Though it’s still cold outside, things are heating up for the Committee of Adjustment at this February meeting. The theme of the meeting seems to be new apartments with a couple of variants for accessory units and the transformation of a current commercial space. In other news, a family is looking to make some changes to their front area, and a new affordable housing project needs some changes approved.
NOTE #1: This meeting will hybrid in format, available on the City of Guelph live stream, but you can also appear in-person at the council chambers in 1 Carden Street.
NOTE #2: If you would like to delegate on one of these matters, or submit a written comment, you have until Thursday February 2 at noon to get in touch with committee staff at cofa [at] guelph.ca, or by calling 519-822-1260 extension 2524.
NOTE #3: The meeting begins at 4 pm.
A-1/23 29-31 Paisley Street – The property owner would like to turn a commercial space in the building into an additional residential unit to bring the total units available up to five. Problem? There are only two parking spots on the property so a minor variance is being requested. Technically, according to the zoning bylaw, the property needs one parking spot per unit, but these property is downtown and its limitations pre-date even the previous bylaw update.
A-6/23 50-60 Fife Road – You remember this project. Well, UpBuilding! Non-Profit Homes is looking for a number of minor variances to carry on with the project to build 18 new one-bedroom units including allowances for permit multiple attached dwellings, increased number of dwelling units, reduced private amenity area, and reduced off-street parking and visitors parking. You might recall that the project will build three-storey multiple attached dwellings on the site of the listed heritage building that used to be the home of a Guelph businessman and former-mayor.
A-7/23 444 Speedvale Avenue East – This property has one unit on the main floor, plus an accessory apartment in the basement, and now the owners want to convert the garage into an additional bachelor-style apartment suited for a single person or a couple. Staff had rejected the proposal due to the requested adjustment to the setback and the loss of greenspace and privacy of the garage’s embiggened footprint. The owners want a second opinion because they think the changes are negligible and there’s more than enough distance between the garage and the neighbours.
A-8/23 179 Eramosa Road – This property consists of a primary dwelling and an additional building that could be used as an accessory unit, especially since it apparently already has a kitchen and washroom inside. Now that City of Guelph rules have caught up with the property, and the owners would like to formally turned this into a accessory unit for habitation after receiving five minor variances. Interestingly, there have been two previous Committee of Adjustment decisions on this property from 2003.
A-9/23 30 Powell Street East – The homeowner would like to take their front porch area and replace it with a little bit more indoor living space including a formal mudroom with closets space and a 2-piece bathroom. Surprisingly, this simple change requires four different minor variances.
Impact of Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 – Like a lot of other City of Guelph committees and boards, the Committee of Adjustment is not unaffected by changes made in Bill 23. In terms of effects, thirty-party appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal for minor variances will no longer be permitted, and neither will appeals of consent applications. Any minor variance that didn’t have a hearing date set before October 25, 2022 is now cancelled and there’s no longer a two-year prohibition on submitting minor variance applications after the passage of an owner-initiated zoning bylaw amendment at council.
Guelph Politico 