About the Committee of Adjustment

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gary Duncan – Panel 3

Gary Duncan was appointed to the Committee of Adjustment in 2024. He is a retired federal public servant with the Canada Revenue Agency and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. He also spent part of his career in the private sector as a steel coatings supplier for the petrochemical industry during which he developed a heightened awareness of responsible development. Currently, Gary Duncan provides municipal services in rural Québec for the issuance of permits for buildings and subdivisions.

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.

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.

Sharon Lécuyer - Panel 1

Sharon brings more than 15 years of experience in the housing industry, which has included affordable housing program delivery, intergovernmental and stakeholder relations, policy analysis and advice as well as the evaluation of programs under the National Housing Strategy. 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. 

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.

Terry Otto - Panel 3

A farmer in the Metcalfe area since 1973, Terry Otto is Vice-Chair of Panel 3. 

He has served as a Director and an Executive Member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the largest general farm organization in the province and champion of the diverse interests of the agri-food sector and rural communities. 

Vice-Chair Otto also served as a Member and Chair of the Metcalfe Community Centre Board and a Member and Chair of the City’s Agriculture Advisory Committee following amalgamation. As well, Vice-Chair Otto’s community involvement has included the South Nation Conservation Authority’s Phosphorus Offset Program, Forest Conservation Program, and Drought Advisory Committee. 

Additionally, he served six years as a Director of Your Credit Union co-operative banking and a Member of the Audit Committee.

Moreover, Vice-Chair Otto has served as a representative of the Eastern Small Grains Committee, as a Director of the Co-operators Insurance Company (12 years), and three years with the Canadian Cooperative Association. 

Vice-Chair Otto brings several years of experience as a Member of the Committee of Adjustment and previous experience as an applicant for consent to sever land.
 

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

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.

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.

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 panellist 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.