A Resident's Perspective

"Committee of Adjustment," "side setbacks," "GFA," "found spaces" - these are terms not commonly heard in everyday conversation in your household.  However they are being used daily down your street, one street over and possibly next door.

The Committee of Adjustment is a committee of seven people.  They are appointed by Town Council to hear variances or exceptions to the bylaws of Oakville.  This committee is independent of Council and is not answerable to Council.  Maybe I have found a problem already!

First, some definitions for you.  Setbacks and side setbacks refer to the distance a home is set back from the street, backyard boundary or side boundary.

GFA (gross floor area) is a formula to determine the size of the home allowed on the lot.  In theory, it tries to make sure that a smaller lot will be able to have the equivalent size house as a larger lot.  For example, a smaller lot will be able to cover 30% of the lot size with a house, where a large lot may only be able to cover 26% with a house.

Found spaces or attic space - now these are interesting terms.  This is the space a developer tells the building department that they are not going to use, thus it is not calculated into the GFA.  But at a later time (usually after the house is built or construction has started) they miraculously FIND this space again.  Don't you just hate it when you lose something?

What is happening at our Committee of Adjustment is that these spaces have been lost and now found.  Thus a house only allowed a GFA of 26% is now allowed 29.5% and higher.  Maybe a smaller property will apply for a GFA of 34% to even out the playing field.  Where will it end?  Oh no, not that term again - super homes!

Now, this is a great deal for the developer - a $600 investment for the variance application and a $125,000 - $150,000 return by gaining approximately 500 - 700 extra square feet of living space that they just "happened to find" while they were walking through the site one day.  Now I'm really upset about what my bank pays in interest!

This is just one example of why our charming communities are changing at an alarming rate.  "Ok," you ask, "How am I going to change anything?"  I'm glad you asked!  Get involved with your Residents' Associations.  Almost all areas have them.  You can find a complete listing with contacts at www.oakville.ca/resassoc.htm .

When you see a fluorescent orange notice sign on the front lawn of a home, this means a variance has been applied for.  Find out what it is about and if it affects you or your community.  There will be a date on the sign.  Go to this meeting; it is open to anyone.  You have the right to stand up and state whether or not you support this variance.  Speak up Oakville!  We are losing a wonderful heritage in this ward.  Let's try and preserve as much of it as we can so that our children and children's children can grow up with space to play, learn and develop.

As for me, I will continue to challenge the Committee to recognize the uniqueness of this magnificent area.  Will you join me?

By Rick Stitt, Ward 3 resident