Councillor balks at bid to add units to triplexes
A city councillor is accusing a builder of trying to pull off a baitand-switch by adding basement units to two recently constructed buildings on Byron Avenue.
“Situations such as these are the water torture of planning for residents,” Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper writes in a staff report that supports one additional unit each at 266 and 270 Byron Ave.
“It is a steady drip-drip-drip of applications and approvals that ultimately result in the developer getting everything they are seeking without transparency to the community on which they’re imposing the buildings,” Leiper writes.
“It breeds resident resentment that they can only watch the process unfold to an inevitable and unwelcome conclusion.”
The city published the report on Tuesday, one week ahead of the next planning committee meeting.
The property owner, Peloso Construction, is asking council for permission to add another unit in each of the existing triplexes, effectively making the buildings low-rise apartments. In 2015, the committee of adjustment approved severing the lot and other variances, paving the way for the two triplexes.
Asked if he wanted to respond to Leiper’s remarks, Dino Peloso of Peloso Construction said he hadn’t yet read the councillor’s criticisms.
While the planning department says it “would prefer a more transparent and comprehensive process,” staff don’t have a problem with the owner adding the units since there are other low-rise apartment buildings on the street.
Adding a fourth unit in each building wouldn’t change the exteriors since the work would be done inside the structures.
Leiper and some residents whose comments are also included in the report claim the new application makes a mockery of the planning process.
According to Leiper, the application is an “after-the-fact request that can only increase mistrust in the planning process on the part of residents.”
Leiper says the fourth units were roughed-in as part of the construction of the triplexes, a common ploy so builders can avoid upfront planning costs. Builders just ask for forgiveness later, Leiper says.
A third parking space for each building has been eliminated in the plans to provide better outdoor amenity areas, but it’s not enough for Leiper to vote in favour of the application.
“Council should be sending a strong message to builders to be upfront with the community about what they are building and to lay their cards on the table at the outset of the process,” Leiper writes. “Ultimately, this will result in smoother, more transparent and less contentious planning processes overall.”