Oakville's Committee of Adjustment heard procedural updates on public participation and appeal rules under Bill 23, then considered a series of residential applications. The committee approved applications for 3135 Lakeshore Road West, 371 G Avenue, 11 Colonial Crescent and 124 Olster Drive. It partially approved the application for 2035 Devon Road by approving variances one through three and denying variance four. The committee also debated a driveway separation variance after members questioned whether a zoning approval would be useful if engineering staff could still refuse a driveway permit. Application 083 of 2026 for 21 Second Street was described in the record as withdrawn for administrative purposes, while separate notes also said it was deferred to allow more time to work with planning staff.

Topics Discussed

1. Procedure, participation and appeal rules

The chair said residents could participate in the hearing by calling 905-815-6095 during the livestream and giving their name, address and agenda item. Speaking limits were set at five minutes for applicants or agents, five minutes for reply, and five minutes for public delegations.

The chair also said Bill 23, the "More Homes Built Faster Act," removed appeal rights for members of the public, meaning only applicants, specified persons or public bodies may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Written notice of decisions is to be mailed within 10 days for minor variances and 15 days for consent applications.

2. 3135 Lakeshore Road West approved, with servicing condition removed

The committee approved B26-03, A084 of 2026 and A085 of 2026 for 3135 Lakeshore Road West, where RBW Development Corporation, represented by Stefan Styu of MHBC Planning, sought to split a former automotive garage site into two residential parcels.

Styu told the committee, "The purpose of the consent is to reestablish the historic lot fabric on the property by creating two residential parcels." The retained parcel is proposed at about 607 square metres with 16.24 metres of frontage, and the severed parcel at about 540 square metres with 14.19 metres of frontage. The proposal also includes a 2.94-metre road widening dedication along Lakeshore Road West.

The committee also removed a servicing-related condition. Staff member Mr. O'Hare said, "staff kindly request that condition six be uh struck from appendix A," and added that Halton Region would not be able to clear that condition.

3. Residential variance applications at 371 G Avenue, 11 Colonial Crescent, 2035 Devon Road and 124 Olster Drive

The committee approved Application 046 of 2026 for 371 G Avenue, a file previously deferred from April 1, 2026. The application sought a reduced west-side garage setback of 1.22 metres where 1.8 metres is required. Staff supported the request and no public objections were recorded.

For Application 081 of 2026 at 11 Colonial Crescent, the agent said the design had been revised after staff feedback. The committee also had two letters of support from nearby residents. In supporting the application, Mr. Dicki said, "usually I'd be concerned about height, but I in this case uh your setbacks are are greater than the zoning bylaws requirements. Well, that to me mitigates some of the massing and scale that the height would otherwise possibly introduce." The application was approved unanimously.

At 2035 Devon Road, Application 086 of 2026, the applicant proposed a second-storey addition, garage expansion and second-floor balcony. Mr. Towski moved approval of the first three variances and rejection of the fourth, saying, "I'm going to move that variances one through three for the application be approved, finding that they meet the tests of the planning act. That variance four be denied as it is not desirable in this situation."

The committee also approved Application 087 of 2026 for 124 Olster Drive for a two-storey dwelling with variances for residential floor area and garage area. The record noted a letter of support from the adjacent neighbour at 120 Olster Drive.

4. Driveway separation variance raises zoning-versus-engineering dispute

The committee spent significant time on a driveway separation variance application seeking relief from a 15-metre separation requirement, proposing 11.78 metres.

Committee members questioned whether they should approve a variance if engineering staff might still deny the driveway permit. Mr. Hicks said, "if the town, the current bylaw says 15 m separation, if the town decided tomorrow to amend their driveway policy to say 30 meter separation with no public legislative process that would override the zoning bylaw because that's what this is suggesting to me and that does not make sense to me."

Marc Grant said the proposal still provided substantial landscaping: "the lot would allow 15 m separation. Um, we have 70% landscape finish within the front yard. The requirement is 50%."

The discussion ended without a clear outcome in the notes. Councillor Peter Longo said, "an abundantly cautious way of proceeding is a deferral in this scenario," adding that he struggled with receiving advice that was "not implementable."

5. Application 083 of 2026 at 21 Second Street

The hearing opened with a note that Application 083 of 2026 for 21 Second Street had been withdrawn for administrative purposes. Separate notes in the record also describe the same application as deferred to allow more time for the applicant to work with planning staff on a mutually agreeable solution.

Motions

• B26-03 - 3135 Lakeshore Road West (Consent Application) — Passed
• A084 of 2026 - 3135 Lakeshore Road West (Minor Variance, severed parcel) — Passed
• A085 of 2026 - 3135 Lakeshore Road West (Minor Variance, retained parcel) — Passed
• Removal of Condition 6 for 3135 Lakeshore Road West — Passed
• Application 046 of 2026 - 371 G Avenue — Passed
• Application 081 of 2026 - 11 Colonial Crescent — Passed
• Application 086 of 2026 - 2035 Devon Road — Variances 1 to 3 passed; variance 4 denied
• Application 087 of 2026 - 124 Olster Drive — Passed
• Application 083 of 2026 - 21 Second Street — Recorded as withdrawn for administrative purposes; separate notes also describe it as deferred
• Driveway separation variance application — Final status unclear in the notes

Attendees

Committee members named in the record:

• Peter Longo
• Marc Grant
• Mr. Dicki
• Mr. Towski
• Mr. Hicks

Other named participants in the record:

• Stefan Styu
• Jonathan Bzkowski
• Joseph Mora
• Mr. O'Hare
• Mr. Kumar
• Mr. Han