1. WAIVER TO THE PRIVATE APPROACH BY-LAW 2003-447 FOR 500 PRESTON STREET

DÉROGATION AU RÈGLEMENT 2003-447 SUR LES VOIES D’ACCÈS PRIVÉES POUR LE 500, RUE PRESTON, À OTTAWA

Committee recommendationS

That Council approve the waiver of Provision 25(l)(iii) of Private Approach By-law 2003-447 for 500 Preston Street, to permit two private approaches leading to the same property to be located within 15 metres of one another.

RecommandationS du Comité

Que le Conseil approuve la dérogation à la disposition 25(1)(iii) du Règlement en matière de voies d’accès privées 2003-447 pour le 500, rue Preston afin de permettre deux voies d’accès privées, situées à moins de 15 mètres l’une de l’autre, menant à la même propriété.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager’s report (Public Works and Services) dated 8 June 2007 (ACS2007-PWS-TRF-0014).

Report to/Rapport au :

Transportation Committee

Comité des transports

and Council / et au Conseil

8 June 2007 / le 8 juin 2007

Submitted by/Soumis par :

R.G. Hewitt, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint

Public Works and Services/Services et Travaux publics 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Michael J. Flainek, M.Eng., P.Eng., Director/Directeur

Traffic and Parking Operations/Circulation de stationnement

(613) 580-2424 x 26882, Michael.Flainek@ottawa.ca

Somerset (14)

Ref N°: ACS2007-PWS-TRF-0014

SUBJECT:	WAIVER TO THE PRIVATE APPROACH BY-LAW 2003-447 FOR 500 PRESTON STREET
OBJET :	DÉROGATION AU RÈGLEMENT 2003-447 SUR LES VOIES D’ACCÈS PRIVÉES POUR LE 500, RUE PRESTON, À OTTAWA

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That Transportation Committee recommend Council approve the waiver of Provision 25(l)(iii) of Private Approach By-law 2003-447 for 500 Preston Street, to permit two private approaches leading to the same property to be located within 15 metres of one another.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des transports recommande au Conseil d’approuver la dérogation à la disposition 25(1)(iii) du Règlement en matière de voies d’accès privées 2003-447 pour le 500, rue Preston afin de permettre deux voies d’accès privées, situées à moins de 15 mètres l’une de l’autre, menant à la même propriété.

BACKGROUND

The subject property is located on the northwest corner of the Preston Street and Sidney Street intersection and is currently used as a surface parking area with a capacity of approximately 40 vehicles. There is a Site Plan Control Application to permit the construction of a 19-storey mixed use building containing retail, office space and residential condominiums with 67 parking spaces at this site. Sixty-one of the parking spaces will be located in the underground parking garage, which will be serviced by a Private Approach on the Preston Street frontage, whereas the remaining six at-grade parking spaces will be serviced by a Private Approach on the Sidney Street frontage. Additionally, there is a proposed private approach leading to a loading/garbage entry on the Sidney Street frontage.

Based on the proposed use, and the number of parking spaces at the subject property, Provision 25(l)(iii) of the Private Approach By-law 2003-447 requires that any two private approaches leading to the property be separated by a minimum of 15 metres. The applicant has proposed to construct one two-way approach leading to six at-grade parking spaces and an adjacent one-way private approach leading to a loading/garbage entry on the Sidney Street frontage and one two-way private approach on the Preston Street frontage. Due to the configuration of the site, the private approaches on the Sidney Street frontage would be located within 4.5 metres of one another and are, therefore, in contravention of the By-law. The applicant has contacted the Safety and Traffic Services Division to seek support for a waiver to the Private Approach By-law.

The applicant has submitted a Traffic Impact Brief (Document 1) requesting that staff support a waiver to the Private Approach By-law.

DISCUSSION

Of the 67 parking spaces for the subject property, only six of these spaces will be accessed by the private approach on the Sidney Street frontage. It is expected that these spaces will generate approximately four vehicle trips in during the peak hour and significantly less during all other hours. The loading/garbage entry will only be accessed for weekly waste and recycle pick-up except, in extenuating circumstances, where bi-weekly pick-up is required. The loading/garbage entry will also be used for office and residential move-in/out which will be infrequent. The private approach leading to the loading/garbage entry will be inaccessible when not in use, as there will be an overhead door that will normally be closed. Based on the above information, the private approaches are not expected to cause a safety nor a traffic issue.

CONSULTATION

Staff in the Planning, Transit and the Environment Department have circulated the design as a Site Plan Application, and support the waiver of the Private Approach By-law. The Ward Councillor is also in support of the waiver.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications applicable to the Operating or Capital budget associated with this report.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1- Traffic Impact Brief

DISPOSITION

The Department of Public Works and Services will advise the applicant of Council’s decision.     

DOCUMENT 1

TRAFFIC IMPACT BRIEF