Committee of Adjustment

Committee's role

The Committee of Adjustment is responsible for rendering decisions on all applications for:

• consent to sever;
• minor variance; and
• permission relating to legal non-conforming uses

When rendering decisions, the Committee is to be guided by:

• the Planning Act;
• relevant Provincial Policy, Official Plan Policies and Zoning By-law regulations;
• comments from various agencies and residents; and
• local knowledge, past practices and individual circumstances pertaining to the application

Committee Members

Donna Ferris, Secretary-Treasurer

Tom Fuerth, Chair

Lori Chadwick

Paul Jobin

Chris Lanman

Tom Marentette

Tony Muscedere

Doug Pitre

Applications

Consent to Sever

A “consent to sever” or “application for severance” is typically filed if a property owner wants to divide an existing lot into two or more smaller lots. Consent applications may also deal with lot additions, easements, rights-of-way and technical severances. To apply, a consent application is required to be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment at Town Hall.

Minor Variance

A minor variance application seeks permission to vary from the requirements of the Zoning By-law. Common variance applications seek minor relief from a side yard or front yard requirements. The Planning Act establishes four tests that the Committee must consider when arriving at a decision.

These four tests are:

• whether the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan is maintained;
• whether the general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law is maintained;
• whether the relief being sought is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure; and
• whether the relief being sought is minor in nature.

To apply, a minor variance application is required to be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment at Town Hall.

For more information regarding the Committee of Adjustment and its procedure, please contact Donna Ferris, Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment, (519) 735-2184 ext. 132.