Committee of Adjustment / Comité de dérogation
DECISION
MINOR VARIANCE / PERMISSION
Date of Decision: August 16, 2024
Panel: 2 - Suburban
File No.: D08-02-24/A-00166
Application: Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicant: 15053552 Canada Inc.
Property Address: 788 March Road
Ward: 4 – Kanata-North
Legal Description: Part of Lot 10, Concession 4, Geographic Township of March
Zoning: GM
Zoning By-law: 2008-250
Heard: August 6, 2024, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicant wants to construct two, six-storey mid-rise apartment buildings on the property, shown as Building A and Building B on plans filed with the Committee. Building A will contain 95 dwelling units and Building B will contain 101 dwelling units, with shared underground parking serving both buildings.
REQUESTED VARIANCES
2The Applicant requires the Committee’s authorization for minor variances from the Zoning By-law as follows:
a) To permit an increased building height (Building A and Building B) of 21.3 metres, whereas the By-law permits a maximum building height of 18 metres.
b) To permit a reduced rear yard setback (Building B) of 3.2 metres, whereas the By-law requires a minimum rear yard setback of 7.5 metres.
3The application indicates that the property is the subject of pre-application consultation for Site Plan Control under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4Tamara Nahal, 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 any 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, photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
- City Planning Report received July 31, 2024, with no concerns.
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority email received July 30, 2024, with no comments.
- Hydro Ottawa email received August 2, 2024, with no 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 variances meet 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 application highlighting that “mid-rise apartments range from four to ten storeys in height, the proposed building is six storeys, which aligns with the general intent of the zone”. The report also highlights that “[t]he intention of the rear yard setback is to ensure adequate amenity area on-site, both indoor and outdoor amenity areas are provided”.
11The Committee also notes that no evidence was presented that the variances 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 variances maintain 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 July 4, 2024, and the elevations filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped June 20, 2024, as they relate to the requested variances.
Absent FABIAN POULIN VICE-CHAIR
Jay Baltz JAY BALTZ ACTING PANEL CHAIR
George Barrett GEORGE BARRETT MEMBER
Heather MacLean HEATHER MACLEAN MEMBER
Julianne Wright JULIANNE WRIGHT MEMBER
I certify this is a true copy of the Decision of the Committee of Adjustment of the City of Ottawa, dated August 16, 2024.
“Matthew Garnett” Matthew Garnett Acting Secretary-Treasurer
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL
To appeal this decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), a completed appeal form along with payment must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment by September 5, 2024, delivered by email at cofa@ottawa.ca and/or by mail or courier to the following address:
Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment, 101 Centrepointe Drive, 4th floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K2G 5K7
The Appeal Form is available on the OLT website at https://olt.gov.on.ca/. 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. 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. If you have any questions about the appeal process, please contact the Committee of Adjustment office by calling 613-580-2436 or by email at cofa@ottawa.ca.
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.
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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