Committee of Adjustment
Comité de dérogation
DECISION PERMISSION
Panel: 1 - Urban
File: D08-02-25/A-00246
Application: Permission under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicant: Suncor Energy Inc.
Property Address: 470 Bronson Avenue
Ward: 14 - Somerset
Legal Description: Lots 1 and 2 and Part of Lots 3 and 4, Registered Plan 31
Zoning: TM
Zoning By-law: 2008-250
Heard: December 10, 2025, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicant wants to renovate the interior of the existing convenience store to add a take-out restaurant. The existing gas bar will remain.
2On August 1, 2025, the Committee refused a permission application (D08-01-25/A-00156) to allow for the addition of a take-out restaurant, noting that insufficient evidence was presented by the Applicant. The Applicant has since reapplied and has undertaken a traffic impact study to support the application.
REQUESTED PERMISSION
3The Applicant seeks the permission of the Committee to expand on the existing gas bar use, which is legal non conforming in the Traditional Mainstreet zone, to permit a take-out restaurant inside the existing convenience store.
4The property is not the subject of any other current application under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
5Responding to the Panel’s questions, Christie Alice, agent for the Applicant, explained that a traffic study was conducted by installing cameras to track the traffic for people going in the restaurant or to the gas bar at a comparable location with a similar use. Ms. Alice confirmed that some parking would be provided to accommodate customers and that there would be no drive-through access, but overall, the impact on local traffic was anticipated to be negligible.
6City Planner Penelope Horn explained that that a traffic impact assessment was not required as the proposal does not meet the threshold.
7City Planner Erin O’Connell confirmed that City Planning and City Transportation Services had no concerns with the proposal.
DECISION AND REASONS OF THE COMMITTEE: APPLICATION GRANTED
Application Must Satisfy Two-Part Test
8The Committee has the power to permit an extension of a legal non-conforming use under subsection 45(2) of the Planning Act based upon both the desirability for development of the property in question and the impact on the surrounding area.
Evidence
9Evidence 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, Traffic Memorandum, photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
- City Planning Report received December 4, 2025, with no concerns.
- Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email received December 1, 2025, with no objections.
- Hydro Ottawa email received December 2, 2025, with comments.
Effect of Submissions on Decision
10The Committee considered all written and oral submissions relating to the application in making its decision and granted the application.
11Based on the evidence, the majority of the Committee (Member J. Blatherwick dissenting) is satisfied that the requested permission meets the two-fold test relating to desirability and impact.
12The Committee notes that the City’s Planning Report raises “no concerns” regarding the application, highlighting that “[t]he proposed fast-food restaurant will include a take-out window facing Bronson Avenue, with a new crosswalk to access the building from the sidewalk. No negative impacts to neighbouring properties are anticipated as a result of the addition of a fast-food restaurant.”
13Considering the circumstances, the majority of the Committee finds that, because the proposal fits well in the area, the requested permission is, from a planning and public interest point of view, desirable for the appropriate use of the land, building or structure on the property, and relative to the neighbouring lands.
14Also, the majority of the Committee finds that the requested permission will not create any unacceptable adverse impact on abutting properties or the neighbourhood in general.
15THE COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT ORDERS that the application is granted and the use is permitted.
"Ann M. Tremblay" ANN M. TREMBLAY CHAIR
Dissent JOHN BLATHERWICK MEMBER
"Colin Haskin" COLIN HASKIN 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 December 19, 2025. “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 January 8, 2026.
- 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 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