Richmond Hill Committee of Adjustment Meeting — August 27, 2026

Richmond Hill's Committee of Adjustment considered several severance and variance applications on Aug. 27, 2026, approving applications at 158 Garden Avenue, 36 Fergus Avenue and 520 North Lake Road, deferring 32 Richmond Street, and refusing 178 Mill Street. Members also approved a 75% refund in a separate application fee dispute and adopted revised minutes from the Aug. 6 meeting.

Topics Discussed

32 Richmond Street: staff sought refusal; application deferred

Application MV-26-0018 for 32 Richmond Street faced opposition from municipal staff, while development engineering and parks staff had unresolved concerns. Committee member David West said, "from my perspective, it's a non-starter. I'm not going to be able to support this application this evening until the issues with development engineering and parks are resolved."

The application was later deferred with 25% costs rather than decided that night.

158 Garden Avenue: severance approved unanimously

Application CN-26-0009 for 158 Garden Avenue was approved unanimously. The proposal severed a through-lot between Garden Avenue and Winchester Street into two lots.

The article record provided does not include a significant quote tied to this item beyond describing it as a straightforward severance application.

36 Fergus Avenue: severance and variances approved

Applications CN-26-0005, MV-26-0014 and MV-26-0015 for 36 Fergus Avenue were approved. The proposal severed a 50-foot lot into two smaller lots.

During discussion, committee member Michael Shiu argued the request fit the existing pattern of the area, saying: "Mr. Chair, I don't think you need to concern yourself about precedents based on what we're requesting. The lot fabric in this area is there already. As part of that lot fabric, you have existing lots that are less in frontage than the subject property is proposing."

520 North Lake Road: variances approved after debate

Application MV-26-0020 for 520 North Lake Road was approved on a 3-1 vote. The proposal involved demolition and construction on an irregular lot.

Councillor Karen Cilevitz questioned why the design required so many exceptions, saying: "So, when did this lady purchase this property? ... So, 6 months ago. So, you purchased this property. You saw the size of the property. presumably you got familiar with the bylaw requirements. And so, my question is why not design a house that adheres to the bylaws of the city that you're hoping to live in rather than submitting 17 variances to achieve perhaps what is your dream, but that's why we have bylaws."

Committee member Collings supported the application, saying: "Although you're asking for some variances, I do think that they are reflective of the specific site that we're looking at here tonight."

178 Mill Street: severance and variances refused

Applications CN-26-0012, MV-26-0024 and MV-26-0025 for 178 Mill Street were refused. The proposal would have split the property into two lots in the Village Core.

Resident Paolo Volpe, a homeowner at 165 Richmond Street, told the committee: "I'm here tonight because I believe this committee has an important decision to make, not simply about two houses, but about what we are going to allow the Village Core to become." Another resident warned, "A community is not destroyed in one decision. It is surrendered one decision at a time. Tonight you have a choice. You can approve another exception and allow boundary to move again. Or you can say enough is enough."

Committee members also focused on frontage and conformity with the area. Karen Cilevitz said, "Unfortunately, I can't support this application because I just think it fundamentally, right, is not minor in nature." Member Payne added that the proposed severance would create a frontage smaller than existing legal non-conforming lots in the area: "this severance that you're proposing will create a parcel of 23.52ft frontage, which is smaller even than the existing legal non-conforming 25-ft frontage lots."

491 Elgin Mills Road: 75% refund approved in fee dispute

In a separate matter involving consent applications at 491 Elgin Mills Road, the committee approved a 75% refund.

Planning staff member Marco Rotondo said, "the city has recommended a 75% refund for each of those two applications based on the work completed, which included intake, preliminary zoning review, and planning review." The applicant said, "I don't have a problem with a 100% refund. We're not talking about a lot of money and you're going to have to pay 100% of the fees in the future."

Motions

• CN-26-0009 - 158 Garden Avenue — Approved unanimously
• MV-26-0018 - 32 Richmond Street — Deferred with 25% costs
• CN-26-0005 / MV-26-0014 / MV-26-0015 - 36 Fergus Avenue — Approved
• MV-26-0020 - 520 North Lake Road — Approved, 3-1
• CN-26-0012 / MV-26-0024 / MV-26-0025 - 178 Mill Street — Refused
• 491 Elgin Mills Road refund matter — 75% refund approved unanimously
• Revised minutes from Aug. 6 meeting — Adopted

Attendees

The notes identify the following committee members as present: - Karen Cilevitz - David West - Michael Shiu - Member Payne - Member Collings - Member Gossin - Member Calabasas

The transcript excerpts provided do not include a complete attendance list, so only members named in the notes and significant quotes are listed here.