Committee of Adjustment Approves Variances for Food Bank Store at 110 Fifth Avenue in Cochrane

The Committee of Adjustment for the Town of Cochrane approved a minor variance application submitted by Cochrane Food Bank Inc for the property at 110 Fifth Avenue, according to an official notice dated July 17, 2025. The committee’s decision followed a public hearing held on July 16, 2025. The last date for appealing the decision is August 5, 2025, as stated in the notice.

This approval allows for the construction of a mercantile store and storage area on the site with zoning adjustments. Approved changes include an interior side yard setback of 0.076 metres (three inches) where the standard is 1.2 metres, a lot area of 440 square metres rather than the required 465 square metres, and a lot frontage of 10 metres instead of the usual 15 metres.

The Committee reported that its decision considered Section 45 of the Planning Act, the Official Plan of the Town of Cochrane, the characteristics of the property and surrounding area, a planning report dated July 4, 2025, correspondence, and the information presented during the hearing.

According to the notice, appeals may be filed by individuals, corporations, or public bodies by submitting a written notice of appeal, including reasons and the prescribed fee, to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment at Town Hall by August 5, 2025. The Ontario Land Tribunal further specifies that unincorporated associations or groups cannot file appeals themselves, but individual members may appeal in their own names. If no appeal is filed within the period, the decision becomes final and binding.