Council reconsiders, backs cabin plan
Project aims to let tourists enjoy agricultural lifestyle
Amy Jeninga’s plan to turn vacant farmland into a place where people can experience country living is back on track after the issue was revisited by Trent Hills council on Aug. 13.
At its meeting on July 9, a proposal to rezone the 93-acre property on County Road 35 to permit cabins and short-term rentals was shelved on a 3-3 tie vote.
But Councillor Rick English, who represents the area, wasn’t at the July meeting, so on Tuesday he moved that the issue be reconsidered, which is permitted under procedural rules.
After some discussion, the councillors voted 5-2 in favour, with Dennis Savery and Gene Brahaney opposed. The motion rezoned the land from industrial to agricultural uses. Part of the land was used for a furniture factory years ago and it retained the industrial zoning.
Shortly after, a happy Jeninga said she was thrilled to be able to move ahead. “It’s been a journey.”
Some nearby residents have opposed the project raising concerns about traffic, water supply, garbage, the behaviour of tourists, and the impact on a rural lifestyle.
Jeninga, who is president of the Canadian Country Music Association, grew up in Trent Hills and plans to move back from Toronto to manage the project. Jeninga said she had worked closely with the municipality to meet its requests and changed her plans by reducing the number of units. “I have put in two years and a lot of money to account for their concerns,” she said.
One of the issues in July was the fact that the project had been considered by the previous council two years ago. Three of the councillors -- Rob Pope, Daniel Giddings, and Dennis Savery -- were not on council when those plans were presented at a public meeting in 2022.
At the July meeting, Pope said he did not know enough about the project to support it. On Tuesday, he said he had visited the site, and met with Jeninga and residents. He voiced concerns about the project’s reliance on the designation of what is known as on-farm-diversified-uses to get permission for its non-agricultural uses.
But Pope acknowledged that the provincially backed designation did seem to permit such uses.
Planning Director Jim Peters told council that the motion simply changed the zoning, the many other issues will be covered in a site-specific plan that will be developed by Jeninga and the municipality.
The current plan calls for: a 600 square-foot tuck shop; an 800 square-foot Lakeview Cabin; four 275 square foot Forest View Cabins; five 275 square-foot Star Gaze Cabins; a 2,000 square-foot single detached dwelling; and an 800 square-foot horse shelter.
During the public meeting in April 2022, Jeninga said she grew up on a farm in Trent Hills and wanted to develop a modern retreat that would expose people to life in the country and give them a chance to relax.
Peters said in July that the specific-site plan would include a requirement that someone be on site to handle any issues with the short-term rentals, something that is being considered as part of a general bylaw on rentals that is being prepared