KITCHENER – The Committee of Adjustment approved the Minor Variance Application for 570 Frederick Street on September 17, 2024, following a deferral from an earlier meeting to allow for additional discussions between the applicant’s representatives and city staff.
The revised proposal addressed concerns regarding parking and the site plan, resulting in key modifications to the project.
As part of the updated plan, the floor area for the ground-floor medical office was reduced from 196 square metres to 171 square metres. This change allowed for two additional parking spaces, bringing the total to ten.
The adjustment also removed the need for a variance for the medical office, as the reduction in floor area meant only nine parking spaces were now required.
One extra space was designated for residential use, altering the previous parking request to 0.25 spaces per dwelling unit rather than none.
Other improvements included widening the parking aisle, which enhanced vehicle circulation and made it easier for cars to enter and exit the site.
These revisions were supported by planning staff, who noted that the changes eliminated the need for a parking variance for the medical office and reduced the residential parking variance.
Additionally, the city’s report emphasized that the medical office’s weekday hours would ensure parking availability for residents during evenings and weekends.
The Committee of Adjustment approved the following variances from Zoning By-law 2019-051:
● A parking lot setback of 0.2 metres from the side lot line rather than the required 1.5 metres.
● Parking spaces set 1.5 metres from the street line, compared to the required 4.5 metres.
● One parking space for the residential building with four units, representing 0.25 spaces per unit instead of the required four spaces (0.9 per unit).
● A right-side yard setback of 1.2 metres rather than the required 4 metres.
● A reduced minimum ground floor height for the street-facing façade of 3.6 metres instead of the 4.5 metres required.
The revised plans, which addressed the initial concerns raised by staff and the Committee, received positive feedback from Committee members.
Bob McColl, a Committee member, commented during the meeting, “I am really encouraged to see that this is a nice piece of property that is finally going to be used properly and for the benefit of the neighbourhood, so double thumbs up.”
With these changes and the Committee’s approval, the project at 570 Frederick Street is now set to move forward, incorporating adjustments that align with both staff recommendations and neighbourhood needs.
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