Update from the Chair of Committee Councillor Jeff Leiper on agenda items
A busy agenda awaits us for next week’s Planning and Housing Committee meeting.
Members will be voting on approval of the “Right of Way Patio By-law Update and New Urban Design Guidelines for Commercial Patios”. While Transportation Committee has heard and voted on many components of the update, the item is also coming to PHC primarily to deal with the design guidelines elements of the report. Further clarification is offered below, to anyone who might be looking into the differences between what we are considering, and what was already considered under the purview of Transportation Committee.
Right of Way Patio By-law Update and New Urban Design Guidelines for Commercial Patios
Committee will be hearing from staff on the update regarding the Right of Way Patio By-law, as well as the Urban Design Guidelines. Approval will be sought on the New Urban Design Guidelines element of the report. It is these design guidelines that will be the primary focus of staff’s presentation to committee. Permanent changes to the by-law outlined in the report such as patios being allowed to stay open until 2:00am, unlimited café seating permits provided a 2m pedestrian clearway is maintained, winter maintenance provisions, reference to the Tree Protection By-law, and reductions to notification area for new patio applications are items not subject to PHC or ARAC approval.
The design guidelines for commercial patios provide guidance on how to create vibrant and accessible outdoor commercial patio spaces; these will be a resource for those applying for temporary patio permits. They primarily focus on the design options for café seating, wall-side, curbside and streetside patios, as well as other combined options. They also provide design details for the treatment of furniture, partitions, and vegetation being provided on patios. Alongside these guidelines, patio operators will be asked to abide by the Good Neighbour guidance set out by the city. This Good Neighbour guidance addresses issues such as light spillover, sound system/amplification issues, holding operators to travel paths that are 2m wide on city sidewalks, and ensuring signs do not block sideways, among other matters.
Staff will be presenting on the report to committee, and we expect there will be delegations speaking on it as well.
949 North River Road
Over in Overbook, applicants are seeking a zoning amendment to facilitate the construction of a five-storey, 45-unit residential building on North River Road. In terms of zoning change, the site is seeking to change from a Residential Fourth Density zoning to Residential Fifth Density to allow for five-storey building where four storeys is allowed under the current zoning. Several zoning reliefs from the R5 zoning are being sought as well. There has been feedback on the proposal and comments from the community have primarily been focused on the displacement of current tenants on the site, alongside concerns about the height, density and traffic impacts of the site. Staff have received a petition from 20 nearby residents in opposition to the proposal as well.
Staff will be giving a presentation on this file, and we expect there will be delegations to speak on the file.
375 Famille-Laporte Avenue
Over in Cardinal Creek Village, a zoning amendment to allow a four-storey residential care facility with 224 long-term care beds is being sought by the applicants of the site. The zoning amendment would facilitate the change from Rural Institutional zoning to Minor Institutional zoning – staff note this is consistent with the historic planned institutional context for the area. No other reliefs are being sought from the requested zoning. The building would also include 117 vehicular parking spaces (including 5 accessible spaces), and 56 bicycle parking spaces. Staff also note that this file is being processed as a priority, due to the completion of the residential care facility is subject to provincial funding. These provincial funding deadlines are set for summer of 2023.
Staff will be presenting on this file, and there may be delegations speaking to the item.
326 and 330 Wilbrod
Continuing onwards, Committee will be considering a zoning amendment being requested to allow a four-storey, 40 unit apartment building on Wilbrod Street in Sandy Hill. While the R4 zoning will remain for the site, several zoning reliefs are being requested by the applicants. These changes apply primarily to reliefs on the rear yard setback, the rear yard area, the required landscaped area, and the requirement for 14 resident parking spaces. Instead, 3 visitor parking spaces and 45 bike spaces are proposed. In this case, waste storage would be internal to the building as well.
Staff will be ready to offer a presentation if delegations are present. If no delegations are signed up for the item, we will forego a presentation.
3713 Navan Road
Close to the intersection of Mer-Bleue Road and Navan Road, committee will hear a request for a zoning amendment to permit Community Health and Resource Centre and Office as additional permitted uses to a site containing an existing one-storey building. Currently, the site is zoned Development Reserve (DR). It should be noted that the office use will not be integrated into the site initially, and is of interest only as a possible addition in the future. No other uses, amendments, or reliefs are being sought.
Staff will not be offering a presentation on this application, and we do not expect any delegations for it.
366 Winona Avenue
On Winona Avenue, applicants are seeking a zoning amendment to allow for the development of a pair of three-storey, eight-unit apartment buildings. While the site is currently zoned R4, several zoning reliefs are being sought. These would change performance standards for front and rear yard setbacks, rear yard area, interior side yard setbacks, minimum lot width, and minimum lot area. In the case of bike parking and waste storage, owners will be locating these in accessory structures located at the rear of the property.
Staff will not be presenting on this item, and we do not expect any delegations present to speak to the file.
2140 Baseline Road
In a more unique case, applicants for 2140 Baseline Road are seeking a zoning amendment to allow for an enclosed amenity space to project above the maximum permitted height of a 15-storey building that is currently under construction. While the zoning was approved in October 2019, the site plan for the site has seen revisions to include amenity space at the mechanical penthouse level, as well as increase floor heights slightly. The total height would change from 46.8m to 49m because of the changes. No other changes to the performance standards of the building are being sought.
Staff will not be presenting on the file, and we do not expect any delegations to present on it.
1050 Klondike Road
At Klondike Road, a zoning amendment is being sought to change the zoning for a property from Development Reserve to Residential Fourth Density (R4) in order to facilitate the construction of a three-storey, nine-unit residential building. Alongside the change to R4 zoning, the site is also seeking reliefs on performance standards such as rear yard setback, resident parking requirements, setbacks for a refuse collection area, and allowing a stairway and verandah within 0m of a property line.
Of note, the site would have a holding provision applied to its zoning to ensure adequate water, stormwater and sanitary facilities are established before a building permit is issued.
