Tay council sides with neighbours on wedding venue defeat

Neighbours along a rural Tay road can sleep easier at night knowing there won’t be noisy wedding sounds in their proximity, for now.

The decision to defeat a temporary use bylaw application for 5544 Elliott Sideroad to be used as a seasonal wedding and event venue was issued at the recent Tay Township committee of the whole meeting.

Staff had recommended within the planning and development services report that the application be approved for a three-year period as it met the necessary criteria for such usage in a rural environment, with the property owner entering into a development agreement.

“We’ve tried to identify all the resident’s concerns and (through) implementing control mechanisms under the development agreement,” informed planning and development services manager Todd Weatherell at the meeting.

“We know these (rural wedding venues) exist in other municipalities in Simcoe County; this is the first one’s that’s been proposed in Tay Township. That is the main reason why this is a temporary use to allow council, if approved, to monitor whether this use is compatible in the rural area,” Weatherell stated.

However, resident opposition to the proposal throughout late 2023 – involving petitions, correspondence and deputations within their chambers – proved that council was listening.

Several on council, concerned about the venue becoming a concert hub during its 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. run-times, asked for clarity on the wording of ‘other events’ in the application.

Certified planning technician Lauren Arsenault from Morgan Planning & Development Inc. replied that it would involve birthdays and various bridal and baby showers, noting: “We didn’t want to limit it purely to weddings because we think the space could also accommodate other events.”

Coun. Gerard LaChapelle was against the staff recommendation for approval, citing setting a precedent as his reason. He offered a deferral option in anticipation of an appeal by the applicant, stating that he didn’t want to spend the money of taxpayers, of the township, of Morgan Planners and of the property owner.

Said Mayor Ted Walker: “I can’t support this application… my main reason is, if you will recall a few months ago, this council on a similar application from the fire academy for use of lands for fire training purposes turned it down four to three, with those in opposition citing use of agricultural lands in Tay Township.”

Walker remained adamant to defeat the application rather than compromise with the proposal for deferral, reasoning that an appeal could be immediately issued by the applicant rather than having to wait nearly a year as council worked on redefining their future official plan and temporary uses for various zones in Tay Township.

“My concern is when we turned down the other application, that we’re getting foggy with (provincial policy definition for agricultural and rural lands). And from a look of the residents, we’re starting to pick and choose…. and I think before I would support anything like this, we need to clarify exactly what council wants, and what lands they want it on,” he added.

Decisions at the committee of the whole level will be discussed for ratification at an upcoming regular meeting of council.

The staff report on the temporary use bylaw request for 5544 Elliott Sdrd. can be found in the council agenda on the Tay Township website.

Tay council meets for committee of the whole meetings every second Wednesday of the month, and regular council meetings every fourth Wednesday of the month. Archives and livestreams of council meetings are available through the Tay Township YouTube channel.

Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, MidlandToday.ca