Selwyn Council has approved a zoning by-law amendment that would allow for the construction of three triplex buildings in Bridgenorth.
During Tuesday’s Selwyn Township Council meeting, DM Wills presented a report outling the proposed project on behalf of the owner. Per Lundberg, planner for the township, also presented a report to council outlining the by-law amendment and the proposed project.
The project would be located at 949 8th Line and needed the by-law to be changed from Residential Type One (R1) Zone to Multiple Residential (R3) Zone to allow for the multiple residences on the property.
A public meeting was held at the August 11 council meeting where comments from concerned residents were heard.
Included in Lundbergs report was a list of concerns as well as the townhsip’s response.
These included:
• Traffic/sightlines of entrance for the property: A traffic brief and site entrance assessment has been submitted and reviewed to the satisfaction of the road authority of jurisdiction being the County of Peterborough.
• Speeding: Speed limits are enforced by the police
• Impacts to neighbouring wells: A hydrogeological report has been submitted and peer reviewed to the satisfaction of the Township. Three on-site test wells were pump tested with pump tests occurring in May 2023 and August 2025. Based on this testing, the hydrogeological report states that “Significant interference with neighbouring water taking activities, including the existing dwelling, are not anticipated based on the pumping test results.”
• Neighbourhood character: residential development is consistent with the surrounding residential neighbourhood
• School bus stop safety: STSCO and the County of Peterborough jointly review school bus stop locations for safety
• Sidewalk connection to the property: A sidewalk connection to the subject property could be investigated in the future
• Stormwater management impact from paving of driveway and parking areas on the site: there are no plans to pave the driveway or parking areas. The Storm Water Management design for the site is based on gravel parking and driveway areas being provided
.• Parking and visitor parking: A minimum of two parking spaces per dwelling unit are being provided in accordance with the parking regulations of the Township’s Zoning By-law as well as one additional visitor parking space per dwelling unit. Each unit will have one garage parking space and one exterior parking space. Clusters of three visitor parking spaces are provided between each of the three proposed buildings for a total nine visitor parking spaces.
• Impacts to vegetation and wildlife: perimeter vegetation will be maintained.
After the presentation council had a chance to ask question about the report.
Deputy Mayor Ron Black asked staff that if at a future date, the property sold and a new owner wanted to pave the area, what would happen then. He clarified that paving the driveway area would change the storm water management plan and how water runs off the property.
Lundberg said that the next time staff would look at the Storm Water Management Plan would be if they received a proposal that included a redevelopment for more than 10 units or for an additional zoning by-law amendment.
DM Wills staff also explained that there are conditions that ensure the storm water system on the site functions properly so paving over that space would result in the system not running properly and those conditions would kick in to resolve the issues should they arise.
Coun. John Boyko also asked for clarification around the word “significant” dealing with well impacts to neighbouring property’s.
Staff said that while doing the stress test of wells on the property they found that under extreme heavy use, the water did go down in other wells located on the property during that usage time.
They said that while this will not cause neighbouring wells to go dry, they may experience some fluctuations during peak demand times.
The recommendation to approve the zoning by-law amendement was made by Deputy Mayor Black. Mayor Sherry Senis asked for a recorded vote with all councilors in favour. The motion was passed.
