An application to sever a portion of property on a residential street has started a dispute amongst neighbours in Lawrence Park.

Five residents on Bayview Wood have appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) after a neighbour submitted a request to sever their property and build another house.

The Committee of Adjustment — a group of citizens that considers applications for minor variances, permission and consents — ruled in favour of the homeowner.

“The neighbours have been encouraged [by city planning officials] to take this to the OMB and that is the next step,” said local councillor Jaye Robinson.

City of Toronto Planning officials say that this area of Lawrence Park has a long documented history of extreme flooding, and the neighbours who live there are very in tune with what’s happening in the neighbourhood.

“There are five immediate neighbours that have opposed it, and none of them were in favour of the severance because four of the five have severe problems with drainage on their properties,” said Robinson. 

A lack of grass and soft landscaping has created problems across the city. With nowhere for the water to go, Robinson explained, it often ends up in neighbours’ basements.

Other concerns the group of neighbours is addressing include the size of the proposed house as well as a rear laneway they feel will disrupt the form of the landscape.

If the OMB ultimately decides to honour the Committee of Adjustment ruling, than that is a final decision.

The city recently approved a  local appeal body (LAB) for Toronto that will consist of three citizens. It will be sought out for appeals such as this and other minor variances after a Committee of Adjustment ruling.

The hope for the LAB is to eventually abolish the need for the OMB in Toronto and for more decisions to be made locally.  

The neighbours involved have declined to comment but confirmed they are waiting for an OMB court date.