9.       Sale of property - 351 Croydon Avenue

 

vente de propriété - 351 avenue croydon

 

 

Committee Recommendations

 

That Council:

 

1.      Declare the property shown hatched on Annex “A” attached, containing approximately 462 m2  (4,973.08 square feet), municipally known as 351 Croydon Avenue and described as lot 47, Registered Plan 348, City of Ottawa, as surplus to the City’s needs; and

 

2.   Approve the sale of the property detailed in Recommendation 1, subject to any easements that may be required to Urban Structure Properties Ltd. for the amount of $100,000 plus GST, pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale that has been received.

 

 

Recommandations du comité

 

Que le Conseil :

 

1.   Déclare excédentaire, par rapport aux besoins de la Ville, une propriété illustrée par la partie hachurée de l’annexe “A”, d’une superficie approximative de 462 m2 (4,973.08 pieds carrés), portant l’adresse municipale 351 avenue Croydon, désignée comme lot 47,  plan enregistré 348,  dans la ville d’Ottawa; et

 

2.   Approuve la vente de la propriété décrite à la recommandation 1, sous réserve des servitudes requises, à  Urban Structure Properties Ltd, pour la somme de 100,000 $ (TPS non comprise), conformément à une convention d’achat et de vente qui a été reçue.

 

 

Documentation

 

1.   Executive Director's report (Business Transformation Services) dated 27 February 2008 (ACS2008-BTS-RPM-0015).

 

Report to/Rapport au :

 

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

27 February 2008/ le 27 fevrier 2008

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Stephen A. Finnamore, Executive Director, Business Transformation Services/Directeur exécutif, Services de transformation des activités

 

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

Real Property Asset Management/Gestion des actifs des biens immobiliers

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

 

Bay / Baie (7)

Ref N°: ACS2008-BTS-RPM-0015

 

 

SUBJECT:

Sale of property – 351 Croydon Avenue

 

 

 

OBJET :

vente de propriété – 351 avenue croydon

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:

 

1.      Declare the property shown hatched on Annex “A” attached, containing approximately 462 m2  (4,973.08 square feet), municipally known as 351 Croydon Avenue and described as lot 47, Registered Plan 348, City of Ottawa, as surplus to the City’s needs; and

 

2.      Approve the sale of the property detailed in Recommendation 1, subject to any easements that may be required to Urban Structure Properties Ltd. for the amount of $100,000 plus GST, 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 excédentaire, par rapport aux besoins de la Ville, une propriété illustrée par la partie hachurée de l’annexe “A”, d’une superficie approximative de 462 m2 (4,973.08 pieds carrés), portant l’adresse municipale 351 avenue Croydon, désignée comme lot 47,  plan enregistré 348,  dans la ville d’Ottawa; et

 

2.   D’approuver la vente de la propriété décrite à la recommandation 1, sous réserve des servitudes requises, à  Urban Structure Properties Ltd, pour la somme de 100,000 $ (TPS non comprise), conformément à une convention d’achat et de vente qui a été reçue.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The subject property is a vacant parcel of land purchased in 1975 by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton (RMOC) for the Richmond Road reconstruction project. The property was later found to be surplus to RMOC requirements.  In 1999 the property was offered for sale to the abutting owners but no interest was expressed and the property remained in City ownership.   As a result of an inquiry, a new circulation to City Departments was initiated and the property was deemed to be surplus to the City’s requirements.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

A circulation was sent to all City departments and utility agencies in March 2006 to determine if there was any requirement for the property.  No City departments or utility agencies expressed any interest.  A circulation to external agencies also indicated no requirement.  

 

The property was advertised for sale in the City Page of The Citizen and Le Droit on 9 November 2007 and in the Community Newspaper.  The property was added to the list of properties for sale on the City website and a “For Sale” sign was erected on the property for a period of 22 days, from 9 November 2007 to 30 November 2007. An asking price of $110,000 was established for the property based on the findings of an independent appraisal and a further staff valuation update dated January 2008 estimating the market value at $100,000.  One offer was received but was well below the asking price and was rejected.  On 15 January 2008 we received an unconditional offer from Urban Structure Properties Ltd. in the amount of $100,000.   The subject offer is considered fair and reasonable and is recommended for acceptance.

 

The zoning designation for this property is CS1 – Shopping Centre Zone, City of Ottawa Zoning By-law 93-98 and permits a variety of non-commercial uses.  The subject property does not meet the minimum lot area requirement and the purchaser is aware of this deficiency that can be corrected by applying to the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance.  The zoning designation in the new proposed Comprehensive Zoning By-law is AM, Arterial Mainstreet Zone and permits a variety of non-residential and residential uses. The proposed zoning is comparable to the present zoning designation but is less restrictive and does not have a minimum lot area requirement.

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, Transit and the Environment, to determine if the property should be retained for a City mandated program.  The Environmental Sustainability Division of the Planning, Transit and the Environment Department was consulted with respect to the Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation Study 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 there is no plant requiring easement protection in the parcel being sold.

 

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)

Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC)

Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC)

 

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

 

The ward Councillor was made aware of the proposed sale and supports staff’s recommendation to sell the subject property.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The subject property does not include any known significant natural features and was not identified as part of a natural area during the Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation Study.  No natural environment implications are anticipated as a result of the sale of this land.

 

 

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 in a commercial zone and therefore does not meet the affordable housing criteria outlined in the Housing First Policy.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

This transaction represents revenue of $100,000 to the Corporation to be credited to the City’s Sale of Surplus Land Account.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

ANNEX A