DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT NO. 2022/01 - 34 HAAGENSEN COURT

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Development Variance Permit No. 2022/01 be approved as per the April 26, 2022 report from the Senior Planner titled “Development Variance Permit No. 2022/01 - 34 Haagensen Court”;

AND THAT Development Variance Permit No. 2022/01 include the following variance:

• Variance to the length of a parking space within Section 5.5.1 of Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 from 5.5m to 5.3m

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT

The purpose of this report is to consider a development variance permit to vary the length of a parking stall.

BACKGROUND

The zoning requirement for a detached residence is two parking spaces that are at each at least 5.5m long. The detached residential properties in the Haagensen Court area are zoned CD-16 with 4.5m front yard setbacks. Some of the residences were built with double garages to meet the parking requirements with driveways that are too short to accommodate parking spaces at the required 5.5m length. The subject property is one such example.

PROJECT INFORMATION

The request is to vary the length of a parking space from 5.5m to 5.3m so that one of the informal driveway spaces can be used to meet zoning requirements for onsite parking.

The applicant has submitted the following in support of their application:

1. Letter to Council – applicant – January 10, 2022
2. Plans – applicant – undated
3. Letters of neighbour support (2) – January 13, 2022

The applicant wishes to convert one of two required parking spaces within the garage to build a home office and study space for several members of the family, which does not currently exist in the house. This renovation would add ~12m² of additional floor area but the required floor space ratio or floor area limits would not be exceed as shown in the following table:

The proposed renovation would require that one of the informal driveway parking spaces be counted towards parking requirements. The applicant is requesting a variance to the minimum size of a parking space from 5.5m to 5.3m to meet the requirement for two on-site parking spaces.

There appears to be minimal space between the edge of pavement and the property line; a metre at most. There is no sidewalk along the frontage. The applicant indicates that they always park both their vehicles in the driveway and the Town has not received any complaints of encroachment into the road.

Figure 1. Air photo of immediate neighbourhood

Figure 2 shows the driveway and the relative spacing between the property line and the edge of pavement.

Figure 2. Existing site plan

ISSUES AND ANALYSIS

The issue is whether a parking space at 5.3m long is an acceptable variance and that it results in a useable parking space. Considerations include the following:

1. If approved, the overall parking scheme would be one 5.5m long parking space in the garage, one 5.3m long driveway parking space, and one informal 4.6m long driveway parking space.
2. In this case, the requested variance exceeds the required length of 4.8m for small car spaces. In comparison, variances were granted in 2016 for ten separate dwellings on Lund Rd within Chilco Phase 6 (between Casey Place and Massey Place) with similarly short driveways and only one garage space. In those cases, the variances were typically from 5.5m to 4.5m, same as the minimum setback for the CD-16 zone. That length is not suitable for the average pickup truck or minivan but can accommodate most passenger vehicles.

Staff supports the proposal because:

a. There would be no blockage of pedestrian routes sidewalk is across the street b. To date there have been no known concerns about vehicles parked in this driveway encroaching into the travel lane. c. There are no proposed building exterior changes

Staff have taken note that driveway lengths should be considered when establishing setbacks for garages and carports in the future.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Development Variance Permit No. 2022/01 be approved as per the April 26, 2022 report from the Senior Planner titled “Development Variance Permit No. 2022/01 - 34 Haagensen Court”;

AND THAT Development Variance Permit No. 2022/01 include the following variance:

• Variance to the length of a parking space within Section 5.5.1 of Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 from 5.5m to 5.3m

SUBMITTED BY: J. Chow, RPP MCIP, Senior Planner

REVIEWED BY: L. Chase, RPP MCIP, Director of Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Subject Property Map
2. Letter to Council – applicant – January 10, 2022
3. Plans – applicant – undated
4. Letters of neighbour support (2) – January 13, 2022