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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 8, 2025 - DraftDraft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes Electronic Meeting October 08, 2025 07:00 PM Present: Omar Ha-Redeye Sakshi Sood Joshi Sean Wiley – Chair Also Present Deborah Wylie, Secretary-Treasurer Isabel Lima, Secretary-Treasurer Jasmine Correia, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Nilissa Reynolds, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer – Host Ash Roy, Planner I Tanejaé Page-Hamilton, Zoning Examiner Absent Denise Rundle – Vice-Chair Rick Van Andel Disclosure of Interest Adoption of Agenda Moved By Sakshi Sood Joshi Seconded By Omar Ha-Redeye That the agenda for the Wednesday, October 8, 2025, hearing be adopted. Carried Unanimously 1. 2. 1 Adoption of Minutes Moved By Omar Ha-Redeye Seconded By Sakshi Sood Joshi That the minutes of the 10th hearing of the Committee of Adjustment held Wednesday, September 10, 2025, be adopted. Carried Minor Variance Reports MV 42/25 - 50 Highway No. 7 A. Ramalingam & S. Rajadurai The applicant requests relief from Zoning By-law 8149/24 to permit a detached private garage with a maximum height of 7.48 metres, whereas the By-law requires a detached private garage shall not exceed a building height of 4.5 metres. The applicant requests approval of this minor variance application to obtain a building permit to construct a private detached garage. Input from other sources was received from the Applicant, the City’s Engineering Services, the City’s Building Services Section and four area residents. In support of the application, the applicant identified that they require additional space to store a boat and camper trailer. Arun Ramalingam, applicant, was present to represent the application. No further representation was present in favour of or in objection to the application. Moved By Omar Ha-Redeye That application MV 42/25 by A. Ramalingam & S. Rajadurai, be Approved on the grounds that the requested variance is minor in nature, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and in keeping with the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By law, subject to the following condition: That this variance applies only to the detached garage, as generally sited and outlined on the applicant’s submitted plans (refer to Exhibits 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 contained in the staff report to the Committee of Adjustment, dated October 8, 2025). 1. 3. 4. 4.1 Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 2 Carried Unanimously MV 51/25 - 980 & 984 Kingston Road St. Mary & St. John The Beloved Coptic Orthodox Church The applicant requests relief from Zoning By-law 3036, as amended by By-laws 2498/87, 2923/88 and 7138/11, to: permit a place of religious assembly to occur in the existing easterly building and its proposed addition, with a maximum gross floor area of 3,693 square metres, whereas the by-law states that one place of religious assembly shall be permitted and shall only occur in the easterly building existing as of the day of the passing of this by-law, and shall not exceed a maximum gross floor area of 1,075 square metres; • permit a day nursery to occur in the existing westerly building, with a maximum of 130 children and a maximum size of 574 square metres, whereas the by-law states that one day nursery shall be permitted and shall only occur in the westerly building existing as of the day of the passing of this by-law, and shall be restricted to a maximum of 54 children and shall not exceed 465 square metres in size; • recognize an existing setback of 3.4 metres between the easterly building and the lot line abutting Kingston Road, whereas the by-law states that all buildings shall be setback 14.0 metres from the lot line abutting Kingston Road; • recognize an existing building height of 8.0 metres for the westerly building, and permit building heights for the easterly building and its proposed addition as follows: a maximum of 30.0 metres to the top of the tower, and for the portion of the building not located within the cross hatched area, a maximum of 15.0 metres to the top of the roof, whereas the by law permits a maximum building height of 7.5 metres, except in the area cross hatched on Schedule II, where the maximum building height shall be 15.0 metres; • permit a minimum of 195 parking spaces to be provided and maintained on the lands, whereas the by-law states that there shall be provided and maintained on the lands a minimum of 260 parking spaces; and • permit parking areas to be set back a minimum of 1.0 metre from the lot line abutting Kingston Road and 0.5 of a metre from the lot line abutting Merritton Road, whereas the by law states that all parking areas shall be set back a minimum of 3.0 metres from all road allowances. • The applicant requests approval of these variances to permit the construction of a 2,618 square metre addition to the existing easterly building, which is used as a 4.2 Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 3 place of religious assembly, and to expand the daycare use in the existing westerly building. This proposal will be subject to a future Site Plan Approval application. Input from other sources was received from the Applicant, the City of Pickering Mayor and Council, the City’s Engineering Services, the City’s Building Services Section, and the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). In support of the application, the applicant has submitted a Cover Letter in support of this application. Please contact the City Development Department to receive a copy of this letter at citydev@pickering.ca. Father Daniel Bessada, applicant, was present to represent the application. No further representation was present in favour of or in objection to the application. After reviewing all written comments on the application, Omar Ha-Redeye moved the following motion: Moved By Omar Ha-Redeye That application MV 51/25 by St. Mary & St. John The Beloved Coptic Orthodox Church, be Deferred to the November 12, 2025, Committee of Adjustment hearing in order to receive confirmation from the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority. Carried Unanimously MV 53/25 - 929 Ramblerry Avenue N. Zamin & B. Wishal The applicant requests relief from Zoning By-law 8149/24, to permit a maximum lot coverage of 43 percent, whereas the By-law requires a maximum lot coverage of 38 percent. The applicant requests approval of this minor variance application to obtain a building permit to construct a one-storey addition in the rear yard. Input from other sources was received from the Applicant, the City’s Engineering Services, the City’s Building Services Section, and seven area residents. In support of the application, the applicant identified that the proposed extension is only for the main floor, which will allow the homeowner to enjoy their property to the fullest. The extension will contain a family room, and the existing family room will be converted to a dining room. This will enable adequate usage on the main floor. 4.3 Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 4 Since the proposed extension is only for a single storey, it will limit shadowing on neighbouring properties and maintain the massing in the rear side. Syed Shams, agent, was present to represent the application. One area resident was present in objection to the application. The agent commented that they are looking to extend that main floor of the property. The applicant would like to convert the existing deck on the property into a livable space so that it can be more useable. The addition meets all other zoning setback requirements. The conversion will not negatively affect the soft landscape. This is a single storey addition. Letters of support were provided from a few area residents. Due to the positioning of the sun, they do not anticipate any shadowing effect on neighbouring properties. This application meets the four tests of the Planning Act. The work will not interrupt the existing stormwater and drainage pattern. In objection to the application, an area resident made the following comments: the property has a small backyard, therefore reducing the little greenspace that is there, approving this application will set a precedent in the neighbourhood, no longer making it a family neighbourhood; the deck has already been demolished and there is construction currently happening on site; considering the small lot size, a five percent increase is not minor; and concerned with construction noise and visual appeal. In response to the area resident's comments the agent commented that construction is happening in the basement, with an approved building permit and that the deck was removed to address a pest situation. The owner keeps the property clean. Construction only occurs during the permitted times noted in the by-law, and the construction that is occuring is very minor. After considering all written and oral submissions, Omar Ha-Redeye moved the following motion: Moved By Omar Ha-Redeye That application MV 53/25 by N. Zamin & B. Wishal, be Approved on the grounds that the requested variance is minor in nature, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and in keeping with the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By law, subject to the following condition: That this variance applies only to the one-storey addition, as generally sited 1. Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 5 and outlined on the applicant’s submitted plans (refer to Exhibits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 contained in the staff report to the Committee of Adjustment, dated October 8, 2025). Carried Unanimously MV 54/25 - 1645 Middleton Street S. Sohail & M. Zafar The applicant requests relief from Zoning By-law 8149/24, to permit a lot with no private garage, whereas the By-law requires a minimum of one private garage per lot. The applicant requests approval of this minor variance application to obtain a building permit to convert the existing two-car garage into living space and storage. Input from other sources was received from the Applicant, City’s Engineering Services, City’s, the Building Services Section, and four area residents. In support of the application, the applicant identified that the property contains a double garage that is not used for parking due to the absence of a mudroom and is currently utilized for storage. The proposed work involves converting the garage into a bedroom and bathroom to accommodate a family member for six months. Garage parking will be eliminated; however, three parking spaces are available within the driveway. Shahgul Sohail and Mohtasim Zafar, applicants, were present to represent the application. One area resident was present in objection to the application. The applicant commented the following in support of the application: the site plan is pie shaped; they have the largest driveway on the street and are able to maintain four parking spaces; the garage is used for storage, it is intended to be an additional dwelling unit; there is no stove or laundry equipment in the garage, there is only a wet bar; they are requesting this variance in order to provide extra room for visiting family members. An area resident commented the following in objection to the application: concerned the garage will turn into a rental unit like other homes in the nieghbourhood; conerned about additional traffic and parking issues; and safety issues regarding extra people in the house. 4.4 Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 6 In response to questions from Committee members the applicant stated: they do not have an ADU in the basement; no drainage will be affected during construction; the garage holds 1.5 parking spaces and is not be able to accommodate two cars; there is no entrance from the garage into the dwelling, outdoor access only; and the conversion of the garage is to have their mother staying with them, when she is not there it will be used as storage. In response to comments from the area neighbour, a Committee member assured no concerns were received from Engineering Services or Fire Services outlining any safety issues. Pickering is growing and becoming more multi generational. In response to a question from a Committee member, the applicant stated they have three parking spaces available on the driveway and one parking space on the apron. In response to a question from a Committee member, the Secretary-Treasurer informed Committee members that drawings are required to dimension all parking spaces showing that the minimum parking space dimension of 2.6 by 5.3 metres is met and a condition requiring four parking spaces indicate that three are to be provided on the lot and one on the apron. After considering all written and oral comments, Omar Ha-Redeye moved the following motion: Moved By Omar Ha-Redeye Seconded By Sakshi Sood Joshi That application MV 54/25 by S. Sohail & M. Zafar, be Approved on the grounds that the requested variance is minor in nature, desirable for the appropriate development of the land, and in keeping with the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By law, subject to the following condition: That this variance applies only to the proposed living space and storage, as generally sited and outlined on the applicant’s submitted plans (refer to Exhibits 2, 3 & 4 contained in the staff report to the Committee of Adjustment, dated October 8, 2025). 1. That prior to the issuance of a Building Permit, the applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the City that a minimum of three (3) parking spaces will be maintained on the subject property. 2. That the converted garage shall not be used or registered as an Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) as a result of this decision. 3. Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 7 Carried Unanimously Adjournment Moved By Omar Ha-Redeye That the 10th hearing of the 2025 Committee of Adjustment be adjourned at 8:09 pm. Carried Unanimously Minutes recorded this 8th day of October 2025. ______________________________ Chair ______________________________ Assistant Secretary-Treasurer 5. Draft Committee of Adjustment Hearing Minutes October 08, 2025 8