ARTHUR – A small-scale research lab has been given the go-ahead to set up shop in a small historic property on the corner of Frederick and Smith Street.
Wellington North council has approved an application from KOA Healthcare Corporation to rezone 304 square metres at 100 Frederick St. W. from Institutional to Central Commercial to permit a small-scale research and development laboratory to create pet dental products in an existing building onsite.
Discussing the application during a public meeting in Wellington North Monday afternoon, planning staff said site-specific relief was also requested to recognize the existing building's reduced interior side yard setback to a residential use and rear yard setback but is not required since the existing building was built in 1900 and is noncomplying under the township's zoning bylaw.
In a justification report, county planning staff said the new use would allow the property and building to be improved while the site-specific provision will provide clarity that the use is specifically permitted since a research and laboratory facility is not listed as a permitted use in the Central Commercial Zone.
"We just need a space to do the formulation of our products ... most people won't even know we exist," said the property owner Richard Delongte at the meeting.
Councillor Lisa Hern asked whether there will be buffering between the business and a neighbouring residential property to the south because she's heard a daycare facility is planned for 110 Frederick St. W and she's "a little concerned about conflict of use."
Delongte said they'll be lucky if employees are on-site once or twice a week for half an hour and he's confident "the neighbours won't know we exist once the renovations are done."
The business is planned to have a professional office component and a "small-scale" research and laboratory component. All ingredients used for research are "natural" and don't include flammable products or chemicals.
Staff said parking is only required for one or two employees and there is on-street parking available. The office won't be open to the public and there will be no animals will be on-site.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
