Woodview Avenue neighbours unhappy with severance plan
Moya Dillon – Pickering News Advertiser
Residents of a Pickering subdivision are banding together to oppose a proposal for new lots with smaller side yards.
On June 6, the City’s planning and development committee heard a proposal to create five new building lots on Pine Grove Avenue with minimum frontages of 12 metres, and four lots on Woodview Avenue with side yard widths of 1.2 metres. Current zoning requires minimum frontages of 15 metres, and side yard widths of 1.5 metres. The lots would be created from the division of a larger estate.
“We have an interesting situation in this area because if you look along Pine Grove most lots have frontages of 12 metres,” said Grant Morris, representative for the applicant.
“When we looked at side yard setbacks we looked at types within newer developments in the neighbourhood and many are 1.2 metre setbacks, so we feel this would fit with the neighbourhood. There are also a number of trees on the property that could be preserved, with the balance being scrub and brush.”
Neighbours along Woodview Avenue objected to the proposal, stating that a reduction in the side yard widths would change the overall look and feel of the community. Resident Tony Accardi presented a petition signed by 14 of the neighbouring homeowners objecting to the zoning amendment.
“These lots on Woodview are premium-sized lots, they’re large enough to build what’s required,” Mr. Accardi said.
“I’d just like to enjoy what everyone else on Woodview is enjoying, namely 1.5 metre setbacks. When I purchased my home I purchased it because I liked the character of the street. The fact that now someone is trying to build four lots not in accordance with zoning bylaws upsets me. I want to preserve what is already on that street.”
Another key concern for residents was the preservation of trees.
“For 17 years I’ve been lucky enough to look out on a beautiful forest,” said Carolyne Pascoe, a neighbouring resident.
“I know we can’t leave trees where houses are going but I don’t want to see them all mowed over. This is not just scrub and brush, this is a forest and I always hoped the municipality would keep some trees there since this street is called Woodview.”
Although the presentation on the zoning amendment was just for councillors’ information, the committee did vote to approve a separate request from the applicant to develop through land severance rather than a plan of subdivision.
“A plan of subdivision is needed if you’re doing a larger development including interior roads and parks, things like that,” said Neil Carroll, director of planning and development for the City of Pickering.
“In this case all the roads and services are already there, it’s a much simpler development proposal. We still see land severance and would require this developer to enter into a development agreement with us, so we can still keep the same level of control.”
The separate zoning amendment request will be brought back to the committee for consideration at a future meeting.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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