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That would mean rezoning the property as conservation land, which would prohibit future development on the property just a stone’s throw from built-up land in Waterloo, but within township control.

The family, for years, has allowed local residents to hike and cross-country ski on the property off Wilmot Line near Carmel-Koch Road.

It’s a vast stretch of wetlands, forest and habitat on the Waterloo moraine.

As part of the transaction the Schneiders need to sever parts of the property that contain the homes of Jane and her children. That requires township approval.

The plan has been in the works for about a decade.

But township staff and some councillors when the severance application came forward that they won’t OK those severances unless parking for at least 12 vehicles is provided at the site.

But the idea of a parking lot on even a small portion of the property goes against the family’s conservation principles.

“I think the community is just appalled here because here’s one of the largest land donations we’ve ever seen in our entire community, all of Waterloo Region, and it’s being held up by this absurd request for a parking lot,� said Kevin Thomason, vice-chair of the Grand River Environmental Network.

Thomason and others have been assisting with plans for the donation, first by working wit the Region of Waterloo, then by creating the Rare Waterloo-Wellington Land Trust and now trying to work with the township.

A township report in May 2023 says staff want at least 12 parking spaces. 

That’s the last thing the Schneiders want, after protecting the land since the 1980s. That has included changing trail routes regularly so that no one area gets too much foot traffic.

“Those lands are for conservation purposes primarily,” Sobek-Swant said. “The neighbours don’t want a parking lot either. No one in the community is keen on that.”

People using the property now park on Wilmot Line, Carmel-Koch Road and Berlett’s Road and enter the site from about eight informal entrances.

That disperses people and minimizes ecological stress, Thomason said.

Rare and Thomason said there have been no complaints or incidents about people parking on the roadsides. They don’t anticipate the donation will increase the number of people who use it. The property isn’t advertised online as an attraction.

In the May report, township staff said that options for reducing the township’s liability concerns included widening the road shoulders and adding signage for parking.

“The Township of Wilmot follows provincially regulated municipal best practices as they relate to planning policies and permit requirements,” the township said in a statement. “These best practices are applied neutrally to everyone, despite the size and scope of the project, to ensure fairness and equity.

“While we are immensely grateful for this generous donation to the Rare Charitable Reserve, we must follow best practices and apply the same requirements we would apply to anyone in Wilmot. In this case, there has been an application for an amendment to the township’s zoning bylaws and it was concluded a parking solution is required to ensure the safety of local residents and limit taxpayers’ liability. “

The township’s stand on the parking lot could kill the entire deal.

“The family has really dug in its heels and has just been adamant in saying we haven’t shepherded and stewarded these lands for decades to build a parking lot,� Thomason said.

At 94 years of age, Jane wants to see the donation happen in her lifetime.

The location makes the property attractive to developers, Thomason said. “We need to get this donation complete,� he said.

The family issued this month asking residents to appeal to council members to let the severances and donation go ahead. The letter included a link to the submitted for the donation.

Stephanie Sobek-Swant, executive director of the Rare Charitable Research Reserve, said it hasn’t received any updates from the township since July.

“All we’ve heard is it can still take months or even years to be completed, and that is just terrifying because we don’t have that time because we want to honour Jane’s wish to complete this during her lifetime and we want to be able to celebrate this with her and everyone else who was involved,� she said.

Rare would steward the land once the donation is complete and ensure it’s preserved.

Sobek-Swant said she’s spoken with the Grand River Conservation Authority and was told it wasn’t likely to permit a parking lot because of wetlands on the property.

The May 2023 township report says the GRCA recommended council approve the severance applications.

At a council meeting on Jan. 15 planning director Harold O’Krafka said staff were working with the City of Waterloo. Part of Wideman Road that people use to access the trails is in the City of Waterloo.

“City of Waterloo staff acknowledge township staff concerns and are committed to working with them to find a reasonable solution,� said Bob Henderson, Waterloo director of transportation services.

Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen said she couldn’t comment because the severance application has not yet been decided by council.

“This matter is technical and council and I have still to get this resolved, as such cannot show bias in this planning process,� she said.

As part of the municipal planning process the township was required to make a decision on the severance application from May 2023 within 120 days. When councils fail to do so the applicant has the right to appeal any nondecision to the Ontario Land Tribunal, which decides land planning disputes.

Sobek-Swant said if the township will not budge, Rare will either have to fence off the property from the public or go other routes.

“The other option we have is to explore legal options, take it to the Ontario Land Tribunal or something like that,� she said. “I don’t know, does the province have to make the decision for the township? I hope not.�