at the same time to protect the existing residents’ rights. As taxpayers we are being forgotten.
- No green-space if an ADU is in a neighbours backyard. Definitely a deterrent for selling your home and could impact the value of it as well.
All of these concerns were asked at the last open house May 28. It will be interesting to see what answers the town will have for us.
Our elected officials need to hear from us. We all want the best for our community as well as a protection for our greatest investment — our homes.
The meeting is in the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library (425 Holland St. W.) from 5 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. See you there.
Helen Crocker
Bradford
