The Committee of Adjustment is meeting September 16th at 5:00 at town hall, the meeting will also be livestreamed on our Town YouTube Channel.
A consent application has been received by the Town of Essex Committee of Adjustment
for the vacant residential lands located on the northern side of Brien Avenue, just west of
Sweetman Avenue, Essex Centre, Ward 1. The applicants are proposing to construct one
(1) Semi-Detached Dwelling (a building separated vertically into 2 dwelling units by a
common interior wall. Each dwelling has a separate entrance at street level).
Each Semi Detached Dwelling Unit will contain two (2) Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) for a total of
six (6) dwelling units within the building. The applicants require a consent (severance) to
divide the Semi-Detached Dwelling along the common interior wall to create two (2)
separate parcels. The Severed parcel will be + 260.5 square metres (2,802 square feet) in
total lot area and the Retained parcel will be + 260.5 square metres (2,802 square feet) in
total lot area. Each parcel will contain a Semi-Detached Dwelling Unit and two (2) ADUs
and the required on-site parking spaces for each dwelling unit (3 parking spaces).
My Comments to Essex Planning, sharing concerns over parking and safety:
This section of the Official Plan is what stands out to me-
“consents should not be granted for lots abutting a road where the potential for traffic hazards due to limited sight lines on curves may arise or the site’s proximity to an intersection(s) could create traffic/access conflicts|”
I would like my concerns added to the public record as this application has potential to create traffic issues, site line concerns and safety issues for the neighbours.
I will encourage residents to send comments to Essex planning. My hope is a traffic study can be completed before the COA make a decision on this file this way whether the committee supports or denies we all have that information going forward in case of an appeal by the applicant or council.
The cost I would hope should be on the applicants.
Here are the visuals of what the applicant is proposing. I also believe we need to revisit our parking bylaw for multi-residential developments. Stay tuned on this file.
