Ottawa Committee of Adjustment

The applicant sought an easement to establish a right of way for pedestrian and vehicular access in favour of a neighbouring property.

The Committee of Adjustment considered the application under the Planning Act and found it consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement.

The Committee granted the application, subject to conditions, finding that a plan of subdivision was not necessary for the proper and orderly development of the municipality.

The applicants applied for a minor variance under section 45 of the Planning Act to permit a reduced northerly interior side yard setback of 0.4 metres for a rear addition, whereas the zoning by-law requires 1.2 metres.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the requested variance met the four-part test under the Planning Act, noting that the proposal fits well in the area, respects the character of the neighbourhood, and represents orderly development compatible with the surrounding area.

The application was granted.

The applicant sought consent to sever a property into three separate lots to build a new two-storey detached house on each, along with minor variances for reduced lot area, width, and setbacks.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the consent applications satisfied the criteria under section 51(24) of the Planning Act and that the minor variances met the four-part test under section 45(1).

The applications were granted subject to conditions, including a revised tree information report and stormwater management requirements.

The applicant sought minor variances to permit reduced front and rear yard setbacks and an increased building height to construct a three-storey semi-detached dwelling.

Neighbours raised concerns regarding building height, parking, and neighbourhood character.

The Committee of Adjustment (majority) found that the variances met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act, as they were minor, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and maintained the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.

The applications were granted, with two members dissenting on the building height variances.

The applicants requested a change of condition to a provisional consent previously granted by the Committee of Adjustment.

The requested change would require the submission of a registered reference plan that conforms to a newly submitted draft reference plan, rather than the one originally filed.

The Committee found the requested change to be reasonable, necessary, and minor under subsection 53(23) of the Planning Act, and granted the request.

The applicant sought consent to sever land to transfer parts of three properties to an abutting neighbour to the north.

The City requested a road widening condition, which the applicant contested as it applied to the abutting property not subject to the applications.

The Committee of Adjustment granted the consent applications, finding them consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement and the Planning Act.

The Committee maintained the road widening condition for the subject properties but waived it for the abutting property, with one member dissenting on the exception.

The applicant applied for consent to sever a property into two separate lots and to create access easements under section 53 of the Planning Act.

The Committee of Adjustment found that a plan of subdivision was not necessary and that the proposal was consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement and had regard for the criteria in subsection 51(24) of the Planning Act.

The application was granted subject to conditions.

The applicants sought minor variances to permit a reduced front yard setback of 3.98 metres for a residential addition.

The application was unopposed and proceeded on the fast-track consent agenda.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the requested variances met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act, as they were minor, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and maintained the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.

The application was granted.

The applicants sought consent under section 53 of the Planning Act to sever a 0.482-hectare parcel containing an existing surplus farm dwelling from a 34.51-hectare agricultural property.

The Committee of Adjustment found the application consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement and the criteria under section 51(24) of the Planning Act.

The application was granted subject to conditions, including obtaining a Zoning By-law Amendment to restrict residential development on the retained lands.

The applicants sought minor variances to permit a reduced rear yard setback, reduced rear yard area, and reduced interior side yard setbacks to construct a single-storey addition at the rear of their existing house.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the requested variances met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act, as they were minor, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and maintained the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.

The application was granted as amended.

The applicants sought a minor variance to permit a reduced rear yard setback of 2.808 metres for a residential addition, whereas the zoning by-law required 7.5 metres.

The Ottawa Committee of Adjustment reviewed the application against the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act.

Finding no objections and noting the proposal respected the neighbourhood's character, the Committee concluded the variance was minor, desirable, and maintained the general intent of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.

The application was granted.

The applicant sought consent to sever a property into two separate lots to build future homes, which would require demolishing the existing house and removing two mature, healthy trees.

City staff opposed the application, arguing that alternative lot configurations could preserve the high-priority trees while achieving the same residential density.

The Committee of Adjustment refused the application, finding that the proposal was not consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement regarding climate change adaptation and did not have adequate regard for the criteria under subsection 51(24) of the Planning Act, as the removal of the trees was avoidable and contrary to Official Plan policies prioritizing tree retention.

The applicants sought consent under section 53 of the Planning Act to sever a property into two separate lots, each containing one half of a semi-detached house currently under construction.

Local residents raised concerns regarding the potential need for minor variances for driveways and front-facing garages.

The Committee of Adjustment found that no minor variances were required as the plans did not include driveways or garages for vehicle parking.

The Committee granted the application, finding it consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement and the criteria under section 51(24) of the Planning Act, subject to conditions including tree planting and a joint use and maintenance agreement.

The applicants sought permission to enlarge a legally non-conforming detached garage by adding a second storey for a coach house, along with minor variances for increased height and reduced interior side yard setback.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the requested permission met the requirements of subsection 45(2) of the Planning Act, as it was desirable for the development of the property and would not have unacceptable impacts on the surrounding area.

The majority of the Committee also found that the requested variances met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act.

The application was granted, with one member dissenting.

The applicant applied to the Committee of Adjustment for consent to sever a property to create one new lot for a surplus farm dwelling.

The Committee considered the criteria under section 51(24) of the Planning Act and the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024.

Finding that a plan of subdivision was not necessary for the proper and orderly development of the municipality and that the proposal was consistent with provincial interests, the Committee granted the application subject to conditions, including obtaining a Zoning By-law Amendment to restrict residential development on the retained lands.

The applicant sought a minor variance to permit 9 parking spaces for a restaurant use, whereas the Zoning By-law requires a minimum of 17 parking spaces.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the requested variance met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act.

The proposal was deemed desirable for the appropriate development of the land, maintained the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, and was considered minor as it would not create any unacceptable adverse impact on abutting properties.

The application was granted subject to compliance with the filed site plan.

The applicants sought minor variances to construct a one-storey detached dwelling with an attached garage.

The requested variances included increased lot coverage, reduced setbacks from a watercourse for the dwelling and septic system, and reduced lot area and width.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the application met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act, noting that the proposal fit well in the area, raised no concerns from the City's Planning Report, and would not create any unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring properties.

The application was granted.

The applicants sought minor variances to permit a reduced rear yard setback and a reduced chimney projection setback to facilitate the addition of a third storey and a single-storey rear extension to their single-family home.

The application was unopposed, and the City's Planning Report raised no concerns.

The Committee of Adjustment found that the requested variances met the four-part test under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act, as they were minor, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and maintained the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-laws.

The application was granted.

The applicant applied for minor variances to permit a reduced soft landscaped area and an increased balcony projection for a proposed semi-detached dwelling.

The Committee of Adjustment evaluated the applications against the four-part test under s. 45(1) of the Planning Act.

Finding that the variances were minor, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and maintained the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, the Committee granted the applications.

The applicants sought permission under section 45 of the Planning Act to build a one-storey addition with a roof top terrace at the rear of their existing legal non-conforming house.

The Committee of Adjustment found the requested permission desirable for the appropriate use of the land and noted it would not create any unacceptable adverse impact on abutting properties.

The application was granted as an unopposed fast-track consent item.