Oakville Committee of Adjustment Meeting Summary

The Oakville Committee of Adjustment opened with instructions for public participation, then considered four minor variance applications. It approved a parking variance for King's Christian Collegiate at 528 Burnhamthorpe Road West, approved a floor area variance for a sun room and enclosed walkway at 485 Trillium Drive, and unanimously approved a variance tied to the H54 holding provision for 2365-2377 Lakeshore Road West so underground work could proceed sooner. The committee refused a height variance for a two-storey accessory dwelling unit at 386 Allen Street after members questioned whether it met the intent of the bylaw and whether it was desirable.

Topics Discussed

• HEARING PROCEDURES: Residents watching the livestream were told they could call 905-815-6095 to speak on agenda items. Applicants were given 5 minutes for presentations, delegations 5 minutes to speak, and applicants 5 additional minutes to respond. The committee said decisions would be mailed within 10 days for minor variances and 15 days for consents. The hearing was video recorded. The committee also noted: "In November 2022, Bill 23 legislation, the More Homes Built Faster Act, amended the planning act to remove appeal rights for members of the public."

• KING'S CHRISTIAN COLLEGIATE PARKING VARIANCE, 528 BURNHAMTHORPE ROAD WEST (A076 OF 2026): The school sought relief from the zoning standard of 4 parking spaces per classroom to permit 4.9 spaces per classroom. Steven Poffich said the committee would hear from John Dbor "in terms of what … the nature of King's Christian Collegiate … is unique in the context of our requested variance." The application also included two internal parking modification areas and a new driveway access to Naagawa Boulevard. The committee approved the application. Miss Bryson said she believed it was "minor in nature and in keeping with the general intent and purpose of the official plan and zoning bylaw and is desirable for the appropriate development of the land."

• ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT HEIGHT VARIANCE, 386 ALLEN STREET (A078 OF 2026): The application sought permission for an accessory dwelling unit with a height of 6.91 metres, where the bylaw permits 4 metres. Committee members focused on the building's two-storey form and narrow side yard. Ray Chisholm said, "I'm struggling with the orientation to give a height variance with a two-foot yard. But also practical point, how do you build and maintain a two-story building with an overhang with a two-story?" Jeff Knoll similarly asked, "My question about how do you build and maintain these buildings with essentially no side guard? Is this part of the analysis that staff do when coming up with the recommendation?" Mr. Towski said, "the town amended its bylaw to deal with additional dwelling units and it did not change the height of an accessory building," and asked how a two-storey proposal could meet the intent of that bylaw.

• PUBLIC OBJECTION TO 386 ALLEN STREET: A neighbouring resident said there had been no prior consultation and raised concerns about excavation close to the lot line, impacts on fencing and landscaping, and the proposed height. Committee members ultimately found the application did not meet the test of desirability. Mr. Towski said, "I just cannot find that this is desirable. No attempt to step back the second floor. No attempt to hide the second floor in the eaves. I just cannot bring myself to believe this meets the intent of the bylaw but they absolutely in my view is not desirable." The application was refused.

• TRILLIUM DRIVE AND LAKESHORE ROAD WEST APPLICATIONS: At 485 Trillium Drive (A0792026), the committee approved a variance to permit a three-season sun room and enclosed walkway, increasing floor area ratio from 41% to 48.5%. At 2365-2377 Lakeshore Road West (A080 of 2026), Claystone GP, Inc. sought relief from the H54 holding provision so underground construction could proceed before completion of a Record of Site Condition. Janet Haslett-Theall said the holding provision required the site to be excavated two storeys down before monitoring wells could be established, which would take "six to eight months." Andrew Henford said approval would allow "record of site condition paperwork to be processed concurrently with underground construction." Mr. Hannah Ford said that without the variance, "the community would be exposed to an open construction site for up to 22 months on this site, which is obviously not desirable." Staff said varying a holding provision was not common, but had occurred before, and the committee approved the application unanimously.

Motions

• A076 of 2026 - 528 Burnhamthorpe Road West - Parking Variance for King's Christian Collegiate
  Passed.
  Condition: surface parking area to be constructed in general accordance with the approved site plan to the satisfaction of the director of planning and development.

• A078 of 2026 - 386 Allen Street - Height Variance for Accessory Dwelling Unit
  Refused.

• A0792026 - 485 Trillium Drive - Residential Floor Area Variance
  Passed.
  Conditions included construction in accordance with the site plan dated October 21, 2025 and elevation drawings dated November 5, 2025; residential floor area capped at 48.5%; and expiry if no building permit is issued within 2 years.

• A080 of 2026 - 2365-2377 Lakeshore Road West - Holding Provision / Underground Garage Variance
  Passed unanimously.
  Conditions included construction of the underground parking garage in accordance with the approved site plan and expiry if a conditional building permit is not issued within 2 years.

Attendees

The transcript excerpt does not provide a full attendance list. The following members or officials were identified in the discussion:

• Nav Nanda
• Ray Chisholm
• Jeff Knoll
• Miss Bryson
• Miss Price
• Mr. Towski
• Janet Haslett-Theall

Other speakers identified in the record included:

• Steven Poffich
• John Dbor, King's Christian Collegiate
• Andrew Henford
• Mr. Hannah Ford
• Amy Tuptor