Committee of Adjustment
Comité de dérogation
DECISION MINOR VARIANCE
May 30, 2025
Panel:
2 - Suburban
D08-02-25/A-00096
Application:
Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicants:
Marc Leonard & Stephanie Wong
Property Address:
31 Tennyson Street
Ward:
9 - Knoxdale-Merivale
Legal Description:
Lot 290, Registered Plan 628300
Zoning:
R1F
Zoning By-law:
2008-250
Heard:
May 20, 2025, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANTS’ PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicants want to construct a second-floor addition above the existing attached garage, as shown on plans filed with the Committee.
REQUESTED VARIANCE
2The Applicants seek the Committee’s authorization for a minor variance from the Zoning By-law to permit a front yard setback of 5.16 metres, whereas the By-law requires a minimum front yard setback of 7.5 metres.
3The property is not the subject of any other current application under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4Paul Cooper, agent for the Applicants, provided an overview of the application and clarified that, in this case, the front lot line is located on the longer Tennyson Street frontage, whereas it would typically be the lot line that abuts a street for the shortest distance, due to a provision in the Zoning By-law related to properties located in the former City of Nepean. He further advised that the requested variance would apply only to the addition.
5City Planner Nivethini Jekku Einkaran confirmed that she had no concerns with the application. She also stated that the existing house enjoyed legal non-conforming rights regarding the front yard setback and confirmed that the requested variance would apply only to the proposed addition.
6Following the public hearing, the Committee reserved its decision.
DECISION AND REASONS OF THE COMMITTEE: APPLICATION GRANTED
Application Must Satisfy Statutory Four-Part Test
7The 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
8Evidence 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, petition in support, plans, tree information, photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
City Planning Report received May 14, 2025, with no concerns.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email dated May 16, 2025, with no objections.
Hydro Ottawa email dated May 7, 2025, with no objections.
Ontario Ministry of Transportation email dated April 29, 2025, with no comments.
Effect of Submissions on Decision
9The Committee considered all written and oral submissions relating to the application in making its decision and granted the application.
10Based on the evidence, the Committee is satisfied that the requested variance meets all four requirements under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act.
11The Committee notes that the City’s Planning Report raises “no concerns” regarding the application.
12The Committee also notes that no evidence was presented that the variance would result in any unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring properties.
13Considering 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.
14The 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.
15In 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.
16Moreover, 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.
17THE COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT ORDERS that the application is granted and the variance to the Zoning By-law is authorized subject to the location and size of the proposed construction being in accordance with the site plan filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped April 22, 2025, and the elevations filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped Aprill 16, 2025, as they relates 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
"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 May 30, 2025.
“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 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 June 19, 2025.
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