The city's planning committee has voted to allow a duplex at 931 Pinecrest Rd. to be converted to a triplex.

That decision comes in spite of strong objections from a local community association and private residents who say the area is rife with such conversions - many illegal.

The committee also attached a condition to its approval, compelling the owner, Adib Saad, to present plans for exterior alterations to the property before the by-law alteration goes to city council for a final decision.

A report from city planning staff notes that, although the 931 property is zoned as a duplex, it houses six two-bedroom apartments. Recent inspections show two are occupied, though the owner had rented a third to be occupied May 1.

Public presentations to the committee brought out a list of complaints, including the fact that city staff were recommending refusal of the owner's application for four units but also suggesting that he be allowed to operate a triplex.

Henry Sweich, president of the Queensway Terrace North Community Association, asked committee members to strike that recommendation.

"Our association has been misled, our residents misinformed and due process of the application abused," he said in a written submission.

From first notice of the application in January, Mr. Sweich added, to a May public meeting on the issue and, finally, to committee, residents were told the rezoning request was to allow four units.

"Our community was not made aware of an R3 zoning alternative," he wrote, "there is no R3 application filed, thus there has been no public feedback on it."

Under city policies, public consultation and notification are required for rezoning applications.

As part of its decision, the committee has said it will not undertake further public consultation on the by-law revision.

The committee also opted to not undertake further consultation.

In his verbal submission, Mr. Sweich re-iterated local concerns about parking on the site.  Aside from obstructed views for tenants, he said, parking prohibitions on Pinecrest and adjacent streets leave no room for guest parking.

"Enough is enough," said Pinecrest Rd. Resident Geoffrey Sharpe, noting that he has spotted more than 20 similar, illegal conversions within a half mile of 931 Pinecrest; identifiable by extra mailboxes or tenant name plates.

"The owners of 931 deserve nothing more than they are legally allowed to have on that site," he said.

As a result of the problem, Mr. Sharpe added, residents look upon the city "as being one of the principle threats to the integrity of our neighbourhood."

Laurence Baird, who lives at 927 Pinecrest and opposes the rezoning, said guests and tenants of the building have blocked his driveway and that there is inadequate storage for tenants' garbage.

Angelo Spadola, an architect and agent for Mr. Saad, said the application conforms to intensification goals in the city's Official Plan.

"This project is definitely one the committee should approve," he said. "It is in keeping with the neighbourhood."

As committee members debated the item, Coun. Gord Hunter suggested that approval be conditional on Mr. Saad providing three parking spaces.

City staff at the meeting responded that the site could not hold three spots.

"Put it on the roof," quipped Coun. Georges Bedard.

"There's a very clear message coming from the community," said Bay ward city Coun. Alex Cullen who, along with Coun. Bedard, dissented with committee's approval.