The Saugeen Shores Committee of Adjustment has approved a minor variance that allows for fewer parking spaces than required for the expansion of the Canadian Tire store in Port Elgin.
Nov 18, 2025 •
The expansion of the Canadian Tire store in Port Elgin, located near the existing garden centre, will have 707 parking spaces instead of the 730 mandated by the Town’s Zoning Bylaw, following a minor variance granted by the Town’s Committee of Adjustment on Nov. 17. Photo by Town of Saugeen Shores
A minor variance granted by the Town of Saugeen Shores Committee of Adjustment after a public hearing on Nov. 17 permits Canadian Tire to proceed with its expansion proposal in Port Elgin with fewer parking spots than normally required. Additionally, committee members gave approval for zoning bylaw relief to facilitate a semi-detached residential project on Wellington St. in Port Elgin.
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The Committee of Adjustment (Co A) is an independent quasi-judicial body that makes decisions under the Planning Act regarding applications for minor variances, consents, and permissions to extend or enlarge legal non-conforming uses.
<p In a report from planner Julie Steeper, she explained that the minor variance application from Canadian Tire relates to an intended retail expansion at the northern end of their current location in Port Elgin. The project includes moving the garden centre to the northwest side of this new retail space, permanently eliminating 17 existing parking spots while temporarily removing another 20 spots during certain seasons.
The current bylaw requires a total of 730 parking spaces (which includes Walmart and Canadian Tire properties), while this proposal offers only 707 spaces (with 676 available seasonally). This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <p Steeper noted that previous concerns regarding a temporary soil storage area affecting Tim Horton’s drive-through traffic have been resolved. She indicated there is ample space on-site to support expanded commercial activities and mentioned that studies conducted showed that reducing parking would not negatively affect other businesses nearby-such as Tim Hortons and Walmart-or adjacent commercial or residential areas.
A minor variance approved by the Saugeen Shores Committee means that the Canadian Tire store’s expansion can proceed with just 707 parking spots instead of meeting the town’s requirement for 730.
Wellington St. minor variance</strong
After holding a public hearing, the Committee approved a minor variance allowing for construction of a duplex on Wellington St., proposed by Barry’s Construction and Insulation Ltd..</strong
This decision grants permission to reduce both minimum frontage requirements for semi-detached homes from 10m down to 9.1m and minimum interior side yard measurements from 1.2m down to 0.9m as stipulated in local bylaws.
In his planning report recommending this change due to it satisfying four key criteria, planner Jake Bousfield-Bastedo said once completed, if there are plans to sell each unit separately, an application will need to be submitted to divide this property along its shared wall into two lots... b>..A few committee members voiced concerns about reducing lot frontages to allow just over nine meters instead of ten meters as required..
Bousfield-Bastedo explained that maintaining minimum frontage standards helps ensure organized development and guarantees lots can be utilized effectively for their designated purposes. Other municipalities within Bruce County (like South Bruce and Brockton) permit semi-detached houses with frontages as small as seven point five meters.
He also highlighted how neighboring properties directly north already feature semi-detached homes at nine point one meters wide-indicating that’s adequate space for such dwellings.. This has not loaded yet; your article continues below. Alicia Komejan expressed her worries about privacy issues associated with housing density when she submitted feedback about potential impacts on her property next door saying she may face difficulties clearing snow from her roof or servicing her air conditioning unit once another home was constructed so close.< “(Having) two driveways instead of one will limit how much room there’ll be left over for snow placement-and more vehicles mean added congestion which could lead safety problems,” Komejan wrote noting further traffic risks along Wellington St., suggesting single-family residences might suit better rather than duplexes. Bousfield-Bastedo replied assuring some privacy challenges would hopefully be eased because plans call for constructing only single-story bungalows adding too little size needed here wouldn’t impede backyard access
Approval granted via minor variances allows building duplex structures along Wellington Street requiring lesser front & side yard setbacks.
The actions taken by those at The Committee Of Adjustments are final unless someone files an appeal within twenty days post-decision time frame typically lasting two weeks should anyone feel inclined enough go through Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) where these results could potentially see alterations made thereafter.
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The current bylaw requires a total of 730 parking spaces (which includes Walmart and Canadian Tire properties), while this proposal offers only 707 spaces (with 676 available seasonally). This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <p Steeper noted that previous concerns regarding a temporary soil storage area affecting Tim Horton’s drive-through traffic have been resolved. She indicated there is ample space on-site to support expanded commercial activities and mentioned that studies conducted showed that reducing parking would not negatively affect other businesses nearby-such as Tim Hortons and Walmart-or adjacent commercial or residential areas.
A minor variance approved by the Saugeen Shores Committee means that the Canadian Tire store’s expansion can proceed with just 707 parking spots instead of meeting the town’s requirement for 730.
Wellington St. minor variance</strong
After holding a public hearing, the Committee approved a minor variance allowing for construction of a duplex on Wellington St., proposed by Barry’s Construction and Insulation Ltd..</strong
This decision grants permission to reduce both minimum frontage requirements for semi-detached homes from 10m down to 9.1m and minimum interior side yard measurements from 1.2m down to 0.9m as stipulated in local bylaws.
In his planning report recommending this change due to it satisfying four key criteria, planner Jake Bousfield-Bastedo said once completed, if there are plans to sell each unit separately, an application will need to be submitted to divide this property along its shared wall into two lots... b>..A few committee members voiced concerns about reducing lot frontages to allow just over nine meters instead of ten meters as required..
Bousfield-Bastedo explained that maintaining minimum frontage standards helps ensure organized development and guarantees lots can be utilized effectively for their designated purposes. Other municipalities within Bruce County (like South Bruce and Brockton) permit semi-detached houses with frontages as small as seven point five meters.He also highlighted how neighboring properties directly north already feature semi-detached homes at nine point one meters wide-indicating that’s adequate space for such dwellings.. This has not loaded yet; your article continues below. Alicia Komejan expressed her worries about privacy issues associated with housing density when she submitted feedback about potential impacts on her property next door saying she may face difficulties clearing snow from her roof or servicing her air conditioning unit once another home was constructed so close.< “(Having) two driveways instead of one will limit how much room there’ll be left over for snow placement-and more vehicles mean added congestion which could lead safety problems,” Komejan wrote noting further traffic risks along Wellington St., suggesting single-family residences might suit better rather than duplexes. Bousfield-Bastedo replied assuring some privacy challenges would hopefully be eased because plans call for constructing only single-story bungalows adding too little size needed here wouldn’t impede backyard access
Approval granted via minor variances allows building duplex structures along Wellington Street requiring lesser front & side yard setbacks.
The actions taken by those at The Committee Of Adjustments are final unless someone files an appeal within twenty days post-decision time frame typically lasting two weeks should anyone feel inclined enough go through Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) where these results could potentially see alterations made thereafter.Source link
