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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/10/2004Statutory Public Information Meeting Thursday, June 10, 2004 7:00 P.M. PRESENT: Councillor McLean - Chair STAFF: L. Taylor R. Pym D. Kearns - Manager, Development Review - Principal Planner- Development Review - Committee Coordinator The Manager, Development Review, provided an overview of the requirements of the Planning Act and the Ontario Municipal Board respecting this meeting and matters under consideration there at. (I) CITY INITIATED APPLICATIONS TO AMEND THE PICKERING OFFICIAL PLAN (FILE: OPA 02-0031P) AND ZONING BY-LAWS (FILE: A 19102) TO PERMIT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IN EXISTING DWELLING UNITS Ross Pym, Principal Planner, Development Review, provided an overview of property location, applicant's proposal and City's official plan policies pertaining to this site, as outlined in Information Report #07/04. Pat Bates, 1625 McBrady Cms., submitted by e-mail her remarks and concerns relating to this application. Her concems included lack of notification of the meeting, safety of children, fire concerns, parking, unsafe environment for other homeowners, lack of incentive to register apartments, and enforcement of by- law. She suggested that landlords taxes be increased, that the City look at other options for affordable housing and that the City create more regulated rental buildings. Paul Ethedngton, 4930 Old Brock Road, congratulated staff on their presentation. He advised that he is a real estate agent and through his work has come across a lot of basement apartments that are located throughout Pickering not limited to certain areas. He stated that many are poody maintained with poor fire separation and poor electrical work but the occupants are afraid to complain as they known the units are illegal. He further stated that the tenant needs an avenue to complain without fear of eviction. He expressed the need for basement apartments for singles and young mothers as they generally have lower rental fees. He recommended allowing these units but require the owner to pay a registration fee. -1- Statutory Public Information Meeting Thursday, June 10, 2004 7:00 P.M. (11) Alan Arnold, 1032 Mountcastle Cres., disagreed with the statement made by Mr. Ted Aikins, Planner with the Central Lake Ontario Conservation, stating that the Authority 'in general does not have any concerns with the type of dwelling that would be permitted to include an accessory dwelling unit'. He stated that a side door entry, a large yard and adequate parking should be required when considering the approval of a basement apartment and that inspections should also be required by the City, Fire Department and Hydro. A report should be prepared by the Fire Department outlining the requirements needed to bring a previously built apartment up to standard. Apartments must be registered, regulated, require a building permit, have mandatory inspections and the owners of the property should pay more taxes. Don MacKeracher, 501 Rosebank Road, advised that he has a fully licenced apartment that required a zoning amendment and a building permit. The application for this amendment resulted in an Ontario Municipal Board hearing which caused him a great deal of expense but ended with the approval of the application. He stated his support of this City initiated application. Grant Morris, 389 Starview Court, stated his support of the report and hopes Council approves the application. He advised that he defended Mr. MacKeracher's application at the Ontario Municipal Board and that the approval of basement apartments is long overdue. He understands that there are 2,000 to 3,000 illegal apartments within Pickering and the City must find a way to legalize these untis. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m. 2