Environment Hamilton’s Planning Application Review and Response Team (PARRT) meets this Thursday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. The Zoom link is below.
PARRT was created to ensure that the city’s Committee of Adjustment follows provincial law and city bylaws when it considers applications that will increase housing density in Hamilton.
Provincial law requires that secondary units—basically basement or attic suites or a flat in the backyard—be allowed on single-family lots throughout the province. And Hamilton has approved the zoning changes and regulations to make it happen. There are some parking and space limits but basically, any single-family property owner has the right to add one indoor unit and one in a backyard. Some people need minor variances or small exemptions from the bylaw rules to add those units—and that’s creating a challenge. The Committee of Adjustment exists to approve such minor variances but has rejected several applications for secondary units, because of neighbours’ objections. But those objections shouldn’t override city and provincial rules.
PARRT looks at upcoming Committee of Adjustment agendas and then organizes people to write or, better, to appear before the committee to support applications for secondary units. Learn more and join this effort at https://www.environmenthamilton.org/planning_app_review_respond_team
You can attend the next PARRT meeting this Thursday at 6:30 pm on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82140123010?pwd=c0QyN0IzeWtOak44aklmZy9zb2FpUT09
Meeting ID: 821 4012 3010
Passcode: 372959