Committee of Adjustment

On this page

Welcome to the Committee of Adjustment, a City of Ottawa quasi-judicial tribunal.

We hold public hearings to consider Planning Act applications, including minor variances to the zoning requirements and consent to sever land.

Find out about our next hearings and view panel agendas where you can find application documents, including proposal cover letters, plans, tree information, hearing notices, circulation maps, and City planning reports.

You can learn more about what we do, our panels, and submitting an application for a minor variance, permission or consent/severance.

You can also learn more about our organizational review, 2023 hearings calendar, application fees, and members' biographies.

To meet with Committee staff for assistance, you can make an appointment. Our office is located at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, 4th floor. 

Next hearings

October 3, 2023:

October 4, 2023:

Also Live-streamed on our YouTube Channel with subtitles/closed captioning generally available 24 hours after the hearing (through YouTube’s limited speech recognition technology and automatic translation offered in various languages).

To help balance the agendas and workload between the panels, applications usually assigned to one panel may be assigned to another. Please consult all three panel agendas.

What we do

Overview

The Committee of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial tribunal established under the Planning Act. It exercises its independent statutory power of decision in accordance with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act on the following applications:

  • Minor Variances from the provisions of the Zoning By-law
  • Consent to sever a property or for any agreement, mortgage or lease that extends for more than 21 years
  • Permission regarding a non-conforming use that relates to the enlargement or extension of a building or structure, or a change in use
  • Validation of Title and Power of Sale

The Committee of Adjustment consists of 15 Council-appointed citizen members who are divided into three panels of five members each, with each panel hearing applications for a different geographic area of the city (urban, suburban and rural). 

The Planning Act requires the Committee of Adjustment to appoint a Secretary-Treasurer who in turn leads a centralized administration office where Committee staff process applications in accordance with the rules and regulations set out in the governing provincial legislation.

Committee staff are available to discuss with the public, community representatives, applicants, and authorized agents only matters related to application submission requirements or details of applications being processed. It is not the role or responsibility of Committee staff to assess the merits of an application as this is the role and responsibility of Panel Members.

Types of Applications under the Planning Act

Consent, section 53

The Committee of Adjustment has the power to grant a consent to create a new lot, adjust a lot line, mortgage a portion of land, create an easement or right-of-way or for a lease of more than 21 years. The Committee must be satisfied that a plan of subdivision of the land is not necessary for the proper and orderly development of the municipality. Also, the Committee must be satisfied that an application is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and has regard for matters of provincial interest under section 2 of the Act, as well as the following criteria set out in subsection 51(24):

Criteria

(24) In considering a draft plan of subdivision, regard shall be had, among other matters, to the health, safety, convenience, accessibility for persons with disabilities and welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the municipality and to,

(a) the effect of development of the proposed subdivision on matters of provincial interest as referred to in section 2;

(b) whether the proposed subdivision is premature or in the public interest;

(c) whether the plan conforms to the official plan and adjacent plans of subdivision, if any;

(d) the suitability of the land for the purposes for which it is to be subdivided;

(d.1) if any affordable housing units are being proposed, the suitability of the proposed units for affordable housing;

(e) the number, width, location and proposed grades and elevations of highways, and the adequacy of them, and the highways linking the highways in the proposed subdivision with the established highway system in the vicinity and the adequacy of them;

(f) the dimensions and shapes of the proposed lots;

(g) the restrictions or proposed restrictions, if any, on the land proposed to be subdivided or the buildings and structures proposed to be erected on it and the restrictions, if any, on adjoining land;

(h) conservation of natural resources and flood control;

(i) the adequacy of utilities and municipal services;

(j) the adequacy of school sites;

(k) the area of land, if any, within the proposed subdivision that, exclusive of highways, is to be conveyed or dedicated for public purposes;

(l) the extent to which the plan’s design optimizes the available supply, means of supplying, efficient use and conservation of energy; and

(m) the interrelationship between the design of the proposed plan of subdivision and site plan control matters relating to any development on the land, if the land is also located within a site plan control area designated under subsection 41 (2) of this Act or subsection 114 (2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006.  1994, c. 23, s. 30; 2001, c. 32, s. 31 (2); 2006, c. 23, s. 22 (3, 4); 2016, c. 25, Sched. 4, s. 8 (2).
 

Minor Variance, subsection 45(1)

The Committee has the power to authorize a minor variance from the provisions of the Zoning By-law if, in its opinion, the application meets all four requirements under subsection 45(1) of the Planning Act. It requires consideration of whether the variance is minor, is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure, and whether the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and the Zoning By-law are maintained.

Permission, subsection 45(2)

The Committee has the power to permit the enlargement or extension of building or structure of a legal non-conforming use or the change in use to a use that is “similar to the purpose for which it was used” or is “more compatible with the uses permitted by the by-law”.  The test developed by the Ontario Municipal Board (now Ontario Land Tribunal) is based upon both the desirability for development of the property in question and the impact on the surrounding area.

A legal non-conforming use is a use of land, building or structure that was lawfully established but which is no longer permitted under a current Zoning By-law.

Power of Sale, subsection 50(18)

In rare circumstances, the Committee can be asked to consent to a power of sale when a mortgagor is in default and the mortgagee wants to execute power of sale to sell a portion of the property but does not have a claim to all the land, and the application relates to part of a property for which a consent has not been previously granted.

Validation of Title, section 57

Validation of Title may be required to re-establish clean title when a contravention of the subdivision provisions of the Act is discovered (section 50).  The Committee may issue a certificate of validation “providing that the contravention of section 50 […] does not have and shall be deemed never to have had the effect of preventing the conveyance of or creation of any interest in such land”.  

How to participate at a hearing

Committee of Adjustment hearings are:

  • open to the public;
  • governed by the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the Planning Act, and the Committee’s Rules of Practice and Procedure;
  • held in a hybrid format since June 6, 2023: applicants and the public can attend hearings in person (main floor Chamber at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive) or by videoconference (Zoom) with a computer, smartphone, cell phone, or telephone (contact the Committee of Adjustment to obtain the link to the videoconference);
  • live streamed on our YouTube channel with subtitles/closed captioning generally available 24 hours after the hearing (through YouTube’s limited speech recognition technology and automatic translation offered in various languages).

Any interested individual can submit written and oral observations in support of or against an application.

Submit written or oral comments before the hearing:

  • Email your comments to the Committee of Adjustment at least 24 hours before the hearing to ensure they are received by the panel adjudicators.
  • You may also call the Coordinator at 613-580-2436 to have your comments transcribed.

Register to speak at the hearing at least 24 hours in advance:

  • Contact the Coordinator highlighted under Next Hearings or send an email to the Committee of Adjustment or call 613-580-2436.
  • You will receive details on how to participate by videoconference.
  • If you want to share a visual presentation, the Coordinator can provide details on how to do so.
  • Presentations are limited to five minutes and any exceptions are at the discretion of the Panel Chair. 
  • If you and several others wish to speak about the same application, you may want to consider appointing a spokesperson for the group or coordinating your comments to avoid repetition.

Comments should avoid issues that are irrelevant to an application, such as:

  • private disputes between neighbours;
  • demolition and construction related activities;
  • property standards enforcement;
  • landlord-tenant matters.

All submitted information becomes public:

Be aware that, in accordance with the Planning Act, the Municipal Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, all information presented to the Committee of Adjustment is considered public information and can be shared with any interested individual. Information you choose to disclose in your correspondence and during the hearing, including your personal information, will become part of the public record, and shared with Committee Members, the Applicant(s) or their agent and any other interested individual, and potentially posted online and become searchable on the Internet.

Order of presentations during the hearing:

  1. Applicant’s presentation (if the Panel requests one) then questions from Members.
  2. Oral submissions from the City Planner, if any, and questions from Members.
  3. Oral submissions from the public and questions from Members.
  4. Applicant’s reply to all oral submissions and responses to Members’ questions.

The Committee may adjourn the hearing, render its decision, or reserve its decision.  

If the Committee reserves (defers) its decision, that means the panel will deliberate in private before making its decision.

Requesting an Adjournment (Postponement)

The panel may consider a request to adjourn (postpone) the hearing of an application to either a specific date or sine die (indefinitely). If an application is adjourned to a specific date there will be no further public notification. An application adjourned sine die and subsequently rescheduled for a hearing will require public notification and the applicant will pay a recirculation fee.

Anyone seeking an adjournment should submit a request in writing before the hearing. Include your name and address, the subject property’s address or the application file number, and the reason for the adjournment request. You will need to attend the hearing and speak to your adjournment request unless you are an applicant requesting an adjournment sine die.

Decision

The Committee’s decision, whether granting or refusing an application:

  • is in writing;
  • is signed by the members who concur in the decision;
  • sets out the reasons for the decision;
  • contains a brief explanation of the effect, if any, that the written and oral submissions had on the decision;
  • is issued within ten days of the hearing.

Appealing a Decision

A decision of the Committee of Adjustment may be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a fee. Appeals must be filed within 20 days of the date of the Committee’s written decision and must include the reasons for the appeal as well as the applicable fee payable to the Ontario Minister of Finance. Only the applicant, the Minister or a specified person or public body that has an interest in the matter may appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A "specified person" does not include an individual or community association. 

Learn more about appealing a decision by visiting the Ontario Land Tribunal website.

2023 Hearings calendar and agendas

The Committee of Adjustment holds regular Public Hearings to consider the applications that fall within its mandate. The hearings are open to the public, and any interested party can appear before the Committee to present their views in support of or in opposition to an application. Hearings are governed by the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the Planning Act, and the Committee’s Rules of Procedure.  

Listed below are the 2023 Public Hearing dates for all three Committee of Adjustment Panels:

January 11  

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

February 1  

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

February 15  

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

March 1  

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

March 15  

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

April 5  

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

April 19

Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

May 3 

 Panel 1, Panel 2, Panel 3

May 17 

Panel 1Panel 2, Panel 3

May 31 

Committee of Adjustment Special Meeting

June 6

Panel 2Panel 3

June 7

Panel 1

June 20

Panel 2Panel 3

June 21

Panel 1

July 4

Panel 2Panel 3

July 5

Panel 1

July 18

Panel 2Panel 3

July 19

Panel 1

August 1

Panel 2Panel 3

August 2

Panel 1

August 15 

Panel 2Panel 3

August 16 

Panel 1

September 5 

Panel 2Panel 3

September 6 

Panel 1

September 19 

Panel 2, Panel 3

September 20 

Panel 1

October 3 

Panel 2Panel 3

October 4 

Panel 1

October 17 

Panel 2Panel 3

October 18 

Panel 1

October 31 

Panel 2, Panel 3

November 1 

Panel 1

November 14 

Panel 2, Panel 3

November 15 

Panel 1

December 12 

Panel 2, Panel 3

December 13 

Panel 1

January 16, 2024 

Panel 2, Panel 3

January 17, 2024 

Panel 1

Organizational review

The first comprehensive review of the Committee of Adjustment by outside experts since its creation more than two decades ago, the findings confirm the City of Ottawa’s quasi-judicial tribunal is a high performing organization

  • Committee of Adjustment staff are widely recognized for their responsiveness to applicant and public inquiries.
  • Statutory timelines are regularly met. 
  • Panelists (Members) and Committee of Adjustment staff have an excellent working relationship; 100% of panelists surveyed indicated they are well-supported by Committee of Adjustment staff. 
  • The transition to virtual hearings has been well-executed and has positively impacted the applicant and public experience.

Conducted by KPMG, the organizational review was based on leading practice research in five comparator jurisdictions (Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Oakville, and Brampton). It also involved extensive engagement with the public and more than 68 stakeholders, including three online surveys and workshops with Committee of Adjustment staff and Members, City staff, and representatives from community associations and industry.

Learn more about the review by reading the final report and transmittal letter to Council.

Before you submit an application

Pre-Consultation

Before filing an application, applicants should speak with a City Development Information Officer (DIO) to discuss the requirements of the Zoning By-law. This can be done by contacting 3-1-1 and asking for the DIO responsible for the geographic area in question. If it is determined that the provisions of the Zoning By-law cannot be met, then the applicant may wish to consider making an application to the Committee of Adjustment for a Minor Variance/ Permission. Prior to filing, applicants should also contact a City Planner to discuss the proposal, since the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department will provide a written comment to the Committee on each application. 

Before submitting their application, applicants are encouraged to contact the City's Infill Forester to discuss the impact of the proposal on trees. Trees on private property within the Urban Boundary and any municipally owned trees are subject to the City's Tree Protection Bylaw. For more information, including how the tree by-law applies on private property, please visit Tree Protection By-law. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to speak with their neighbours as well as their local community association.

All Submitted Information Becomes Public

Be aware that, in accordance with the Planning Act, the Municipal Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, all information presented to the Committee of Adjustment is considered public information and can be shared with any interested individual. Information you choose to disclose in your application, supporting documents, and during the hearing, including your personal information, will become part of the public record, and shared with Committee Members and any interested individual, and potentially posted online and become searchable on the Internet.

Filing an Application

Please refer to the front page of the application form for the type of application you wish to file for a complete list of submission requirements and application fees.

As of January 1, 2021, the City requires that all Committee of Adjustment applications within the City’s urban area include a Tree Information Report. For information, please consult the Tree Information Report Guidelines.

Once an application has been filed it will be reviewed for completeness. When an application is deemed complete, a Hearing Date will be assigned and a Public Notice will be prepared and mailed out to all assessed property owners within 60 metres of the subject property.

As part of the notification process, the applicant is also required to post a sign on the subject property. The sign will be prepared and provided by Committee staff, along with a declaration form indicating that the sign has been posted. This declaration form must be completed and filed with the Committee before the application can be heard. A Commissioner of Oaths will be on hand to witness the sworn declaration prior to the commencement of the Public Hearing. Failure to file the statutory declaration may result in delays in the hearing of the application and/or a possible adjournment.

Consent / severance

The Committee of Adjustment is authorized to consider Consent Applications under Section 53 of the Planning Act.

The consent of the Committee is required if you want to sell (sever) or mortgage a portion of your land or enter into an agreement/lease for a period of 21 years or more. There are also other circumstances in which the consent of the Committee of Adjustment is required; a solicitor should be consulted to determine if consent is necessary since, in some cases, other land division approval processes such as a Plan of Subdivision or Part Lot Control may be more appropriate.

The requirement for consent helps to ensure that development occurs in a controlled and orderly way, and that proper servicing is in place to accommodate it.

How to File a Consent Application

To apply for the consent of the Committee, you will need to fill out an application form [New] and submit it to the Committee of Adjustment administration office, along with the appropriate fee and submission requirements as outlined on the application form.  For rural consent applications, please also fill and submit the following document: Schedule A: Rural Consent Additional Application Information [New].

Minor variance

The Committee of Adjustment is authorized to consider Applications for Minor Variances from a Zoning By-law under Section 45 of the Planning Act.

Minor Variances are often necessitated by circumstances peculiar to a property which prevent the owner from developing it in a way which conforms to a Zoning By-law. Examples of Minor Variance Applications include requests for relief from the building setback, building height, and parking provisions of a Zoning By-law.

The Committee is authorized to grant a minor variance if all of the following criteria, commonly referred to as the “four tests,” are met:

  • The variance is minor;
  • The variance is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the property;
  • The general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law is maintained;
  • The general intent and purpose of the Official Plan is maintained.

The Committee will refuse an application if, in its opinion, one or more of the above criteria have not been met.

The Committee cannot grant exemptions to the by-law which, in effect, would constitute a change of zoning. In such cases, property owners may wish to make an application for a Zoning By-law Amendment.

How to File a Minor Variance Application

To apply for a minor variance from a Zoning By-law, you will need to fill out an application form [New] and submit it to the Committee of Adjustment administration office, along with the appropriate fee and submission requirements as outlined on the application form. Please refer to the Committee of Adjustment Application Process for more information.

Notice regarding minor variance applications

Notwithstanding pre-consultation with City staff, it is the responsibility of the Applicant to identify all required variances accurately on the application.

Notice of any amendments to a variance, identified by any party, after the Committee of Adjustment has circulated an application, to

  1. add a new variance, or
  2. increase the extent of a variance requested,

must be given in accordance with the Planning Act and may require the application to be re-circulated for the next available Hearing date at a cost to the Applicant of the prescribed fee.

If an Applicant amends their plans with no impact to the variances, or to reduce the extent of the variances requested, re-circulation may not be required.

Permission

The Committee of Adjustment is authorized to consider Applications for Permission to expand or change a legal non-conforming use under Section 45 of the Planning Act.

A Legal non-conforming use is a use of land, buildings, or structures that was lawfully established but which is no longer permitted under a current Zoning By-law. The City of Ottawa has a separate process in place for individuals who wish to establish non-conforming rights on their property.

Any change to or expansion of a legal non-conforming use requires a Permission Application to the Committee of Adjustment.

How to File a Permission Application

To apply for the Permission of the Committee, you will need to fill out an application form [New] and submit it to the Committee of Adjustment administration office, along with the appropriate fee and submission requirements as outlined on the application form. Please refer to the Committee of Adjustment Application Process for more information.

Application fees

As approved by City Council, the following fees are in effect as of July 1, 2023.
Urban
Application Type Committee of Adjustment Conservation Authority City Planning Total Fee
Minor variance / Permission $2249 $125 $563 $2937
Secondary Minor Variance/ Permission $1413 $125 $0 $1538
Consent $2249 $125 $942 $3316
Secondary Consent $1413 $125 $0 $1538
Combined Consent & Minor Variance/ Permission $3662 $250 $1086 $4998
Secondary Combined Consent & Minor Variance/ Permission $2826 $250 $0 $3076
Recirculation Consent or Minor Variance/Permission $662 $0 $0 $662
Recirculation Combined Consent and Minor Variance/Permission $962 $0 $0 $962
Validation of Title $1969 $0 $0 $1969
Power of Sale $1969 $0 $0 $1969
Change of Condition or Cancellation Request $902 $0 $0 $902
Records Retrieval/ Decision Search $85 $0 $0 $85
Rural
Application Type Committee of Adjustment Conservation Authority City Planning Total Fee
Minor variance / Permission $2249 $410 $563 $3222
Secondary Minor Variance/ Permission $1413 $125 $0 $1538
Consent $2249 $500 $942 $3691
Secondary Consent $1413 $500 $0 $1913
Combined Consent & Minor Variance/ Permission $3662 $625 $1086 $5373
Secondary Combined Consent & Minor Variance/ Permission $2826 $625 $0 $3451
Recirculation Consent or Minor Variance/Permission $662 $0 $0 $662
Recirculation Combined Consent and Minor Variance/Permission $962 $0 $0 $962
Validation of Title $1969 $0 $0 $1969
Power of Sale $1969 $0 $0 $1969
Change of Condition or Cancellation Request $902 $0 $0 $902
Records Retrieval/ Decision Search $85 $0 $0 $85

Members' biographies

Jay Baltz - Panel 2

Jay Baltz, Ph.D. is a Professor and Senior scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine.   His community involvement includes Chair, City of Ottawa Local Architectural Conservation Advisory  Committee/ Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (2004-2010), Member, Zoning Committee, Hintonburg Community Association (1996-present), Chair, Zoning Committee, Hintonburg Community Association (1997-2007), Co-chair, Zoning Committee, Hintonburg Community Association (2010-present), Board of Directors, Hintonburg Community Association (1997-2020), President, Hintonburg Community Association (1998-1999, 2001-2003), Board of Directors and Chair of Advocacy Committee, Heritage Ottawa (2011-2017), Executive Committee, Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa (2008-2012), Board of Directors, Grace Manor Long-Term Care Facility (2002-2005), Chair, Community Advisory Council, Ottawa Booth Centre Shelter (2004-2007), Board of Directors, Ottawa Neighbourhood Services (1999-2002).  Jay has also served on more than 20 City of Ottawa Public Advisory Committees and Technical Advisory Committees for planning studies and secondary plan studies including, most recently, the Technical Advisory Committee for the R4 Zoning Review.

Jay Baltz

George Barrett - Panel 2

George is a retired teacher, was the head of student services and guidance counsellor. He is a former Gloucester South Ward Councillor, former Vice Chair of the Planning Committee, Chair of LACAC. He was a member of the Pineview Gold Course Committee, a long time hockey coach in Leitrim Minor Hockey, small business owner and former recreational director at Emerald Wood Community Association. George is currently a volunteer with Gloucester Lions Club and outdoor rink volunteer in Findlay Creek.

George Barrett

John Blatherwick - Panel 1

John has close to 40 years of experience in the planning and associated urban geography fields: Member of the Committee of Adjustment for the City of Ottawa (1998-2001, 2011 to present), Past President and Chair, Zoning and Development Committee (1985-2017) of the Woodpark Community Association, Inc., Past President of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa, other relevant member/committee positions at the local level, and Principal of Geospace Research Associates (founded 1996). John has a Masters degree in Geography with a specialization in the field of urban geography.

During his years on the City of Ottawa’s Committee of Adjustment and as a long serving community representative he has developed a working knowledge of the Planning Act, the Municipal Act, Ottawa’s Official Plan, Secondary Plans and Master Plans, the Comprehensive Zoning By-law, the city’s Development Approvals process and associated professional (land use planning, transportation, civil engineering, etc.), design and operational guidelines, rules, practices and procedures.

John has been involved in many public consultation processes, either as a researcher, organizer and report writer or as an active participant. He has participated as an appellant, as a participant, as a lay expert witness, and as a professional community consultant at a number of Ontario Municipal Board Hearings (now LPAT) since 1991. He believes that timely consultation, negotiation and facilitation with interested parties can often lead to a common understanding of their needs, goals and objectives, resulting in consensus decisions that are of benefit to all parties.

As the principal of his consulting company, Geospace Research Associates, he has produced reports for the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton and the current City of Ottawa, a number of the city’s business improvement areas and consulting engineering firms, and individual property owners that include market area analysis, retail gap analysis, land use planning and zoning studies, household demographic and economic profiles, pedestrian and traffic assessment studies, and OMB Appeals.

John Blatherwick

Jocelyn Chandler - Panel 3

Jocelyn Chandler, M.Pl., RPP, MCIP, a Land and Water Resource Planner is a consultant with an environmental engineering company.

She previously spent 16 years as a planner with a local Conservation Authority and has extensive experience relating to private servicing, natural hazards (flooding and slope stability), natural heritage, wetlands and watercourses, land division and agricultural resource issues. She has appeared before the Committee of Adjustment many times and worked with municipal staff, community associations, private land owners and land owner groups on controversial matters.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Rural Land Planning and Resource Management at Carleton University in 1999 and Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Queens University in 2007.

Ms. Chandler has lived in the rural, suburban and urban areas of Ottawa for more than 45 years, and completed building a family home in 2017. She has a keen interest in good process and decision making, the pragmatic implementation of policies for intent and purpose, and respect for the variety of communities and landscapes that make up the City of Ottawa.

Jocelyn Chandler

Simon Coakeley - Panel 1

Simon is a retired federal public servant having been a previous member of the City of Ottawa Official Languages Committee, serving on the City of Gloucester Committee of Adjustment and as a regional representative on the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. Simon has a Master of Laws and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985.  He is fluently bilingual.

Simon Coakeley

Beth Henderson - Panel 3

Beth Henderson has over 25 years of real estate, land management and development experience gained both in Ottawa and across Canada. Beth has been involved in a diverse range of projects ranging from creating large retail developments, mixed use projects, institutional developments and residential subdivisions. This work has occurred in all geographic areas including greenfield and brownfield redevelopment sites. Beth has experience in every type of land application and development approval process including applying the Planning Act, official plans, zoning bylaws and land division including minor variances, cross access agreements, reciprocal (joint use) operating agreements and more. 

Throughout her career, Beth has enjoyed working with people and strives to hear different views in order to create a project that has a positive impact. She has had the opportunity to work with, and collaborate with, approval agencies, community associations and abutting neighbours at every stage of the development process. 

She approaches every situation seeking to understand what is being sought, what challenges exist and what is reasonable and appropriate for the site through a collaborative process but understands that decisions must be made. Her diverse experience gives her a strong foundation to understand applications and to apply what is required in order to make decisions. 

Beth lived in the Beaverbrook Community as a child and when she returned to Ottawa lived in Manotick. For the past 16 years she has lived in Ottawa’s rural area where she enjoys her dog and horses.

Beth Henderson

William Hunter - Panel 3

Bill was a partner with the law firm of Vice and Hunter LLP from 1975 to 2020 and continued as an associate until 2023.  His knowledge of the legal system is extensive and broad specifically in the areas of civil litigation and municipal law. 

He has represented clients before numerous and various provincial tribunals and participated in numerous mediations and arbitrations. He has acted as the Integrity Commissioner, in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, for several Ontario municipalities and, additionally, has represented municipal councillors in integrity complaints.

Bill is a member of the Law Society of Ontario (retired) and the County of Carleton Law Association.

William Hunter

Arto Keklikian - Panel 1

Arto Keklikian, P.Eng., RPP, MCIP, recently retired from the federal public service after 40 years as Senior Planner with the Capital Planning Branch at the National Capital Commission.  In this role, Arto developed federal land use and transportation/transit policies, managed multi-partner transportation and transit studies, provided policy and strategic advice to senior and executive management and the Capital Region Federal Government Caucus.  He also contributed to multi-professional teams on climate and environmental quality, sustainable mobility, interprovincial transit integration, Greenbelt integrity and greenspace protection, as well as riverfront public place making plans.  Arto has also been guest lecturer at Carleton University and at the University of Ottawa.

Arto is a registered Professional Planner in Ontario, member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, and Professional Engineers Ontario.  He began his professional career with a non-profit housing co-operative in Montreal, and in municipal government with the former City of Halifax before joining the National Capital Commission.

Arto obtained his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Concordia University in 1975, and his Master’s in Urban Planning from McGill University in 1985. In addition to being a member of the Committee of Adjustment for the City of Ottawa, Arto volunteers to the endeavours of a number of community and non-profit groups including the Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa, Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, People’s Official Plan, Transport Action Canada, and Reimagine Ottawa.

Arto Keklikian

Sharon Lécuyer - Panel 1

Sharon is Specialist in Evaluation Services at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Over the last 15 years, Sharon has held various roles in program evaluation, policy operations, policy development, stakeholder relations, as well as program delivery. She also draws from 20+ years of leadership experience volunteering on various committees and Boards with organizations such as the Canadian Evaluation Society, the Canadian Red Cross, Toastmasters International and the Army Cadet League of Canada, among others.

With a Master of Arts in Public Administration (Carleton University) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Canadian Studies (Trent University), Sharon has been an Ottawa resident for over 25 years. 

Sharon Lécuyer

Heather MacLean - Panel 2

Born and raised in Ottawa, Heather began her career in an administrative role with the Community Funds and Councils of Canada (United Way of Canada) which lead to her involvement in various fund-raising activities over the years.

Heather then joined the Committee of Adjustment for the City of Ottawa and spent 42 years with the Committee, the last 19 years as Secretary-Treasurer. This experience has provided Heather with a sound and specialized knowledge of the City’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law as well as other municipal planning and building processes and regulations.

Heather currently sits as a Panel 2 Member on the Committee of Adjustment, and is a past Board Member of the Kanata Lakes Community Association.

Heather MacLean

Terry Otto - Panel 3

Terry Otto

Fabian Poulin - Panel 2

Fabian Poulin is the General Manager of Commercial Properties at Apollo Property Management Ltd, providing third party property management services for a wide range of Office, Industrial, Mixed use(Residential/retail) property owners.

Previously, as Vice President Leasing at Uniform Developments Limited, a private commercial real estate company, Fabian managed their Leasing and property management portfolio.

Fabian has volunteered with the Better Business Bureau of Ottawa, sitting on the Executive in various positions. Last held the post of First Vice Chair. In another volunteer capacity, Fabian worked with the Entrepreneurship Center helping young business men and women begin their careers in small business.

Fabian obtained his B.Comm. from the University of Ottawa.

Presently, Fabian is a Vice-Chair of the Committee of Adjustment for the city of Ottawa, chairing Panel 3 hearings

Fabian Poulin

Ann M. Tremblay - Panel 1

Ann Tremblay, MCIP, MPA, is a Project Director for the Project Management and Delivery directorate of the Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch, at PSPC. In this role, Ann provides direction to a team of architects and engineers towards the delivery of Fit-up projects for the administrations of the Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, and Precinct Protective Services

Ann has held varying management positions in municipal government, not-for-profit organizations, and with private sector engineering and planning companies including the Ottawa International Airport, the Canadian Bar Association, and the former City of Gloucester.

Ann is a Registered Professional Planner in Ontario and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Urban Geography from McMaster University in 1984, and is a Carleton University alumna having obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 1997. Ann is the current Chair of the Committee of Adjustment for the City of Ottawa and member of Carleton University’s Board of Governors. Beyond her role as Governor, Ann is Chair of the Board’s Building Program Committee, and a member of the Board’s Finance Committee.

Ann Tremblay

Martin Vervoort - Panel 3

Martin Vervoort BA LLB is a lawyer and is currently in-house legal counsel for lnterRent REIT and CLV Group Prior to that he was in private practice with a small local Ottawa law firm for approximately 25 years, primarily practicing in the areas of real estate and corporate commercial law.

He has extensive Committee of Adjustment experience and served as Secretary and Chair of the Township of Goulbourn Committee of Adjustment prior to 2000, and previously was Chair of the City of Ottawa Committee of Adjustment (2003-2006) arid Vice-Chair (2000-2003 and 2014-2018}.

His community involvement includes being the past President of the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, and The Canadian Mental Health Association - Ottawa Branch, and as a volunteer coach with the Goulbourn Basketball Association.

Martin Vervoort

Julianne Wright - Panel 2

Julianne Wright, B. Arch, MBA, AACI recently retired as the General Manager of the Altus Group’s Ottawa office.  Over her 18 year career with the Altus Group, she specialized in the valuation of income properties (primarily office and industrial), special purpose properties, and land. Consulting experience included leasing studies, Highest and Best Use studies, and portfolio disposal/redevelopment business cases.  Prior to joining the Altus Group in 2003, she was an architect and associate partner at the firm of Katz Webster Clancey and Associates in Ottawa (now KWC Architects Inc.).

She was an annual presenter at the Ottawa Real Estate Forum providing an overview of the national and local real estate market, as well as being a panelist at the inaugural PWC/ULI Emerging Trends in Canadian Real Estate presentation in Ottawa. She was a member of the Ottawa Real Estate Forum's Advisory Council and a member of the Urban Land Institute Ottawa's Advisory Board.

She obtained an undergraduate degree in architecture from McGill University in 1986, and an MBA (Finance) from the University of Ottawa in 1999. After completing a Post Graduate Certificate, Real Property Valuation from the University of British Columbia, she became an AACI member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada.  Her community involvement has included being the Treasurer for the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association, Registrar for the City of Ottawa Ringette Association, and a member of various committees at the Royal Ottawa Golf Course.

Julianne Wright

2022 hearings calendar and agendas

Listed below are the 2022 Public Hearing dates for all three Committee of Adjustment Panels:

January 12

February 2

February 16

March 2

March 16

April 6

April 20

May 4

May 18

June 1

June 15

July 6

July 20

August 3

August 17

September 7

September 21

October 5

October 19

November 2

November 16

December 7

January 11, 2023