The City of Cambridge will attempt to correct an error made by planning staff back in 2015 when it gave permission to a developer to build semi-detached units on two properties not zoned for it.
During a public meeting Jan. 30, the city will initiate a zoning by-law amendment involving the properties at 214 and 216 Union Street North, and 229 and 231 Anne Street.
The city says the amendment is necessary to correct a compliance issue with the city’s zoning bylaw 150-85, resulting from errors made by City of Cambridge staff in the approval of a site plan and building permits issued for two existing semi-detached dwellings on Anne Street.
It was also a condition of a consent application approved in November 2023 by the committee of adjustment for 214 and 216 Union Street North.
Both properties were rezoned to RM3 with site specific provisions in 2015. The proposal at that time was to construct an apartment building on the lands.
A subsequent development plan containing 14 row houses fronting Duke Street and two semi-detached dwelling, one fronting Union Street and one fronting Anne Street, were granted site plan approval.
However, semi-detached dwellings are not a permitted land use in the RM3 zone.
Staff made an error in interpreting these two semi-detached dwellings as row houses.
Row houses are “a dwelling divided vertically to provide three or more dwelling units separated by common walls” (which are a permitted use).
Semi-detached dwellings are “a dwelling divided vertically to provide two dwelling units separated by common walls” (which are not a permitted use). This error was carried through further to the issuance of permits for these semi-detached dwellings.
A statutory public meeting has been scheduled for January 30 and a Notice of Complete Application and Public Meeting has been circulated to property owners within a 120 metre radius of the subject property.
Anyone with questions regarding the application is asked to contact planner Sancy Sebastian at [email protected].