Oakville Committee of Adjustment Meeting

The Oakville Committee of Adjustment reviewed residential variance applications involving setbacks, lot coverage, floor area, drainage, tree protection and building massing. The committee approved several home additions and infill projects, deferred applications at 319 Balsam Drive and 3121 Victoria Street, and approved the contested 277 Queen Mary Drive redevelopment by a 4–1 vote. The committee also discussed the loss of public appeal rights under Bill 23.

Topics Discussed

APPEAL RIGHTS

The chair reminded residents that amendments made through Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, removed appeal rights for members of the public. The legislation means members of the public cannot appeal Committee of Adjustment decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Appeals may still be filed by applicants and other eligible persons or public bodies.

277 QUEEN MARY DRIVE: INFILL HOME APPROVED

The committee approved Application 118 of 2026 for a new two-storey detached home at 277 Queen Mary Drive by a 4–1 vote. The proposal included:

• Floor area of 54%, compared with a 50% limit;
• Lot coverage of 34.7%;
• North and south side-yard setbacks of 1.44 metres and 1.21 metres, where 1.8 metres is required.

Residents raised concerns about building massing, privacy, shadowing, stormwater runoff, basement flooding and the potential loss of mature maple trees. Kristen Pennington said, "the cumulative effects of the requested variances are not minor," because the application sought greater floor area, greater lot coverage and narrower setbacks on both sides of the property.

The applicant's representative, Joseph Dome, said drainage could be addressed through site planning and that the design included stepbacks and soft landscaping. He also acknowledged that grading and drainage requirements remained to be resolved.

The applicant said helical piles would be used near the trees instead of conventional foundation excavation. The committee required compliance with tree-protection and drainage requirements before construction.

Mr. Towski supported the proposal, saying, "with respect to a new build that doesn't comply with the bylaw ... I'm not sure it gets any better than this design. This is a well designed well articulated house." Mr. Dicki opposed the application, saying the reduced setbacks were not minor and did not fit the open spacing of the neighbourhood.

RESIDENTIAL VARIANCE APPROVALS

The committee approved several applications for additions and alterations:

• 1360 Lakeshore Road West, Application A132026/113 of 2026: Approved a reduction of the right side-yard setback from 4.2 metres to 2.44 metres. The approval was tied to site and elevation drawings dated June 23 and 24, 2026, with a two-year building-permit condition.
• 26 Park Avenue, Application 115 of 2026: Approved two variances for residential alterations involving scale, massing and lot coverage. Four neighbouring residents submitted letters of support. Construction must follow drawings dated July 27, 2026, and a permit must be issued within two years.
• River Oaks home addition: Approved a rear and side addition to provide space for multigenerational living. The application had support from the neighbour at 412. Conditions require compliance with the approved plans and a building permit within two years.
• 396 Sandalwood Road, Application 119 of 2026: Approved a single-storey screen room over an existing patio. Lot coverage would increase to nearly 41%, compared with 30% permitted, and residential floor area to 54%, compared with 49% permitted. No objections were registered.
• 148 Olter Drive, Application 120 of 2026: Approved a variance related to an existing garage projection. No objections were registered.

APPLICATIONS DEFERRED OR NOT DECIDED

• 319 Balsam Drive, Application 114 of 2026: Administratively deferred. A new hearing date will be scheduled, and owners within 100 metres will receive notice.
• 3121 Victoria Street, Application 121 of 2026: Deferred after staff and committee members raised concerns about the massing of a proposed two-storey expansion. The proposal sought an FSI of 59%, compared with the permitted 51%. The committee directed the applicant to work with planning staff on revisions.
• 416 Ambleside Drive: No final vote was taken. The applicant sought permission under Section 45(2) of the Planning Act to extend a legally non-conforming side-yard condition for a rear addition. The committee requested clarification after learning that the plans had been revised.
• 327 McDonald Road, Application 117 of 2026: The committee reviewed proposed side-yard and lot-coverage variances for a two-storey addition. The supplied record does not state a final decision.

Motions

Passed

• 1360 Lakeshore Road West — Application A132026/113 of 2026: Approved the side-yard setback variance, subject to updated plans and a two-year permit condition.
• 26 Park Avenue — Application 115 of 2026: Approved two minor variances, subject to the July 27, 2026 drawings and a two-year permit condition.
• River Oaks multigenerational addition: Approved the requested variances, subject to plan compliance and a two-year permit condition.
• 277 Queen Mary Drive — Application 118 of 2026: Approved the requested floor-area, lot-coverage and side-yard variances, subject to site-plan, drainage and tree-protection requirements. Approved with one vote opposed.
• 396 Sandalwood Road — Application 119 of 2026: Approved the screen-room variances, subject to the September 1, 2026 drawings and a two-year permit condition.
• 148 Olter Drive — Application 120 of 2026: Approved the garage-related variance, subject to the July 23 and August 17, 2026 plans and a two-year permit condition.
• Previous residential additions/alterations application: Approved amended site and elevation plans dated June 23 and 24, 2026, with a two-year permit condition.
• September 16 meeting minutes: Approved.

Deferred

• 319 Balsam Drive — Application 114 of 2026: Administratively deferred to a future hearing.
• 3121 Victoria Street — Application 121 of 2026: Deferred to allow the applicant to revise the design with planning staff.

No Decision Recorded

• 416 Ambleside Drive: No final vote after discrepancies were identified between the filed and revised drawings.
• 327 McDonald Road — Application 117 of 2026: No final decision was provided in the meeting material.

Attendees

The supplied record identifies the following Committee of Adjustment members as participating:

• Chair — name not stated
• Ms. Price
• Mr. Dicki
• Mr. Towski, also identified in portions of the record as Mr. Talowski or Mr. Towelski

Other participants included town planning and engineering staff, applicants, agents and residents. Named participants included Peter Jordano, Michael Barton, Carmen Jandu, Emily Villa, Joseph Dome, Amy Fatada, Steve Johnston, Kristen Pennington and Ann Marie Mell.