HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 23-21Report to
Planning & Development Committee
Report Number: PLN 23-21
Date: May 3, 2021
From: Kyle Bentley
Director, City Development & CBO
Subject: Zoning By-law Amendment Application A 04/21
City Initiated
Amendment to Seaton Zoning By-law 7364/14
Corner Rounding Zoning Provisions
Recommendation:
1. That City Initiated Zoning By-law Amendment Application A 04/21 to amend Seaton Zoning
By-law 7364/14, as amended, to include a corner rounding definition and provisions, be
endorsed, and that the draft Zoning By-law Amendment containing the standards set out in
Appendix I to Report PLN 23-21 be finalized and forwarded to Council.
Executive Summary: A corner rounding definition and provisions were omitted from Seaton
Zoning By-law 7364/14 when it was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in 2014. A corner
rounding provision establishes a smaller building setback requirement for a corner lot than is
required to the front or side lot lines. Corner rounding provisions that are now typically included in
site-specific amending by-laws do not exist in the Seaton By-law. As the Seaton Area continues to
be developed, staff have noticed an influx in the submission of minor variance applications to
address the setback of proposed dwellings from a corner rounding on a corner lot.
The purpose of this report is to seek final Council approval of the City Initiated amendment to
Zoning By-law 7364/14, as amended, to include a corner rounding zoning provision. The draft
by-law adds a definition of ‘Corner Rounding’ and establishes the new setback to the corner for
low and medium density housing forms.
Financial Implications: The recommendations of this report do not present any financial
implications for the City.
Discussion:
1. Background
A corner rounding is defined as a lot line of a corner lot at the intersection of two street lines
in the form of an arc, that joins the front lot line to the flankage lot line. The purpose of a
corner rounding is to ensure obstructions such as gardens, plants or fences on privately
owned property do not impede the view of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists at the
intersection of two street lines. The City may require a conveyance of lands for a corner
rounding for road dedication purposes, to prevent sightline obstructions to ensure safe
pedestrian and vehicular movement.
Report PLN 23-21 May 3, 2021
Subject: City Initiated: Corner Rounding Zoning Provisions Page 2
A corner rounding provision establishes a smaller building setback requirement for a corner
lot than is required to the front or flankage side lot lines (see Figure 1 below). For example,
where a by-law requires a minimum front yard setback of 4.5 metres, on a corner lot, the
minimum setback to a corner rounding at the front of the lot may be 3.9 metres.
Figure 1: Example of Reduced Setback to Corner Rounding
1.1 Draft Implementing Zoning By-law Amendment
Draft amendments to Zoning By-law 7364/14, containing the standards set out in Appendix I,
adds a definition of ‘Corner Rounding’ to Section 10.0 – Definitions, and adds corner
rounding zoning provisions to the Zone Categories identified in Section 4.0 – Residential
Zone Regulations and Section 5.0 – Mixed Use Zone Regulation.
A corner rounding provision is proposed to be added for the following residential building
types within these Sections: detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, street townhouse
dwelling, duplex dwelling, multiple attached building, back to back townhouse dwelling,
block townhouse, and live work unit.
A corner rounding provision is not proposed to be added for the following building types
within these Sections: apartment building/nursing home/long-term care, retirement home,
or building with sole retail/commercial uses. A provision is also not proposed to be added
for building types with a minimum front yard and/or minimum flankage yard of 0 metres.
2. Public Consultation and Comments
The draft zoning by-law amendment was circulated to the standard departments and
agencies for review and comment in early April 2021. The draft zoning by-law amendment
was also mailed and emailed to the Group Manager of the Seaton Landowners Group in
early April 2021, for further circulation to the members of the group.
2.2 Written Submissions
At the time of writing this report, no written comments have been received from the public
or the Seaton Landowners Group. Any comments received from the public/landowners will
be taken into consideration during staff’s drafting and finalization of the by-law.
Report PLN 23-21 May 3, 2021
Subject: City Initiated: Corner Rounding Zoning Provisions Page 3
3. City Departments and Agency Comments
As of writing this report, no comments have been received from City Departments or
external agencies. Any comments received from the City Departments/agencies will be
taken into consideration during staff’s drafting and finalization of the by-law.
4. Planning Analysis
4.1 The Proposal Conforms to the Pickering Official Plan
The Seaton Urban Area is intended to be a walkable, pedestrian oriented community built
at a relatively compact density. Proposing corner rounding provisions within the Seaton
Area to facilitate the construction of a range of housing types and densities that meet the
needs of the diverse population is in keeping with the policies of the Pickering Official Plan.
4.2 The Need to Implement a Zoning By-law Amendment
A corner rounding definition and provisions were omitted from Seaton Zoning By-law 7364/14
when it was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in 2014. Corner rounding provisions
that are now typically included in site-specific amending by-laws do not exist in the Seaton
By-law. The proposed zoning by-law amendment is expected to reduce the need for
developers and builders in Seaton to seek minor variances to address the setback of
proposed dwellings on corner lots.
4.3 Proposed Corner Rounding Provisions
Minor variance applications submitted to date to address the setback of a proposed
dwelling from a corner rounding have been for low-density and medium-density residential
dwellings only. For this reason, a corner rounding provision is proposed to be added to
Section 4.0 and Section 5.0 of By-law 7364/14 for building types including detached
dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, street townhouse dwelling, duplex dwelling, multiple
attached building, back to back townhouse dwelling, block townhouse, and live work unit.
The requested variances between 2018 and 2021 to permit a reduced setback to a corner
rounding in the front or flankage yard ranged between 2.0 metres and 0.2 metres, with the
majority of requested variances ranging between 2.0 metres and 1.5 metres. For residential
building types with a minimum front yard of 3.0 metres and a minimum flankage yard of
2.4 metres, staff are proposing a minimum setback of 1.75 metres to a corner rounding in
the front and flankage yards. This is a 1.25 metre reduction to the required front yard and
a 0.65 metre reduction to the required flankage yard. A corner rounding setback of
1.75 metres is inline with previous requested variances. Staff believe it is appropriate to
further review a proposed setback to a corner rounding that is less than 1.75 metres
through a minor variance application. Additionally, a minimum corner rounding setback of
1.75 metres has been used in site-specific amending by-laws outside of the Seaton Area,
including in the Duffin Heights Area, which is comparable to the Seaton Area in terms of
dense development.
For residential building types with a minimum flankage yard of 2.0 metres, staff are
proposing a minimum setback of 1.5 metres to a corner rounding in the flankage yard. For
building types with a minimum flankage yard of 3.0 metres, staff are proposing a minimum
setback of 2.0 metres to a corner rounding in the flankage yard. These corner rounding
setbacks represent an incremental change based on a larger or smaller flankage side yard.
4.4 Staff Recommend an Implementing Zoning By-law Amen dment be Forwarded to
Council for Enactment
Staff recommend the Zoning By-law Amendment, containing the standards set out in
Appendix I, to amend By-law 7364/14, to include a corner rounding definition and
provisions, be finalized and forwarded to Council for enactment.
Appendix:
Appendix I Recommended Zoning By-law Provisions
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Isabel Lima
Planner I
Deborah Wylie, MCIP, RPP
Manager, Zoning & Administration
Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP
Chief Planner
Report PLN 23-21 May 3, 2021
Subject: City Initiated: Corner Rounding Zoning Provisions Page 4
Kyle Bentley, P. Eng.
Director, City Development & CBO
IL:ld
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Appendix I to
Report PLN 23-21
Recommended Zoning By-law Provisions
for Zoning By-law Amendment A 04/21
Recommended Zoning By-law Provisions for
Zoning By-law Amendment Application A 04/21
That the implementing zoning by-law include a corner rounding definition and zoning provisions
within Seaton Zoning By-law 7364/14, in accordance with the following provisions:
A. Corner Rounding Definition
“Corner Rounding” means a lot line of a corner lot at the intersection of two street lines in
the form of an arc, that joins the front lot line to the flankage lot line.
B. Corner Rounding Setback (minimum)
Despite any front yard or flankage yard requirement, on a corner lot, the setback to a
corner rounding shall be:
Minimum Corner Rounding
Setback (metres)
Low Density Type 1 (LD1) Zone
Any Detached dwelling or Semi-detached dwelling 1.75
Low Density Type 1 – Townhouse (LD1-T) Zone
Any street townhouse dwelling or duplex dwelling 1.75
Low Density Type 2 (LD2) Zone
Any detached dwelling or semi-detached dwelling 1.75
Low Density Type 2 – Multiple (LD2-M) Zone
Any street townhouse dwelling, duplex dwelling, multiple
attached building, back to back townhouse dwelling, or
block townhouse building
1.75
Medium Density – Detached & Semi (MD-DS) Zone
Any detached dwelling or semi-detached dwelling 1.75
Medium Density – Multiple (MD-M) Zone
Any street townhouse dwelling, duplex dwelling, multiple
attached building, back to back townhouse dwelling, or
block townhouse building
1.75
High Density (H) Zone
Any multiple attached building or block townhouse
building 1.75
Minimum Corner Rounding
Setback (metres)
Mixed Corridor Type 1 (MC1) Zone
Any street townhouse dwelling, duplex dwelling, multiple
attached building, back to back townhouse dwelling, or
block townhouse building
1.75
Mixed Corridor Type 2 (MC2) Zone
Any street townhouse dwelling, duplex dwelling, multiple
attached building, or back to back townhouse dwelling 1.75
Any live work unit 1.5
Any block townhouse building 1.75 at front of lot
2.0 at flankage
Minor Commercial Clusters – (MCC) Zone
Any live work unit 1.5
Community Node – Pedestrian Predominant Area
(CN-PP) – Zone
Any live work unit 1.5
The above proposed provisions will amend the Additional Provisions Sections of Zoning
By-law 7364/14.