The Committee of Adjustment (CoA) approved three secondary dwelling units (SDUs), a series of severances, rezoned a subdivision proposal – despite the City’s planning staff saying it was not the proper process, and approved the final variances for the new Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre at 430 – 436 Cannon Street East. The CoA announced they will resume in-person hearings on May 26, 2020. The CoA will stop streaming their meetings and no longer allow public participation by video and phone. The CoA rejected an attempt to sever a farm property within the Greenbelt. The owner of 1130 Ridge Road (Stoney Creek) hoped to keep the existing house and sell the remainder of the land. An application to further decrease the parking requirement at the Corktown Plaza was tabled. The CoA approved three SDUs this week, on split votes with some members continuing to oppose SDUs because they are usually rentals. A few weeks ago, one member stated that approving SDUs will make Hamilton’s neighbourhood’s “into ghettos”. CoA unanimously approved the conversion of an existing detached accessory building, which has a basement, into an SDU. SDUs are not intended to have basements, and the SDU by-law sets the maximum size of a unit at 75 square metres. [Variances are usually permitted for more space, with conditions] Due to the basement, this SDU is just over twice the permitted size. City’s planning staff wrote “SDU will not set a precedent as it is often not common to have an existing accessory building with a basement. This situation is unique as the basement unit has helped to increase the GFA of the SDU.” Ward 10 Councillor Maria Pearson stated she is “concerned of a precedent being set. This is not an old building, this is a fairly new building … I am okay with this being approved.” CoA member Margaret Smith expressed concern this accessory garage building was built with the intention of it becoming two housing units. “I do notice that the basement has a full washroom in it,” Smith noted. “So two full washrooms in this.” Other members of the CoA joined in expressing concerns the owner will divide the permitted single unit into two. The City will monitor and enforce bylaws. CoA unanimously approved variances for this SDU. The house is located near the intersection of East 39th and Crockett Street, one block west of Upper Gage Avenue. The property owner requested two variances: 1) to allow a 2.6m x 5.9m parking space where a 2.7m x 6.0m is required 2) minimum front yard landscaped area of 36% is proposed, whereas a minimum landscaped area of 50% of the front yard is required. Staff recommended approval. One CoA member expressed concern that a storage room within the unit could be converted into an additional bedroom that is not permitted within SDUs. The owner of the property is returning for additional variances for an already approved secondary dwelling unit. The new variances are required for a second parking spot where zoning only permits one spot to ensure at least 50 percent of the front is landscaped. The second spot will reduce landscaping to 12 percent. Environment Hamilton’s Lynda Lukasik spoke to the CoA seeking to make the use of a permeable service for the driveway a condition of approval. CoA member Nancie Mleczko remarked she is concerned there is “a little bit of a lobbying process” due to an increase in public interest delegations to the committee. [Read more on this here: Joey’s Notepad: CoA Member Concerned about “Lobbying” by Environment Hamilton] The application was approved, without conditions. This site is north of Burlington Street, with an existing small bungalow on the property. The developer who owns the site is planning to replace it with a three-storey single-detached house as permitted in the zoning bylaw. They plan to have an SDU within the new home, which is an as-of-right permission. There are two variances requested: 1) 40% landscaping where 50% is required. 2) Two parking spots at the front, whereas bylaw permits only one. Environment Hamilton wrote they support the SDU but do not support the variances due to an existing street tree at the front of the property. EH states they oppose the decrease in landscaping in front of the house. There is an existing street tree in the front which EH wants to be protected. EH encouraged the applicant to use street parking instead of adding a second parking spot. The variances were approved. This week’s land severances, with the exception of a rural application, all sought to split larger lots to have two homes where there is presently one. The following addresses were approved: 73 Chipman (Hamilton), 628 Mill Street (Ancaster), 11 Kilbourn Ave (Stoney Creek), and 1367 & 1371 Hwy 8 (Stoney Creek).