Committee of Adjustment for February 5, 2015 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

January 25, 2015
As CoA is quasi-judicial and involves private residents making presentations about their private homes, I do not record or stream these meetings.
24 Hearings, five of them I’m watching. (I’ve added one to the end because I find it interesting)
Full Agenda: http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/0C71F8C6-42DE-4250-9697-FF4F89E0BD6B/0/20150205Agenda.pdf
44 Flatt Ave(Kirkendall South – Ward 1)
This is an application to convert a single family home to two dwelling units. The applicants are seeking variances to allow the second dwelling unit to be in the cellar, sideyard variances, and parking variances. The Zoning By-Law does not allow for cellar dwellings.
I’m not familar with a similar application in Kirkendall South, and can’t predict a likely outcome or engagement on this hearing.  I’m watching due to unfamilarity with these type of applications in this neighbourhood.
76 Emerson St(Ainslie Wood – Ward 1)
The applicant, a numbered company, is seeking to build a “single family dwelling” with a larger than permitted gross floor area ratio.
This is one I’m watching due to promixity to McMaster University, and the ownership by a numbered company.
346 Dundurn St. S(Kirkendall North – Ward 1)
The owner of the vacant commerical storefront on the northwest corner of Aberdeen and Dundurn is seeking a parking exception for a proposed 30 seat restaurant. The requirement is five parking spaces.
This I’m watching as parking in the neighbourhood has become a concern with the success of The Aberdeen Tavern increasing demand for on-street parking in the area.
252 & 256 Victoria Ave. N. & 290 Barton St. E.(Landsdale – Ward 3)
The applicant, a numbered company, is looking to have this prime “community shopping and commercial” zoned property in the Barton Village BIA converted to a surface parking lot.
The application is for numerous variances to have smaller than required parking spaces, no landscaping, no visual barriers, and no wheel barriers or bumpers.
This is being watched because the applicant has not completed a City zoning verification to learn if this is a permitted use, the Barton Village BIA has recently intervened at Committee of Adjustment to protect commerical zonings, and there will be significant loss of property tax revenue for the City if properties on Barton are able to become vacant (this was previously a gas station), and eventually be turned into surface parking lots.
131 Welbourn Dr(Balfour – Ward 7)
This is an application to convert a single family home to two dwelling units. The applicants are seeking variances to allow the second dwelling unit to be in the cellar. The Zoning By-Law does not allow for cellar dwellings.
This address is southwest of Upper Wellington and Fennell, within walking distance of Mohawk College.
I’m not familar with a similar application in the Balfour neighbourhood, and can’t predict a likely outcome or engagement on this hearing. I’m watching due to unfamilarity and proximity to Mohawk College with the ongoing tensions over student housing.
100 King St. W, Stoney Creek(Battlefield – Ward 9)
This isn’t one I’m watching, but it is one that’s interesting. The proposal is for a 108 seat restaurant with a rooftop patio on the northeast corner of King and Centennial. Patios are not permitted on the site (the intersection is very busy and noisy), there’s a requirement for a parking waiver, and other variances.
As a former resident of the area (Quigley and King), I’ve always been surprised by the difficulty businesses have had on the site. It’s a highly visible location, and the Country Style Donuts across the street is extremely busy. I see great potential for a restaurant that offers a great evening and late night experience in this location. Traffic and noise decreases significantly after 8pm.