Committee of Adjustment / Comité de dérogation
DECISION MINOR VARIANCE
Date of Decision: March 13, 2026
Panel: 2 - Suburban
File: D08-02-25/A-00242
Application: Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicants: S. Lapierre and A. Gregorich
Property Address: 1248 Collins
Ward: 18 - Alta Vista
Legal Description: Lot 466, Registered Plan M-23
Zoning: R2F
Zoning By-law: 2008-250
Heard: March 3, 2026, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANTS’ PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicants have constructed a walkway and driveway at the front of the detached dwelling, as shown on plans filed with the Committee. The existing driveway and garage at the rear of the property will remain.
REQUESTED VARIANCES
2The Applicants request that the Committee authorize minor variances from the Zoning By-law:
a) To permit parking in the front yard, whereas the By-law does not permit parking in the front yard.
b) To permit 0 metres of soft landscaping between a walkway and a driveway, in the front yard, whereas the By-law requires a minimum of 0.6 metres of soft landscaping between a walkway and driveway, in the front yard.
c) To permit a reduced parking space length of 3.7 metres in the front yard, whereas the By-law requires a minimum parking space length of 5.2 metres in the front yard.
3The property is not the subject of any other current application under the Planning Act.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4S. Lapierre and A. Gregorich, the Applicants, and City Planner Elizabeth King 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 variances are minor, are 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 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, streetscape analysis, petition in support signed by eight neighbors, photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
City Planning Report received February 26, 2026, with no concerns.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email received February 23, 2026, with no objections.
Hydro Ottawa email received February 25, 2026, with no comments.
S. Lapierre, one of the Applicants, email received February 17, 2026, petition signed by one resident, in support; email received February 23, 2026, petition signed by two residents, in support; email received February 27, 2026, petition signed by one resident, in support; email received March 2, 2026, petition signed by one resident, in support.
J. Hamel and A. Theriault, residents, email received February 26, 2026, in support.
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 “[w]hile the parking space is undersized, Staff have noted that the front yard parking spaces does comply with new Zoning By-law and has sufficient soft landscaping in all other yards”.
11The Committee also notes that no compelling 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 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 complying with the plans filed with the Committee of Adjustment on November 3, 2025, as they relate to the requested variances.
"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 March 13, 2026.
“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 2, 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
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Comité de dérogation
Ville d’Ottawa
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