Committee of Adjustment / Comité de dérogation
DECISION
MINOR VARIANCE / PERMISSION
Date of Decision: June 28, 2024
Panel: 2 - Suburban
File No.: D08-02-24/A-00120
Application: Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicant: Homestead Land Holdings Limited
Property Address: 1316 Carling Avenue
Ward: 16 – River
Legal Description: Part of Block 8, Registered Plan 221
Zoning: AM10 & R4UC
Zoning By-law: 2008-250
Heard: June 18, 2024, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicant wants to convert the western half of the ground floor of the existing 22-storey apartment building from a commercial space to residential apartments, as shown on plans filed with the Committee.
REQUESTED VARIANCE
2The Applicant requires the Committee’s authorization for a minor variance from the Zoning By-law to permit a reduction in glazing along Carling Avenue of 27% of the surface area, whereas the By-law requires that 50% of the surface area of the ground floor façade facing a public street be glazing.
3The subject property is not the subject of any other current application under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4Jason Gerrard and Annika Van der Ploeg, both acting as Agents for the Applicant, and City Planner Samantha Gatchene 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(s) 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 June 13, 2024, with no concerns.
- Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email received June 12, 2024, with no objections.
- Hydro Ottawa email received June 17, 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 application, highlighting that: “the variance is appropriate as it will enable the residents of the ground-floor units to have more privacy and support residential uses in proximity to the other commercial uses along Carling.”
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 variance is, 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 variance maintains 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 variance, is minor because it will not create any unacceptable adverse impact on abutting properties or the neighbourhood in general.
16THE COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT therefore authorizes the requested variance, subject to the location and size of the proposed construction being in accordance with the plans filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped May 22, 2024, as they relate to the requested variance.
Fabian Poulin FABIAN POULIN VICE-CHAIR
Jay Baltz JAY BALTZ MEMBER
George Barrett GEORGE BARRETT MEMBER
Heather MacLean HEATHER MACLEAN MEMBER
Absent JULIANNE WRIGHT MEMBER
I certify this is a true copy of the Decision of the Committee of Adjustment of the City of Ottawa, dated June 28, 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 along with payment must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment by July 18, 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.
Ce document est également offert en français.
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