09-09-2020, 02:03 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-09-2020, 02:06 PM by panamaniac.)
(09-09-2020, 12:27 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:(09-09-2020, 11:06 AM)Spoke Wrote: Didn't that happen in a few of those student buildings in Waterloo? Get an approval with ground floor retail and then convert it to a residence? This shouldn't be allowed.
Based on what? If it’s worth more as a residence than as commercial, what is the basis for forcing it to be commercial? I’m not sure people who make suggestions around the use of real estate consider just how little freedom they are implicitly saying property owners should have. Remember, all the best parts of the city were built pre-zoning.
I suppose it depends on what was agreed to in the first place, if the property required re-zoning. If the extra height was approved BECAUSE of the ground floor commercial, then the bar should be set fairly high for changing the use without revisiting the original rezoning/approval. We're seeing a case like this in my Ottawa neighbourhood (five commercial units changed to one "live/work" unit and a number of apartments), that has stimulated considerable neighbourhood controversy. Rather than it being a "minor change" that City staff could approve, the public outcry has sent it to a public meeting and the Planning Committee.
In the case of this particular building, where only one commercial unit was ever planned, I don't know that it makes much difference.