Committee of Adjustment
Comité de dérogation
DECISION MINOR VARIANCE
November 29, 2024
Panel:
1 - Urban
D08-02-24/A-00266
Application:
Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicant:
Ironwood Fund LP o/a 18 Louisa Inc.
Property Address:
18 Louisa Street
Ward:
14 - Somerset
Legal Description:
Lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, Registered Plan 49
Zoning:
R5B[2778] S455
Zoning By-law:
2008-250
Heard:
November 20, 2024, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION:
1The Applicant wants to demolish the eastern portion of the existing mixed-use building and construct a 10-storey addition which will contain 160 dwelling units and an underground parking garage, as shown on plans filed with the Committee. The western portion of the existing building will remain.
REQUESTED VARIANCES
2The Applicant seeks the Committee’s authorization for the following minor variances from the Zoning By-law:
a) To permit a reduced building stepback of 0 metres above the 8th storey facing the internal courtyard, whereas the By-law requires the building to be set back 2 metres above the 8th storey.
b) To permit a reduced setback of 9.4 metres between buildings (courtyard width), whereas the By-law requires a minimum setback of 11 metres between buildings.
c) To permit a reduced rear yard setback of 7.2 metres, whereas the By-law requires a minimum rear yard setback of 7.5 metres.
d) To permit an increased width of 20 metres for the north side of the proposed building, whereas the By-law permits a maximum building width of 18.5 metres.
3The property is the subject of a current Site Plan Control application (File No. D08- 12- 21-0102) under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4Patricia Warren, agent for the Applicant, and City Planner Penelope Horn were present.
5There were no objections to granting this unopposed application as part of the Panel’s fast-track consent agenda.
DECISION AND REASONS OF THE COMMITTEE: APPLICATION GRANTED
Application Must Satisfy Statutory Four-Part Test
6The Committee has the power to authorize a minor variance from the provisions of the Zoning By-law if, in its opinion, the application meets all four requirements under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act. It requires consideration of whether the variance is minor, is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure, and whether the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and the Zoning By-law are maintained.
Evidence
7Evidence considered by the Committee included all oral submissions made at the hearing, as highlighted above, and the following written submissions held on file with the Secretary-Treasurer and available from the Committee Coordinator upon request:
Application and supporting documents, including cover letter, plans, tree conservation report, a photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
City Planning Report received November 14, 2024, with no concerns
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email dated November 15, 2024, with no objections
Hydro Ottawa email dated November 15, 2024, with comments
Hydro One email received November 12, 2024, with no comments.
Ontario Ministry of Transportation email received November 5, 2024, with comments.
Effect of Submissions on Decision
8The Committee considered all written and oral submissions relating to the application in making its decision and granted the application.
9Based on the evidence, the Committee is satisfied that the requested variance meets all four requirements under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act.
10The Committee notes that the City’s Planning Report raises “no concerns” regarding the applications, highlighting that, “Staff do not anticipate negative impacts on the public realm to arise as a result of the requested variances.”
11The Committee also notes that no evidence was presented that the variance would result in any unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring properties.
12Considering the circumstances, the Committee finds that, because the proposal fits well in the area, the requested variances are, from a planning and public interest point of view, desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure on the property, and relative to the neighbouring lands.
13The Committee also finds that the requested variances maintain the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan because the proposal respects the character of the neighbourhood.
14In addition, the Committee finds that the requested variance maintains the general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law because the proposal represents orderly development that is compatible with the surrounding area.
15Moreover, the Committee finds that the requested variances, both individually and cumulatively, are minor because they will not create any unacceptable adverse impact on abutting properties or the neighbourhood in general.
16THE COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT therefore authorizes the requested variances, subject to the location and size of the proposed construction being in accordance with the site plan filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped October 16, 2024, and the elevations filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped November 4, 2024, as they relate to the requested variances.
"Ann M. Tremblay" ANN M. TREMBLAY CHAIR
"John Blatherwick" JOHN BLATHERWICK MEMBER
"Simon Coakeley" SIMON COAKELEY MEMBER
"Arto Keklikian" ARTO KEKLIKIAN MEMBER
"Sharon Lécuyer"
SHARON LÉCUYER
MEMBER
I certify this is a true copy of the Decision of the Committee of Adjustment of the City of Ottawa, dated November 29, 2024
“Michel Bellemare” MICHEL BELLEMARE SECRETARY-TREASURER
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL
To appeal this decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), a completed appeal form and the filing fee must be submitted via one of the below options and must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on December 19, 2024.
OLT E-FILE SERVICE – An appeal can be filed online through the E-File Portal . First-time users will need to register for a My Ontario Account. Select [Ottawa (City): Committee of Adjustment] as the Approval Authority. To complete the appeal, fill in all the required fields and provide the filing fee by credit card.
BY EMAIL - Appeal packages can be submitted by email to cofa@ottawa.ca. The appeal form is available on the OLT website at Forms | Ontario Land Tribunal. Please indicate on the appeal form that payment will be made by credit card.
IN PERSON – Appeal packages can be delivered to the Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment, 101 Centrepointe Drive, 4th floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K2G 5K7. The appeal form is available on the OLT website at Forms | Ontario Land Tribunal. In person payment can be made by certified cheque or money order made payable to the Ontario Minister of Finance, or by credit card. Please indicate on the appeal form if you wish to pay by credit card.
Please note only one of the above options needs to be completed. If your preferred method of appeal is not available at the time of filing, the appeal must be filed with one of the other two options.
The Ontario Land Tribunal has established a filing fee of $400.00 per type of application with an additional filing fee of $25.00 for each secondary application.
Only the applicant, the Minister or a specified person or public body that has an interest in the matter may appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A “specified person” does not include an individual or a community association.
There are no provisions for the Committee of Adjustment or the Ontario Land Tribunal to extend the statutory deadline to file an appeal. If the deadline is not met, the OLT does not have the authority to hold a hearing to consider your appeal.
If you have any questions about the appeal process, please visit File an Appeal | Ontario Land Tribunal
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Committee of Adjustment City of Ottawa Ottawa.ca/CommitteeofAdjustment cofa@ottawa.ca 613-580-2436
Comité de dérogation Ville d’Ottawa Ottawa.ca/Comitedederogation cded@ottawa.ca 613-580-2436