Committee of Adjustment / Comité de dérogation
DECISION MINOR VARIANCE
Panel: 2 - Suburban
Application: Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicant: Patricia Sewell
Property Address: 30 Mayo Avenue
Ward: 9 - Knoxdale-Merivale
Legal Description: Lot 61 Registered Plan 378959
Zoning: R1E [1722]
Zoning By-law: 2008-250
Heard: March 4, 2025, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicant wants to construct a one-storey detached garage, as shown on plans filed with the Committee.
2On January 14, 2025, the Committee adjourned the hearing of this application for the Applicant to provide additional information about the location of the existing sewage system and to apply for an additional variance.
REQUESTED VARIANCE
3The Applicant seeks the Committee’s authorization for the following minor variances from the Zoning By-law:
a) To permit an increased lot coverage of 19.82%, or 287.03 square metres, whereas the By-law permits a maximum lot coverage of 15%, or in this case 243.78 square metres.
b) To permit an increased driveway width of 17.34 16.52 metres, whereas the By-law permits a maximum driveway width of 6 metres.
4The property is not the subject of any other current application under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
5Jason Grant, agent for the Applicant, responded to questions from the Acting Panel Chair and agreed that the wording of variance (b) should be amended as follows:
b) To permit an increased driveway width of 17.34 metres 16.52 metres, whereas the By-law permits a maximum driveway width of 6 metres.
6City Planner Elizabeth King confirmed that she had no concerns with the application.
DECISION AND REASONS OF THE COMMITTEE: APPLICATION GRANTED AS AMENDED
Application(s) 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, plans, tree information report, photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
- City Planning Report received February 27, 2025, with no concerns; received January 9, 2025, requesting an adjournment.
- Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email received February 28, 2025, with no objections; received January 9, 2025, with no objections.
- Ottawa Septic System Office email received January 9, 2025, requesting an adjournment.
- Hydro Ottawa email received February 21, 2025, with comments; received January 13, 2025, with comments.
- Ottawa Ministry of Transportation email received December 27, 2024, with no comments.
- Trans-Northern Pipeline Inc., email received February 26, 2025, with comments; received January 3, 2025, with 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, highlighting that, “Staff’s opinion is contingent upon the current design and that the existing private approach is not changing”.
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 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.
14The 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.
15In 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.
16Moreover, 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.
17THE COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT ORDERS that the application is granted and the variances to the Zoning By-law are authorized, subject to the location and size of the proposed construction and driveway being in accordance with the plans filed, Committee of Adjustment date stamped January 24, 2025, 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 March 14, 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 April 3, 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