After 13 years of owning 10 acres of land in Mono fronting on Highway 10 between 20 and 25 sideroad, a resident is facing difficulties in building a home on the property.

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) wants to put a conservation easement through the property, currently zoned environmental protection.

Owner Dan Robson wants to build a home on 1.5 acres of the property that has been filled, but before he can move ahead with those plans he needs to have that portion of the property rezoned from environmental protection to rural.

Before the approval is granted, the NVCA wants to have a conservation easement on the remaining portion of the land. If the easement is granted it would prevent him from selling the land in the future as a full 10 acres.

Mr. Robson told Mono council last week that he doesn't feel comfortable with this request and doesn't see the need for it, as the house would be built at the front of the property, which isn't part of the wetland.

Deputy mayor Dave Baldwin wanted to know how big the easement would be, where it would be located and what it's for.

Planning Director Mark Early said it would go on 8.5 acres of the land and may require a land survey.

Mr. Robson said that in 1961, a single-family home was approved for the property.

Councillor Jean Castel said that approval may have lapsed by now if it was never the Official Plan policy adopted in 1998 as a soft approach policy where the Town generally complies with conservation authorities who request land.

CAO Keith McNenly said these requests are normal when subdivisions are being planned, but unusual in a zoning amendment proposal. He said the Town definitely needs more discussion with the NVCA.

Mr. Early will bring more information to council during its meeting next Tuesday, April 24.