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Town taking steps to prevent future `monster home' conflicts By Melanie Hennessey Special to The IFP The Town of Halton Hills is taking steps to prevent future "monster home" conflicts in established residential areas. Terms of reference for a Mature Neighbourhoods Character Study were endorsed by the Town's Community Affairs Committee last week. As part of the study, the Town intends to create a steering committee comprised of members of council, Heritage Halton Hills and local residents. "The scope of the study is to examine the issue of large home rebuilds in older established neighbourhoods of Acton and Georgetown to determine if changes are required to the zoning bylaw to better protect the character of these areas," said Town Manager of Planning Policy Steve Burke. Over the past 15 years, there've been 26 older homes in Georgetown that have been demolished and replaced-- with the majority north of Maple Ave.-- and five in Acton. The issue came to a head last summer when local residents Bob Nesbitt and Anne Anderson voiced their strong opposition to a new two-storey house being values across the Town continue to inbuilt about four feet away from the fence crease." The study will focus on low-density resof their Churchill Cres. property, which houses their bungalow and Halton Pool idential areas developed before 1990, generally north of Hungry Hollow in GeorgeGuys Inc. home office. The terms of reference indicate that town and west of Churchill Rd. in Acton. Staff intends to consult with the Town the study will be broken into three phases over a 12-month period, and will include solicitor to see if an interim control bylaw that temporarily freezes rebuilds in estabopportunities for public input. lished neighThe Town will bourhoods examine how `(It is an issue that has) is necessary other area mucaused grief in while the study nicipalities have our community.' is completed. addressed the ­ Mayor Rick Bonnette­ A follow-up issue and review Halton Hills' report on the zoning standards for low-density residen- matter will go before council later this tial zones, including lot frontage, setbacks, month. Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette said building heights, etc. "Many other municipalities in the he's glad to see the Town addressing an Greater Toronto Area have conducted issue that has "caused grief in our comsimilar studies in recent years to address munity." He asked how staff intends to find resian increasing trend of "monster homes" in mature neighbourhoods," states the dents to serve on the steering committee study's terms of reference. "The demand for the study. Burke said newspaper and web-based and pressure for large-scale residential rebuilds in mature neighbourhoods is ex- advertising would be used. "We could also approach neighbourpected to rise as the supply of large properties within the Town decreases and land hood associations," he noted. Ward 2 Councillor Ted Brown said he's happy to see Heritage Halton Hills's inclusion on the committee. "As a member and chair of the heritage committee, we take the brunt for a lot of things we have no say in, so this at least gives us direction," he said, noting he would be happy to sit on the steering committee. Ward 4 Councillor Ann Lawlor asked if Norval and Glen Williams would be looked at as part of the study as well. "There are a lot of older homes in those neighbourhoods," she noted. Burke said Norval's zoning rules were recently brought up to date through its Secondary Plan and that Glen Williams will be addressed through a separate process as well. The exercise comes as part of a comprehensive zoning bylaw five-year review, which will also look at zoning standards for the Premier Gateway Employment Area north and south of Steeles Ave. The overall bylaw review has an approved budget of $154,000. The terms of reference will go before Halton Hills Council for approval at its Feb. 29 meeting. NEWS Building Healthy Kids! Keep your kids active this winter with Monkeynastix! Ages 1-9 yrs of age Thursday, February 11, 2016 - The IFP - Halton Hills - www.theifp.ca GeorGetown Christian reformed ChurCh welcomes you! CHURCHES & TEMPLES God's Word for Today's World. www.knoxgeorgetown.ca familyhouseofworship@start.ca 15% oFF party bookings! Reverend Tom van Milligen Youth Pastor: Brian DeBoer sunday worship services: 10:00 am & 6:00 pm Rev. 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