Gordon A. Driedger

The applicant appealed the City of Sarnia Committee of Adjustment's refusal of a minor variance application to permit the expansion of a legal non-conforming apartment building from 12 to 21 units through interior renovations.

The applicant also sought to reduce the minimum parking space width.

The Tribunal accepted the applicant's expert planning and transportation evidence, finding that the proposed parking ratio of 0.5 spaces per unit was appropriate and that the interior renovations would not cause adverse impacts to the neighbourhood.

The Tribunal allowed the appeal and authorized the variances subject to conditions regarding parking layout and bicycle storage.

The applicant appealed the municipal Committee of Adjustment's refusal of applications to sever a property into four new residential lots and one retained lot, each containing two additional residential units.

Prior to the hearing, the applicant and the municipality reached a settlement.

The Tribunal accepted uncontested expert planning evidence that the proposed severances were consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement and conformed to the applicable Official Plans and zoning by-laws.

The Tribunal allowed the appeals and granted provisional consent subject to agreed-upon conditions.

The applicants appealed the refusal of their minor variance application by the Town's Committee of Adjustment.

The variances were sought to permit the construction of a detached accessory second dwelling unit.

Prior to the hearing, the parties reached a settlement on revised variances for interior side yard setback and lot coverage, as two other variances were no longer required due to a zoning by-law amendment.

Based on uncontroverted expert planning evidence, the Tribunal found the revised variances met the four tests under the Planning Act and authorized them subject to conditions.

The applicant appealed the City of London Committee of Adjustment's refusal of a minor variance to permit a maximum front yard setback of 6.0 metres, where 4.0 metres is the maximum permitted.

The variance was requested to facilitate the construction of a single detached dwelling with an additional residential unit.

The City did not attend the hearing.

The Tribunal found that the variance met the four tests under section 45(1) of the Planning Act, noting the existing variability in front yard setbacks in the neighbourhood.

The appeal was allowed and the variance authorized subject to conditions regarding stormwater management and archaeological assessment.

The appellant appealed the Town of Grimsby Committee of Adjustment's refusal of a minor variance application to permit a sunroom addition with reduced interior side yard and rear yard setbacks.

Prior to the hearing, the parties agreed to revised variance parameters.

Based on uncontroverted expert planning evidence, the Tribunal found the revised variances met the intent of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, were desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and were minor in nature.

The appeal was allowed and the revised variances were authorized, subject to obtaining approval from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.