One of the items in tomorrow’s Committee of Adjustment meeting is an application from Derry Scott development (northwest plaza) to:

• Put 14 fewer parking spots than required
• Reduce the rear yard setback by 50% (building will be closer to homes)
• Bring parking area closer to buildings
• Put loading bay door facing the street without having to screen it (right now loading docks are not allowed to face the street, unless they are screened)
• No designated loading area for one of the buildings
• Increase allowed square footage

Basically they want to have more square footage with reduced parking and fewer urban design requirements.  Where do people park if there are not enough parking spaces?  Do people want to see loading bay doors from the street?  What about the minimum setback? 

We should be raising minimum requirements from commercial developers, not reducing them. 

(Shameless plug: this is why it is so important to have councillors from your own areas, precisely why Milton divided itself into different ‘wards’.  That way councillors have a vested interest in working for their own neighbourhoods.  I really do work for all of us, even though I am not in the Council yet).