3.       SALE OF LAND – Part of Lane rear of 244 Harmer avenue south


VENTE DE TERRAIN – partie d’allÉe – arriÈre du 244, AVENUE harmer SUD

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Council:

 

1.                  Declare a vacant parcel of land shown on Annex “A” attached, containing approximately 30 m2, described as being part of the lane on Registered Plan 207509, located at the rear of 244 Harmer Avenue south, in the City of Ottawa, subject to final survey and subject to the lane being stopped up and closed by by-law, as surplus to the City’s needs;

 

2.                  Approve the sale of the land detailed in Recommendation 1, subject to any easements that may be required, to William Mark Shewchuk and Karen Elizabeth McIntyre, for the amount of $4,844, pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale that has been received.

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS DU COMITÉ

 

Que le Conseil :

 

1.                  déclare un terrain vacant illustré sur l’annexe « A » ci-jointe, d’une superficie approximative de 30 m2, décrit comme faisant partie de l’allée sur le plan enregistré 207509 et situé à l’arrière du 244, avenue Harmer Sud, dans la ville d’Ottawa, sous réserve du levé final et de la fermeture de la rue par voie de règlement municipal, comme excédentaire aux besoins de la Ville;

 

2.                  approuve la vente du terrain décrit à la Recommandation 1, sous réserve de toute servitude pouvant être requise, à William Mark Shewchuk et Karen Elizabeth McIntyre, pour un montant de 4 844 $, conformément à une convention d’achat et de vente reçue.

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENTATION

 

1.                  Chief Corporate Services Officer’s report dated 23 May 2006
(ACS2006-CRS-RPM-0027).

Report to/Rapport au :

 

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

23 May 2006/ le 23 mai 2006

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Greg Geddes, Chief Corporate Services Officer/

Chef des Services généraux

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Gordon MacNair, Acting Manager, Real Estate Services

Real Property Asset Management/ Gestionnaire par intérim, Services immobiliers, Gestion des biens immobiliers

(613) 580-2424 x 21217, Gordon.MacNair@ottawa.ca

 

Kitchissippi (15)

Ref N°: ACS2006-CRS-RPM-0027

 

 

SUBJECT:

SALE OF LAND – Part of Lane rear of 244 Harmer avenue south

 

 

OBJET :

VENTE DE TERRAIN – partie d’allÉe – arriÈre du 244, avenue harmer sud

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.         Declare a vacant parcel of land shown on Annex “A” attached, containing approximately 30 m2, described as being part of the lane on Registered Plan 207509, located at the rear of 244 Harmer Avenue south, in the City of Ottawa, subject to final survey and subject to the lane being stopped up and closed by by-law, as surplus to the City’s needs;

 

2.         Approve the sale of the land detailed in Recommendation 1, subject to any easements that may be required, to William Mark Shewchuk and Karen Elizabeth McIntyre, for the amount of $4,844, pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale that has been received.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil :

 

1.         De déclarer un terrain vacant illustré sur l’annexe « A » ci-jointe, d’une superficie approximative de 30 m2, décrit comme faisant partie de l’allée sur le plan enregistré 207509 et situé à l’arrière du 244, avenue Harmer Sud, dans la ville d’Ottawa, sous réserve du levé final et de la fermeture de la rue par voie de règlement municipal, comme excédentaire aux besoins de la Ville;

 

2.         D’approuver la vente du terrain décrit à la Recommandation 1, sous réserve de toute servitude pouvant être requise, à William Mark Shewchuk et Karen Elizabeth McIntyre, pour un montant de 4 844 $, conformément à une convention d’achat et de vente reçue.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The subject property is part of a lane located to the rear of 244 Harmer Avenue south, located on the west side of the street between Harmer Avenue south and Fairfax Avenue.  The portion of the lane to be closed contains an area of approximately 30 m2. 

 

The subject lane is not maintained by the City and is not required for vehicular access by the City or any adjoining properties.  The purchaser is proposing to construct a new garage on the property.

 

The application submitted to the Planning and Growth Management Department to close the lane at the rear of 244 Harmer Avenue South has been approved, subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. Notice of the proposed closing shall be given in accordance with By-law 2002-522;

 

  1. A conveyance of a closed road shall be at current market value in accordance with By-law 2002-38;

 

  1. The applicant/purchaser(s) will be responsible for all costs of the road closing and sale, including the application fee (which includes the cost of advertising/giving notice), survey/reference plan, appraisal (if any), removal of encumbrances (if any), registration of documents, land transfer tax and GST (if applicable);

 

  1. That prior to the enactment of the closing by-law, the applicant shall provide the following material to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor:

 

                                             i.            The applicant/purchaser(s) shall have provided to the City Solicitor a plan of survey/reference, showing the lane, or portion thereof, to be closed, the parcels of land therein to be conveyed to all parties, any existing or required utility easements and a registerable legal description of all such parcels of land, to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor;

 

                                           ii.            The applicant/purchaser(s) of all closed portions of the lane being sold shall have provided to the City Solicitor, written confirmation that any zoning violation which may result from the closing, will be the applicant/purchaser(s) responsibility to remedy,

 

                                          iii.            A binding Agreement(s) of Purchase and Sale shall have been entered into by the City and the applicant/purchaser(s) for the closed road; and

 

                                         iv.            A utility easement is required for overhead utilities and shall be provided to the satisfaction of Hydro Ottawa.

 

  1. Should the conditions in Paragraph 4 above not be fulfilled within one (1) year of the date of approval of the road closing application, the approval of the road closing application shall be null and void.

 

  1. The Municipal Act provides that the closing by-law enacted by City Council does not take effect until registered on title.  If the City is selling the closed road, the by-law will not be registered on title until such time, as the conveyance of the closed road is to be completed pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

An agreement has been reached with the abutting owners, William M. Shewchuk and Karen E. C McIntyre, to purchase the subject portion of lane.  The parcel is shown on the attached Annex “A” and is legally described as part of the lane lying at the rear of Lot 434 Harmer Avenue south, Registered Plan 207509.  The agreement is subject to the conditions of the road closing approval and any easements that may be required.

 

The zoning of the City property is R1J – Residential – Detached House Zone.  The intended use by the purchaser is the consolidation with the abutting property known as 244 Harmer Avenue south, for the construction of a new garage.  The use is consistent with the current zoning.  Rezoning is not being contemplated.

 

The market value of the lane is $4,844 and is within the market value range, established by an independent appraisal report.  The purchasers, pursuant to the conditions of the road closing approval, are also responsible for the City’s appraisal costs, in the amount of $535 for a total amount of $5,379.

 

The offer is considered fair and reasonable and is recommended for acceptance.

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

In accordance with policies approved by City Council on 14 November 2001, the availability of the property was circulated to all client City Departments, including the Housing Branch, Public Works and Services and Planning and Growth Management, to determine if the parcel should be retained for a City mandated program.  The Environmental Management Group of the Planning and Growth Management Services Department was consulted with respect to the Greenspace Master Plan and their comments are indicated under the Environmental Implications section of this report.  Neither the Housing Branch nor any other City Department expressed interest in retaining the property.

 

The utility companies were also circulated and no requirements were indicated.

 

The following Advisory Committees have been circulated:

 

Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC)

Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee (OFGAC)

Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC)

Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee (RCAC)

 

No concerns were expressed with respect to the sale of the subject property to the abutting owner.

 

The ward Councillor has been made aware of the intent to dispose of the subject property through circulation and supports staff’s recommendation.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

A review of the City’s mapping of natural features and greenspace objectives, as identified in the City’s Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation and draft Greenspace Master Plan, indicates that the proposed sale of this property does not involve natural or greenspace network area.  Environmental impacts are not expected as a result of this decision.

 

 

HOUSING FIRST POLICY

 

The Official Plan policy directs that the City make land available for affordable housing and give priority for the sale or lease of surplus City-owned property for this purpose. 

 

The Housing First Policy, approved by Council on 13 July 2005, establishes priority consideration to the Housing Branch in the identification of potentially surplus City-owned property, to be used in achieving the City’s affordable housing program targets.  The policy also requires that the Official Plan target of 25% affordable housing, be met on any City-owned property sold for residential development.  Where viable, residential properties are disposed of without a condition requiring an affordable housing component, 25% of the proceeds from the sale are to be credited to a housing fund to be used for the development of affordable housing elsewhere in the City.

 

The subject is a non-viable residential property and therefore does not meet the affordable housing criteria outlined in the Housing First Policy.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

This transaction represents revenue of $4,844 to the Corporation and will be credited to the City’s Sale of Surplus Land Account together with reimbursement of appraisal costs in the amount of $535.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Attached, as Annex "A" is a sketch showing the surplus property.

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

Following Council’s approval, Real Property Asset Management and Legal Services Branches will finalize the transaction.