Purpose
The Ontario Planning Act grants authority to Municipal Councils to appoint committees to approve a number of minor applications. Section 45 of the Planning Act permits the Committee of Adjustment to make decisions on Minor Variances from the Zoning By-law and to grant permission for altering or changing a lawful non-conforming use of land, buildings or structures. Section 53 of the Planning Act permits the Committee of Adjustment to make decisions on applications for changes to land configuration in the form of Consents.
The Committee has the power to grant:
| Minor Variance |
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A minor variance is a proposed change to a property which does not conform to the requirements of the Zoning By-law. A minor variance approval allows the property owner to obtain a building permit even though their property does not comply precisely with the Zoning By-law. Under Section 45(1) of the Planning Act there are four tests that a minor variance must meet:
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| Permission |
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A Legal Non-Conforming Use exists when the zoning for the property does not permit its current use. Where land, buildings or structures have been lawfully used for a purpose now prohibited by the Zoning By-law, the Committee of Adjustment can grant permission to enlarge the buildings or structures, or may permit a similar or more compatible use, subject to certain conditions. |
| Consent |
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The Committee of Adjustment has also been authorized by Council to grant consents. A consent approval enables certain transactions to occur relating to the subdivision of land. These transactions can include:
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Composition
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Council has appointed a Committee of Adjustment consisting of five (5) residents of the Town.
Lead Department
Applications are made through the Planning & Development Services Department. A pre-consultation meeting with Planning staff is required prior to submitting an application in order to obtain proper Zoning By-law requirements and to determine if an application conforms to the Official Plan and/or Consent policies of the Town. Failure to follow this procedure may result in the application being delayed due to improper information being submitted.
To inquire about minor variances or consents or to obtain application forms, please contact the Community Planning Division.
Meeting Schedule
The Committee of Adjustment hold monthly public hearings to consider applications for Minor Variances, permissions and Consents. Please consult the schedule document at right to see when the next meeting is being held or contact the Office of Community Planning.
Please Note: all applications must be deemed complete by the planner before the application submission deadline to appear on the Committee of Adjustment agenda.
| Public Meeting Date | Application Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| January 24, 2024 | December 13, 2023 |
| February 28, 2024 | January 24, 2024 |
| March 27, 2024 | February 28, 2024 |
| April 24, 2024 | March 27, 2024 |
| May 22, 2024 | April 24, 2024 |
| June 26, 2024 | May 22, 2024 |
| July 24, 2024 | June 26, 2024 |
| August 28, 2024 | July 24, 2024 |
| September 25, 2024 | August 28, 2024 |
| October 23, 2024 | September 25, 2024 |
| November 27, 2024 | October 23, 2024 |
| December 11, 2024* | November 27, 2024 |
| *Meeting moved to second Wednesday of the month due to holiday office closure. | |
Terms of Office
All citizen members of the Committee will hold office for a term coinciding with the term of Council and remain in office until their successors are appointed. Where a member ceases to be a member before the expiration of his or her term, Council will appoint another eligible person for the unexpired portion of the term.
Remuneration
Remuneration is paid to the Committee members in accordance with By-law 2011-095.
Members
- Fahim Ahmed
- Gavin MacLean
- Jonathan Volpe
- Rick Turner
- Stephanie Sinclair
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