Committee of Adjustment
Comité de dérogation
DECISION MINOR VARIANCE
Panel: 2 - Suburban
File: D08-02-26/A-00004
Application: Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicant: M. Barbeau
Property Address: 243 Station Boulevard
Ward: 18 - Alta Vista
Legal Description: Lot 22, Registered Plan 4M-1080
Zoning By-law: 2008-250, 2026-50
Zoning: R4J, N4B
Heard: April 7, 2026, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicant wishes to build a sunroom at the rear of the existing house, as shown in the plans attached to the application.
REQUESTED VARIANCES
2The Applicant requests that the Committee authorize the following minor variances from the Zoning By-law:
a) To permit a reduced rear yard setback of 21.04% of the lot depth or 7.88 metres, whereas the By-law states that the minimum required rear yard setback is 30% of the lot depth or 11.24 metres.
b) To permit a reduced rear yard area of 21.01% of the lot area or 84 square metres, whereas the By-law requires a minimum rear yard area of 25% of the lot area or, in this case, 99.95 square metres.
3For the purposes of the transition and continuation provisions of Zoning By-law 2026-50, this application was deemed complete on March 17, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4Syed Ahmed, agent for the Applicant, outlined the application and answered the Panel’s questions.
5City Planner Nick Burnie confirmed that he had no concerns with the application. He explained that the existing sheds had been taken into account in calculating the size of the backyard and that they complied with the zoning regulations.
6The Committee also heard oral comments from the following individuals:
- W. Li and J. Wisintainer, two residents, expressed concerns with the number of sheds in the backyard, the fence and the obstruction of their view.
7M. Barbeau, the Applicant, confirmed that there are two sheds in the rear yard.
8Following the public hearing, the Committee reserved its decision.
DECISION AND REASONS OF THE COMMITTEE: APPLICATION GRANTED
Application Must Satisfy Statutory Four-Part Test
9The 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
10Evidence 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 April 2, 2026, with no concerns.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email received March 31, 2026, with no objections.
Hydro Ottawa email received April 2, 2026, with comments.
Effect of Submissions on Decision
11The Committee considered all written and oral submissions relating to the application in making its decision and granted the application.
12Based on the evidence, the Committee is satisfied that the requested variances meet all four requirements under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act.
13The Committee notes that the City’s Planning Report raises “no concerns” regarding the application.
14As for the concerns raised by residents — which relate primarily to the fence, the presence of sheds in the backyard and the obstruction of views -- the Committee notes that this application concerns only minor variances pertaining to the addition of a sunroom. Consequently, most of the concerns raised do not fall within the Committee’s jurisdiction.
15The Committee also notes that no compelling evidence was presented that the requested variances would result in any unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring properties.
16Considering 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.
17The 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.
18In 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.
19Moreover, the Committee finds that the requested variances are minor because they will not create any unacceptable adverse impact on abutting properties or the neighbourhood in general.
20THE 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 February 2, 2026, 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 Ottawa Committee of Adjustment, dated April 17, 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 May 7, 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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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