Navigating Lawrence Avenue West A Dual-Track Victory in Design, Zoning & Daycare Approvals
Inside SODA: Navigating 1630 Lawrence Avenue West — A Dual-Track Victory in Design, Zoning & Daycare Approvals
How a hidden by-law, a tight timeline, and two simultaneous approval processes became one of SODA’s strongest wins.
Every project has a moment where the unexpected surfaces and tests the strength of your team. At 1630 Lawrence Avenue West, a daycare project in Toronto spanning a proposed 580 m² of preschool and toddler programming, that moment arrived right after permit submission.
This project - central, ambitious, and tightly coordinated—was already a finely tuned collaboration between our architectural, mechanical, and electrical teams. But what makes it an important chapter for Inside SODA is how it evolved into a case study in adaptation, municipal navigation, and client advocacy.
The Hidden By-law No One Could See Coming
After our permit was submitted, the City uncovered an old Scarborough by-law tucked away in archived records, one that capped daycare floor area at 480 m² and required playground fencing to sit 6 metres back from the street.
These weren’t modern, commonly referenced standards. They were legacy rules buried deep within archival texts, and not part of the readily accessible frameworks architects are normally responsible for reviewing.
Our design contemplated a 580 m² program and a 3-metre fenced setback - larger, more functional, and perfectly suited for the centre's needs. When the by-law surfaced, our clients were incredibly understanding. They recognized that archived municipal regulations aren’t within typical architectural purview, and they trusted us to navigate the path forward.
Winning Round One: The 480 m² Building Permit
Rather than delay progress, we pivoted.
We adjusted the submission to comply with the historic limits - 480 m² and a 6-metre setback - and coordinated full architectural, mechanical, and electrical drawings to secure a timely permit.
Toronto issued the building permit without delay.
But we didn’t stop there.
Running a Second Track: The Minor Variance for What the Project Really Needed
In parallel with the approved 480 m² design, we prepared a formal Minor Variance application to:
Increase the allowable area from 480 m² → 580 m², and
Reduce the fence setback from 6 m → 3 m.
Throughout this process, our office simultaneously managed communication with multiple City departments, Committee of Adjustment staff, planners, and our consulting team - keeping both approval tracks aligned and moving.
When the hearing arrived, we anticipated comments, conditions, or negotiation.
Instead, we received something better.
A Rare Outcome: Zero Comments, Full Support, First-Round Approval
The Committee of Adjustment and councillors described our submission as a “very strong application.”
There were:
No deferrals
No requested revisions
No pushback
The application was approved exactly as submitted:
580 m² of daycare programming and a 3-metre fenced setback, just as originally envisioned.
This was a significant win not only for our client, but for the overall design intent - allowing the centre to operate with the space and functionality it truly needed.
The Final Step: Updating the Building Permit
With the minor variance approved, we immediately moved to amend the original building permit. That amendment is now in the final stages of issuance, completing the full arc of this project:
Original permit → Minor variance → Permit amendment.
A complete, coordinated, and successful sequence.
Why Lawrence Avenue West Matters
This project embodies the core of what we strive for at SODA:
Strong municipal navigation
Clear communication with clients and consultants
Quick adaptation to unforeseen challenges
A commitment to the design vision - even through regulatory constraints
We’re proud that we not only delivered the initial permit on time, but also secured a first-round variance approval that expanded the project to its full potential.
Lawrence Avenue West stands as a reminder that great architecture is not only about designing spaces - it’s about navigating systems, solving problems, and championing our clients’ goals at every step.