Clarington Council has set new rules for development in Bowmanville’s established neighbourhoods, according to a council statement.
The council approved an amendment to the official plan and various zoning regulations to implement the Neighbourhood Character Study, which will guide development in Bowmanville’s older established areas. The study was conducted to better understand how the character of established residential neighbourhoods may be affected by development and redevelopment, said the statement.
For information on which areas were included in the study, view the detailed study map.
The approved zoning by-law amendment modifies the zoning requirements for new houses and any additions to try and better reflect the older character of the existing area. Some of the changes include:
- Reduced building heights
- Increases side yard setbacks for homes larger than 1.5 storeys
- Reduces lot coverage, adding a minimum landscaped open space in the front yard to allow for more green areas and an opportunity for water infiltration
- Allows for attached two-car garages on lots greater than 15 metres wide
In making these changes, council said it recognized that there may be allowable exemptions. As a result, it has allowed applications for minor variance to be submitted to the Committee of Adjustment. The committee will consider how proposals for a potential variance still maintain the intent of the zoning and preserve the character of the area.
The Neighbourhood Character Study was adopted after extensive public consultation and research, it said.
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