Adrian Litavski

The applicant appealed a Committee of Adjustment decision refusing variances required to legalize an existing dwelling that was constructed contrary to its building permit.

The application was amended to 14 variances based on updated as-built drawings.

The City of Toronto and a neighbourhood association opposed the appeal, arguing the dwelling's height, flat roof, and high floor space index (FSI) were out of character and set a negative precedent.

The Toronto Local Appeal Body allowed the appeal, finding that the FSI was inflated by the lot's shoreline hazard area and that the dwelling's articulation mitigated its massing.

The Tribunal concluded the variances met the four tests under section 45(1) of the Planning Act and authorized them subject to a privacy screening condition.

The appellant appealed a Committee of Adjustment decision refusing minor variances to permit the construction of a new Orthodox Jewish synagogue on a residential lot.

The requested variances related to lot area, frontage, setbacks, and parking.

The Toronto Local Appeal Body allowed the appeal, finding that the proposed house-form massing respected the neighbourhood's physical character and met the four tests under section 45(1) of the Planning Act.

The Tribunal accepted evidence that the congregation's Orthodox practices would mitigate parking impacts, and approved the variances subject to a condition restricting the property's use to an Orthodox Jewish congregation.

The appellant appealed a Committee of Adjustment decision refusing a minor variance for a reverse grade driveway, while approving 10 other variances for a new two-storey detached house.

The tribunal accepted expert planning evidence that the proposed development, including the reverse grade driveway, respected the neighbourhood's physical character and met the four tests under the Planning Act.

The appeal was allowed and all variances were conditionally approved.