Committee of Adjustment

 Duties

 The Committee of Adjustment considers applications for:

Consent for Land Severance

Consents considered by the Committee include:

• New lot creation

• Lot addition or lot line change

• Consent to mortgage

• Consent to lease

• Consent to create a shared right-of-way.

In evaluating applications for Consent, the committee must consider:

• Conformity with Provincial policies, plans and regulations;

• Conformity to Official Plan policies;

• Compliance with the Zoning By-law or, where a Minor Variance is applied for, maintaining the intent of the Zoning By-law;

• The appropriateness of the size and configuration of the proposed lot for the land use;

• Availability of access to and frontage on a municipal road;

• The adequacy of water and wastewater services;

• The location and characteristics of the property;

• The conservation and protection of natural resources; and

• The impact upon the current and future use of surrounding properties.

Minor Variances 

The Zoning By-laws regulate how land and buildings are used and where buildings and structures can be located. The zoning by-law also specifies lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and other provisions.  Minor Variances are intended to address small, technical changes to the Zoning By-law, and provides relief from a specific Zoning By-law requirement, excusing a property owner from meeting the exact requirements of the By-law.

The Committee must ensure that the variances, if approved, satisfy the following:

• Generally maintains the intent and purpose of the Official Plan or Secondary Plan where applicable;

• Maintains the intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law;

• Are considered to be a "minor" change from the zoning requirements; and

• Are desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure.

The Committee of Adjustment also:

• Considers appeals of a property standard order including the authority to confirm, modify or quash an order and/or extend the time for complying with the order.
• Arbitrates disagreements between adjoining owners where they cannot agree over the maintenance or reconstruction of a line fence which marks the boundary between an owner's land and the adjoining lands. (Thurlow Ward only)

 Committee Members

The Committee of Adjustment is comprised of six (6) members appointed by Council:

• Brian Miller, Chair

• Jack Alexander, Vice-Chair

• Joe Lentini

• Robert LaBarge
• Scott Giroux
• Michael Harris

Term of Appointment

Members of the Committee of Adjustment are appointed for a four (4) year term that corresponds with the term of Council, expiring on November 30 of the year in which a municipal election is held, unless provided otherwise by a resolution of Council.

Committee Decision Process

Meetings

Meetings are held at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall located at:

169 Front Street, Belleville, ON., K8N 2Y8.

2025 Meeting Dates

Meeting dates and times are subject to change. To confirm a meeting please e-mail planning@belleville.ca.  

Agendas and Minutes

Committee agendas are published the Friday prior to the meeting and can be viewed on our civic web portal.  

• The meetings can be streamed live on the City’s Youtube channel.

Current Applications