Cathy Dobson/The Independent

Sarnia’s farming community spoke up at city hall Monday, trying to convince council to drop plans for a zoning change they say will cost them thousands and limit future expansion.

“I have a lot of concerns,” said Kevin Forbes, a third generation farmer with 1,200 acres at the corner of Waterworks and Confederation Line.

Fifty per cent of the City of Sarnia is agricultural land with about 100 farmers working nearly 19,000 acres of land within the city boundaries.

The city is proposing a new zoning called “Natural Environment” to protect woodlands, wetlands and other environmentally significant areas. It’s meant to reflect St. Clair Region Conservation Authority data and provide environmental protection but the farmers say it will add a layer of red tape that is redundant and unnecessary.

“Any expansion on my farm will require an (environmental impact) study and significant cost,” Forbes said.

“You guys need to do more work here,” said Sarnia farmer Mark Lumley. “You’ve arbitrarily changed the zoning. Leave it alone.”

Several farmers told council they prefer the existing zoning and environmental protections even though they said working with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority is often a long and difficult process.

Others who own homes along Lakeshore Road and would also be part of the Natural Environment zoning said the new zoning would only duplicate what’s already in place and bring no new benefits.

“I don’t oppose environmental protection,” said property owner and contractor Ken Maaten. “But these changes will be costly and cumbersome.”

“It feels like you’re taking away all my property rights,” said developer Lou Longo.

Sarnia can only expand to the east and the majority of that region will be impacted by any new Natural Environment zoning, said Longo.

He urged council to approve a new draft bylaw to implement the city’s Official Plan adapted in 2022, but to omit any reference to Natural Environment zoning.

Council could take that action when it deliberates about the Zoning Bylaw later this spring, responded Mayor Mike Bradley.

Monday was a special meeting of council to allow for public input into the new draft zoning bylaw, which may be debated by council possibly as soon as May 25.

If approved, the new zoning bylaw will replace one from 2002 and applies to the entire city. Highlights include:

• Permits more housing types on individual lots, which could result in more housing;
• Reduces minimum parking requirements;
• Implements the Natural Heritage System in the adopted Official Plan via the Natural Environment Zone;
• Implements provincial additional residential unit requirements;
• Supports intensification downtown and in mixed corridors; and
• Eliminates maximum lot coverage for dwellings in certain zones.
  Several speakers at Monday’s meeting expressed concern that the bylaw also defines a new residential category called supportive housing for Sarnia.
  If approved, supportive housing will be a form of additional needs housing and will be permitted in all residential, institutional, neighbourhood commercial, downtown and mixed use zones.
  Both Alison Mahon and Chris Beausoleil said they live in the George Street neighbourhood where Indwell wants to build supportive housing.
  They both said they believe “additional needs” is too generic and does not clearly state who can live in supportive housing.
  “Do not approve this definition of supportive housing,” pleaded Beausoleil. “It needs to be more thoughtful…Don’t give away all your decision-making authority.”
  In an email, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said planning staff are preparing a report for council’s consideration at the May 27 meeting. It will summarize the issues identified by people at the public meeting as well as potential options for the proposed bylaw.