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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-002-15 Clarington Planning Services Public Meeting Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: General Purpose and Administration Committee Date of Meeting: January 5, 2015 Report Number: PSD-002-15 '�4 0 tA a File Number: ZBA 2014-0026 By-law Number: Report Subject: Rezoning Application to Permit Conversion of a Dwelling to Office Uses at 1677 Durham Highway 2, Courtice Recommendations: 1. That Report PSD-002-15 be received; 2. That the proposed application for Rezoning ZBA 2014-0026 continue to be processed including the preparation of a subsequent report; and 3. That all interested parties listed in Report PSD-002-15 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-15 Page 2 Report Overview This report is prepared for a Public Meeting to receive resident comments. The applicant has proposed to convert an existing single family dwelling into a mixed use building within the Town Centre Commercial area of the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan. A professional office, relocated from elsewhere in Courtice, will occupy the main floor and the residential use will be in the basement. No additions to the existing structure, parking area or septic system are proposed. 1 . Application Details 1.1. Owner 2420643 Ontario Inc. 1.2. Agent D.G. Biddle &Associates 1.3. Proposal The applicant is requesting a zoning change to allow the existing single family residence to be converted to a mixed use building. A professional office with occupy the main floor and the residence will be contained within the basement. The property is currently zoned Holding Urban Residential Type One ((H)R1). Only internal renovations to facilitate moving the applicant's existing Courtice office to this property are proposed. 1.4. Area 0.22 ha (approximately 70' x 320') 1.5. Location 1677 Durham Highway 2, Courtice 2. Background Municipal and agencies staff held a pre-consultation meeting with the applicant on August 29, 2014. After the pre-consultation, the applicant prepared the required plans and reports to apply for the rezoning. The application including supporting material (Planning letter and a Daily Sewage Flow Comparison) was received on October 28, 2014, and subsequently, the application for site plan approval was received on November 21, 2014. The application was deemed complete and notice of the public meeting was sent on December 5, 2014. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-15 Page 3 3. Land Characteristics and Surrounding Uses This property was used as a single family residence by the previous owner. The front yard has a large parking area as well as the septic system. Figure 1. 1677 Durham Highway 2 Courtice I i I The surrounding land uses can be seen on Figure 2 and are outlined as follows: West: One single detached residence and two vacant properties. North: Two single detached residences and The Islamic Centre of Clarington. East: Two residential properties and the extension of Richard Gay Avenue. South: Vacant land. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-15 Page 4 Figure 2. 2013 Aerial photograph AN CALEC h T.• 4 P 4. Provincial Policy 4.1. Provincial Policy Statements The Provincial Policy Statement, 2014 states that settlement areas should be the focus for new development and where appropriate, the use of existing building stock. The Municipality is to promote cost-effective development patterns and standards that minimize land consumption. Densities and mix of uses are to be transit-supportive where transit is planned or exists. 4.2. Provincial Growth Plan The Growth Plan, 2006 provides a framework for managing growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The Growth Plan provides direction regarding transportation, land use planning, urban form, natural heritage protection and cultural heritage conservation. The Growth Plan encourages intensification within built up areas as well the utilization of existing infrastructure. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-15 Page 5 5. Official Plans 5.1. Durham Regional Official Plan The subject property is designated Regional Centre in the Durham Regional Official Plan. Regional Centres are to be developed as the main concentrations of commercial, residential, cultural and government functions. They shall support a long term density target of 75 residential units per gross hectare and a floor space index of 2.5. 5.2. Clarington Official Plan The subject land is designated Town Centre in the Clarington Official Plan and is further designated as Town Centre Commercial in the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan. The Town Centre Commercial area will develop overtime into the primary area for retail and service uses and have focal points for civic gatherings in Courtice. The permitted uses within the Town Centre Commercial designation include retail, service and office uses in scale and proportion appropriate for the Town Centre, community facilities and residential uses either in single use buildings or as part of a mixed use are encouraged. As part of Ontario Municipal Board hearing for the Courtice Main Street Secondary plan, the Municipality and appellants reached a settlement agreement. In the agreement the municipality is obligated to prepare an Urban Design Plan, in 2015 which will guide the development of the Town Centre for the long term. The future development of the subject property will be included in this Plan. One of the main objectives of the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan is to facilitate the transformation of the area over the next 20 years into a transit supportive, pedestrian friendly compact mixed use area. The Secondary Plan recognizes the transformation of the area will include the conversion of existing dwellings and future redevelopment to a mixed use and a more dense corridor in a manner that achieves the Main Street Plan objectives. 6. Zoning By-law The subject land is zoned Urban Residential Type One (H(R1) in the Comprehensive Zoning By-law 84-63. The Comprehensive Zoning By-law 84-63 has not been brought into conformity with the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan. A new Zoning By-law to implement this Secondary Plan will be brought forward in the first quarter of 2015. The Zoning By-law Amendment being applied for will be conformity with Secondary Plan. 7. Summary of Background Studies The Planning Justification Report submitted by the proponent states that this development proposal represents good planning and it offers the following justifications: • This proposal meets the definition of intensification in the Provincial Policy Statement, albeit minor, as the conversion of the existing dwelling introduces a new use to the property while maintaining the residential use; Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-15 Page 6 • This proposal to allow for the additional office use represents intensification within the built up area and is within an area identified for intensification in accordance with the Growth Plan policies; and • Although the proposal does not achieve the long term urban design policies of the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan, it does introduce new commercial uses to the area and works toward achieving the economic development policies of the Province, Region, and Municipality 8. Public Notice and Submissions Public meeting notices were mailed Friday December 5, 2014 to all of the owners of the properties that are located within 120 metres of this property. The Public Meeting notice sign was installed on the property by Friday December 12, 2014. 9. Region of Durham Comments 9.1. Regional Planning The subject land is within the "Regional Centre" designation in the Regional Official Plan. Regional Centres shall be developed as the main concentration of commercial, residential, cultural and government functions in a well-designed and intensive land use form, within Urban Areas. The property fronts onto Highway 2, which is designated as a Type 'B' arterial road and is identified as a Transit Spine in the Regional Official Plan. The proposed use (office) is permitted by the policies of the Regional Official Plan and generally conforms to the policies of the Growth Plan. 9.2. Transportation Planning The proposed development does not present any significant Regional Transportation impacts. 9.3. Regional Works Sanitary sewers are not available at this time, however the site has Regional Water service. Regional Works has no objection to the processing of this application. 9.4. Regional Health Regional Health is seeking clarification regarding the Daily Sewage Flow Calculations that were provided by the proponent. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-002-15 Page 7 10. Departmental Comments 10.1. Emergency and Fire Services and Operations Emergency and Fire Services and the Operations Department have no concerns with this rezoning. 10.2. Engineering Services Engineering Services (including the Building Division) has no concerns with this rezoning. The Building Division notes however that two building permits are needed, one for the apartment in the basement and one to convert the first floor to commercial use. It is also noted that all four commercial development charges will apply. 11 . Discussion The proposal is to convert an existing dwelling into an office use with a basement apartment. It is proposed as an interim step towards the development of a Town Centre. The necessary parking could be accommodated at the front of the house. 12. Concurrence Not Applicable 13. Conclusion The purpose of this report is to provide background information on the proposed rezoning. Staff will continue processing the applications including the preparation of a subsequent recommendation report. 14. Strategic Plan Application The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan. Submitted by: Reviewed David J. Crome, MCIP, RPP �j Franklin Wu, Director of Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer Staff Contact: Lisa Backus, Senior Planner, 905-623-3379 ext. 2413 or Ibackus @clarington.net There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision. DJC/LB/sn