Committee of Adjustment Notice of Public Hearing - Applewood Village Shopping Plaza
Please be advised that following the Community Meeting held at St. Edmund School on June 7th regarding Applewood Shopping Plaza applications, a further Steering Committee meeting was held on July 4th at the plaza, wherein there was additional discussion regarding the concerns raised at the initial community meeting. I can confirm that the applicant has agreed to the removal of the two proposed free standing commercial buildings and is prepared to address issues related to pedestrian and vehicular safety within the plaza, raised by area residents, including changes to on-site pedestrian movements and parking arrangements to the rear of the existing plaza. These matters will need to be satisfactorily addressed by the applicant prior to the issuance of site plan approval.
Following the above noted meetings and discussions with representatives from Applewood Plaza over the past few weeks, I have confirmed with Planning staff that the City would not be in a position to have all approvals in place , including Site Plan approval for the proposed Metro store, on or before the end of September due to legislated timelines for notification and appeal on the Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning applications even if they were brought back to the first Planning and Development Committee meeting in September. As you recall, the applicant had indicated that without the necessary approvals in hand by this date they would not be able to maintain a contractual agreement with Metro for them to remain in the plaza. As such, we discussed the submission of an application for minor variance as a means of achieving site plan approval before the end of September provided that the requested variances be temporary in nature and contingent upon the continued pursuit of the Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning under file OZ 10/003 W1. Planning staff have also advised that through their comments to the Committee of Adjustment on the application, and attendance at the hearing, they will also ensure that any approvals granted by the Committee for the requested variances will only allow for the proposed new Metro store and that no additional stand alone or free standing commercial buildings shall be permitted. Also, through their review of the Parking Justification submitted by the applicant in support of the requested variance for a reduction in parking, staff can impose specific conditions related to capping the square footage of the plaza, and/or specific uses.
I have attached a copy of the Site Plan drawing submitted with the applicant's Committee of Adjustment application which depicts the proposed new Metro store as Building E with the remaining Buildings A to D inclusive representing the existing buildings in the plaza. As noted above, the two proposed free standing commercial buildings previously shown on their site plan have been removed. City staff will also continue to work with the applicant through the Site Plan review process to ensure matters related to pedestrian and vehicular safety are addressed, including changes to on-site pedestrian movements and parking arrangements to the rear of the existing plaza; provision of spaces for persons with disabilities; landscape buffering; loading and garbage areas and lighting, amongst other matters.
Also be advised that I will be convening another Community Meeting on August 15th at 7:00 p.m. at the Applewood Plaza , in advance of the requested variances being scheduled before the Committee of Adjustment on August 23rd. I hope you are able to attend. | 
