Committee of Adjustment / Comité de dérogation
DECISION MINOR VARIANCE
Date of Decision: June 12, 2026
Panel: 3 - Rural
File: D08-02-26/A-00063
Application: Minor Variance under section 45 of the Planning Act
Applicants: A. Shelemay and E. Bloom
Property Address: 5579 Dickinson Street
Ward: 21 - Rideau-Jock
Legal Description: Lot 4, Registered Plan 467
Zoning (By-law 2008-250): V1P
Zoning (By-law 2026-50): V1M
Heard: June 2, 2026, in person and by videoconference
APPLICANTS’ PROPOSAL AND PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION
1The Applicants want to construct a new two-storey detached dwelling, as shown on plans submitted to the Committee. The existing dwelling will be demolished.
REQUESTED VARIANCES:
2The Applicants request that the Committee authorize minor variances from the zoning requirements:
Under Zoning By-Law 2008-250
a) To permit a reduced setback of 12.20 metres from the normal highwater mark of a watercourse or waterbody (Rideau River), whereas the By-law requires a minimum setback of 30 metres from the normal highwater mark of any watercourse or waterbody.
Under Zoning By-law 2026-50:
b) To permit a reduced setback of 5.92 metres from the top of bank of a surface water feature (Rideau River), whereas the By-law requires a minimum setback of 30 metres from the top of bank of any surface water feature.
3For the purposes of the transition and continuation provisions of Zoning By-law 2026-50, this application was deemed complete on April 28, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING
Oral Submissions Summary
4Dayna Edwards, the Applicant’s agent, advised and City Planner Liam White agreed that the application needed to be amended to reflect the setback from the proposed hot tub, which is considered a structure for zoning purposes, and to clarify the location of the top of bank of the river, as follows:
Under Zoning By-Law 2008-250
a) To permit a reduced setback of 15.638 12.20 metres from the normal highwater mark of a watercourse or waterbody (Rideau River), whereas the By-law requires a minimum setback of 30 metres from the normal highwater mark of any watercourse or waterbody.
Under Zoning By-law 2026-50:
b) To permit a reduced setback of 15.638 5.92 metres from the top of bank of a surface water feature (Rideau River), whereas the By-law requires a minimum setback of 30 metres from the top of bank of any surface water feature.
5With all parties in agreement, the application was amended accordingly.
DECISION AND REASONS OF THE COMMITTEE: APPLICATION GRANTED AS AMENDED
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 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
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 a cover letter, plans, tree information report, slope stability assessment, photo of the posted sign, and a sign posting declaration.
City Planning Report received May 28, 2026, with no concerns.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority email received May 25, 2026, with no objections.
Hydro Ottawa email received May 26, 2026, with no comments.
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.
11The Committee also notes that no 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 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, as amended, and the variances to the Zoning By-laws are authorized, subject to the location and size of the proposed construction complying with the elevation plans filed with the Committee of Adjustment on April 24, 2026, and revised site plan filed with the Committee of Adjustment on May 27, 2026, as they relate to the requested variances.
"Terence Otto" TERENCE OTTO VICE-CHAIR
"Gary Duncan" GARY DUNCAN MEMBER
"Beth Henderson" BETH HENDERSON MEMBER
"Martin Vervoort" MARTIN VERVOORT MEMBER
"Jocelyn Chandler" JOCELYN CHANDLER MEMBER
I certify this is a true copy of the decision of the Ottawa Committee of Adjustment, dated June 12, 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 July 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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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