1.             BEECHWOOD CEMETERY VIEW PROTECTION - OFFICIAL PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENT

 

LA PROTECTION DES VUES DU CIMITIÈRE BEECHWOOD – MODIFICATION DU PLAN OFFICIEL ET DU RÈGLEMENT DE ZONAGE

 

 

Committee recommendations as amended

 

(This matter is subject to Bill 51)

 

That Council:

 

1.                  Approve the proposed changes to the Zoning By-law 2008-250 as detailed in Document 2-10 with the exception of 222 Beechwood Avenue, which will be considered on November 14, 2008.

 

2.                  Approve the proposed changes to the former City of Ottawa Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

3.                  Approve the proposed changes to the former Village of Rockcliffe Park Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

4.         Approve the Official Plan Amendment as contained in Document 11.

 

Recommandations modifiÉeS du Comité

 

(Cette question est assujettie au Règlement 51)

 

Que le Conseil :

 

1.                  approuve les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage 2008-250, comme il est expliqué en détail dans les Documents 2 à 10; sauf pour ce qui concerne la propriété située au 222, avenue Beechwood, qui fera l’objet d’un examen le 14 novembre 2008;

 

2.                  approuve les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage de l’ancienne Ville d’Ottawa, comme il est expliqué en détail dans les Documents 2 à 10;

 

3.                  approuve les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage de l’ancien Village de Rockcliffe Park, comme il est expliqué en détail dans les Documents 2 à 10;

 

4.         approuve la modification au Plan officiel, telle qu’elle est exposée dans le Document 11.

 

Documentation

 

1.                  Deputy City Manager's report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, dated 14 October 2008 (ACS2008-ICS-PLA-0216).

 

2.         Extract of Draft Minutes, 28 October 2008.


Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

14 October 2008/14 octobre 2008

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager

Directrice municipale adjointe,

Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability

Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

 

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Richard Kilstrom, Manager/Gestionnaire, Community Planning and Design/Aménagement et conception communautaire, Planning Branch/Direction de l’urbanisme

(613) 580-2424 x22653, Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

 

Rideau-Vanier (12), Rideau-Rockcliffe (13), Somerset (14)

Ref N°: ACS2008-ICS-PLA-0216

 

 

SUBJECT:

BEECHWOOD CEMETERY VIEW PROTECTION - OFFICIAL PLAN AND ZONING

 

 

OBJET :

La protection des vues du cimetiÈre beechwood –plan officiel et zonage

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.         Approve the proposed changes to the Zoning By-law 2008-250 as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

2.         Approve the proposed changes to the former City of Ottawa Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

3.         Approve the proposed changes to the former City of Vanier Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

4.         Approve the proposed changes to the former Village of Rockcliffe Park Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

5.         Approve the Official Plan Amendment as contained in Document 11.

 

 

 

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement recommande au Conseil :

 

1.         d’approuver les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage 2008-250, comme il est expliqué en détail dans les Documents 2 à 10;

 

2.         d’approuver les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage de l’ancienne Ville d’Ottawa, comme il est expliqué en détail dans les Documents 2 à 10;

 

3.         d’approuver les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage de l’ancienne Ville de Vanier, comme il est expliqué en détail dans le Document 2 et indiqué dans les Documents 2 à 10;

 

4.         d’approuver les modifications proposées au Règlement de zonage de l’ancien Village de Rockcliffe Park, comme il est expliqué en détail dans les Documents 2 à 10;

 

4.                  d’approuver la modification au Plan officiel, telle qu’elle est exposée dans le Document 11.

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

Assumptions and Analysis:

 

This report recommends approval of an Official Plan amendment that provides the policy framework for the protection of the existing views of Parliament Hill from two locations in Beechwood Cemetery – the Tommy Douglas Memorial and Poet’s Hill. It also recommends approval of the zoning changes required to ensure the views are protected.

 

Council directed staff to undertake this work in the staff report for the Beechwood Community Design Plan. There is a strong tradition in Ottawa for protecting the views of our national symbols like the Parliament Buildings. The first step was the preparation of a detailed and accurate 3D Model of the viewshed. All existing buildings and maximum permitted building heights were plotted onto the Model and it was determined that the maximum building height of the following properties needed to be reduced:

 

 

For other properties, the building height was increased because it was determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

Financial Implications:

 

N/A

 

Public Consultation/Input:

 

Staff consulted with owner representatives of all the properties affected by the zoning changes. Discussions and verbal responses indicated that there are no major concerns with the proposed amendments.

 

RÉSUMÉ

 

Hypothèses et analyse :

 

Le présent rapport recommande d’approuver une modification au Plan officiel qui établit le cadre stratégique de la protection des vues sur la colline du Parlement depuis deux endroits dans le Cimetière Beechwood, soit le monument commémoratif de Tommy Douglas et l’Aire des poètes. Il est également recommandé d’approuver les modifications au zonage nécessaires pour assurer la protection des vues.

 

Le Conseil a chargé le personnel d’approuver ces modifications dans le rapport du personnel du Plan de conception communautaire de Beechwood. Il existe, à Ottawa, une tradition de longue date qui permet d’assurer la protection des vues sur les symboles nationaux comme les édifices du Parlement. La première étape consistait à préparer un modèle tridimensionnel détaillé et précis du panorama. Tous les édifices existants figuraient dans le modèle, et selon la hauteur maximale autorisée des édifices, il a été déterminé que la hauteur maximale des propriétés suivantes devait être réduite :

 

 

La hauteur des autres édifices a été augmentée, car il a été déterminé que la hauteur maximale autorisée (établie dans le Plan de conception communautaire de Beechwood) est adéquate pour ces édifices car ils ne cachent pas le panorama.

 

Répercussions financières :

 

S.O

 

Consultation publique / commentaires :

 

Le personnel a consulté les représentants des propriétaires de l’ensemble des propriétés touchées par les modifications au zonage. À la lumière des discussions, il semble n’y avoir aucune préoccupation importante quant aux modifications proposées.

BACKGROUND

 

The purpose of the amendments is to establish a policy framework and zoning regulations necessary to protect the views of Parliament Hill from two points within Beechwood Cemetery – the Tommy Douglas Memorial and Poet’s Hill. Representatives of Beechwood Cemetery first presented this concept to Councillor Legendre and Councillor Bédard and to the Steering Committee established for the Beechwood Community Design Plan project in the summer of 2006. The Steering Committee and City Council agreed that there was merit in this concept and modified the Beechwood Community Design Plan so that the new provisions would not establish development guidelines that might affect the viewshed. As a result, the following recommendations were adopted by City Council on September 27, 2006:

 

 

View from Poet’s Hill at Beechwood Cemetery

 

Existing Planning Framework for View Protection

 

The concept of protecting views of our national symbols has a strong tradition in Ottawa. Work started in the early 1990s by the National Capital Commission and the City of Ottawa. It culminated in the adoption of a planning framework by the former City of Ottawa and the adoption of those same policies in the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa (2003). Section 3.6.6 of the Official Plan establishes the policy framework for protecting views of Parliament Hill and other national symbols. The cornerstone policy states:

 

 

 

“The City will support the Central Area’s role as the…symbolic heart of the nation by protecting the visual integrity and symbolic primacy of the Parliament Buildings and other national symbols as seen from Confederation Boulevard and the main approach routes to the Central Area…”

 

Annex 8A of the Official Plan describes the location of the key fixed viewpoints and identifies viewpoints and view sequences, maximum building heights and foreground control planes on a series of maps.

 

In November 2007, the National Capital Commission published “Canada’s Capital Views Protection”, a study that summarized the work done to date in partnership with the City of Ottawa, du Toit Allsopp Hillier and the Centre for Landscape Research at the University of Toronto.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Overall Approach

The overall approach to view protection is based on a model of the viewshed as prepared by the Surveys and Mapping Division of the City of Ottawa. The two viewpoints were geographically identified and a viewshed from both points was extended across the existing built fabric of the city to the base of Parliament Hill. An accurate, geographically referenced 3D Model was prepared and the maximum building heights as contained in By-law 2008-250 and in the Zoning By-laws for the former municipalities were plotted onto the Model. This information was used to determine if any existing buildings or maximum building heights encroached into the viewshed. Based on this detailed analysis, it was determined that the following properties will require downzoning:

 

 

Staff met with owner representatives for each of the above, explained the concept and showed the extent of the downzoning.

 

Recommendation 1

 

Recommendation 1 is to approve the proposed changes to By-law 2008-250 based on the Details of Recommended Zoning contained in Documents 2-10. The following is a summary of the properties affected:

 

280 Beechwood Avenue (Beechwood Cemetery)

The maximum building height within the affected portion of the Cemetery lands will be reduced from 11.0 metres to 1.5 metres. This will require that if and when Beechwood Cemetery builds new buildings and structures, they will be required to avoid the portion of land within the viewshed as shown in Document 3.

 

 

256 King Edward Avenue (The Shepherds of Good Hope)

The maximum building height will be reduced from approximately 12 storeys (36.6 metres) to eight storeys (24 metres). Staff are not concerned with this downzoning as the present owners (the Shepherds of Good Hope) will be able to achieve their business objective of adding a fourth storey to the existing three storey building.

 

231 Clarence Street  (Condominium Corporation 664)

The maximum building height will be reduced from approximately 12 storeys (36.6 metres) to eight storeys (24 metres). Staff is not concerned with this downzoning as the likelihood of the existing owners (Condominium Corporation 664) tearing down the existing, recently built building and replacing it with something in the order of 12 storeys is remote.

 

384 Wellington Street (The National Capital Commission and Public Works Canada)

The maximum building height will be reduced from approximately 35 storeys (176 metres above sea level) to 12 storeys (108 meters metres above sea level). Staff are not concerned with this change as it is not realistic or desirable to replace the existing park, Garden of the Provinces and the land beside it with a high rise building.

 

11 Champlain Avenue

The maximum building height will be increased from approximately three and one half storeys (11 metres) to five storeys (15 metres). This is being done because it has been determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

222 Beechwood Avenue

The maximum building height will be increased from approximately three storeys (10 metres) to five storeys (15 metres). This is being done because it has been determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

260 Beechwood Avenue

The maximum building height will be increased from approximately three storeys (10 metres) to five storeys (15 metres). This is being done because it has been determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

2 Acacia Avenue

The maximum building height will be increased from approximately three and one half storeys (11 metres) to four storeys (12.5 metres). This is being done because it has been determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

207 Beechwood Avenue

The maximum building height will be increased from approximately three and one half storeys (11 metres) to four storeys (12.5 metres). This is being done because it has been determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

229-231 Beechwood Avenue

The maximum building height will be increased from approximately three and one half storeys (11 metres) to four storeys (12.5 metres). This is being done because it has been determined that the maximum building height, as described in the Beechwood Community Design Plan, can be achieved without encroaching into the viewshed.

 

Recommendation 2

 

Recommendation 2 is to approve the proposed changes to the former City of Ottawa Zoning By-law based on the Details of Recommended Zoning as contained in Document 2-10. The properties affected are 280 Beechwood Avenue, 256 King Edward Avenue, 231 Clarence Street, 384 Wellington Street, 11 Champlain Avenue and the effects are identical to those mentioned in Recommendation 1 of this section.

 

Recommendation 3

 

Recommendation 3 is to approve the proposed changes to the former City of Vanier Zoning By-law based on the Details of Recommended Zoning contained in Document 2-10. The properties affected are 222 and 260 Beechwood Avenue and the effects are identical to those mentioned in Recommendation 1 of this section.

 

Recommendation 4

 

Recommendation 4 is to approve the proposed changes to the former Village of Rockcliffe Park Zoning By-law based on the Details of Recommended Zoning contained in Document 2-10. The properties affected are 2 Acacia Avenue and 207, 229 and 231 Beechwood Avenue and the effects are identical to those mentioned in Recommendation 1 of this section.

 

Recommendation 5

 

Recommendation 5 is to approve the Official Plan Amendment as contained in Document 11. The effect of the amendment is to add a new Annex 12 to the Official Plan that identifies the Viewshed Area and to add the following policy at the appropriate places in the Official Plan:

 

“The City will protect the views of the Parliament Buildings from two locations in Beechwood Cemetery. The view area, or viewshed, and the two locations, the Tommy Douglas Memorial and Poet’s Hill, are identified in Annex 12. A building or structure is deemed to obstruct the view if it visually blocks the foreground view or visually mars the background silhouette view of the Parliament Buildings.

a)      For each property in the viewshed, no Zoning By-law amendment or minor variance shall be permitted that would obstruct the view

b)      Site plan control approval, other regulations and City maintenance practices may also be adjusted to ensure that fences, signs, trees and other elements do not obstruct the view.”

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Adoption of the Official Plan amendment will enhance the area for residents and visitors to the Beechwood Cemetery and will enhance the national symbols within Ottawa. Otherwise, there are no environmental implications resulting from these amendments.

 

CONSULTATION

 

Staff consulted with owners or owner representatives for all the properties affected by a downzoning. Discussions and verbal responses indicated that there are no major concerns with the proposed amendments. A summary of the written comments is contained in Document 12.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1          Location Map

Document 2          Details of Recommended Zoning

Document 3-10    Maps

Document 11        Official Plan Amendment

Document 12        Consultation Details

 

DISPOSITION

 

Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability to prepare the implementing Zoning By-law and the By-law adopting the Official Plan Amendment, forward to Legal Services Branch and undertake the statutory notification.

 

Legal Services Branch to forward implementing By-laws to City Council.

 


LOCATION MAP                                                                              DOCUMENT 1


DETAILS OF RECOMMENDED ZONING                                                         DOCUMENT 2

 

Details of the Proposed Zoning Changes relating to the City of Ottawa Zoning By-law 2008‑250:

 

1.      For part of the land known municipally as 280 Beechwood Avenue zoned L1B Community Leisure Facility Zone, the maximum building height is reduced from 11.0 m to 1.5 m for that portion of land between the Tommy Douglas Memorial/Poet’s Hill and the eastern property line contained within the Parliament Hill viewshed, as identified in Annex 13 of the Official Plan and shown as Area A on Document 3.  The subject land will be rezoned from L1B to L1B S238.

 

2.      For the lands within the block south of Murray Street, north of Clarence Street and west of King Edward Avenue zoned R5S S77 and R5S [1667] S77, shown on Document 4, Schedule 77 is amended as follows:

 

(a)                the said lands currently identified as area “E” will be assigned the letter “F” on the map

(b)               a new line entry will be added to the list of maximum permitted building heights that states:  “F” = 24.0 metres / mètres

 

3.      For the lands known municipally as 384 Wellington Street shown as Area A on Document 10 zoned L1[310]-h S11 Leisure and Open Space Zone, Schedule 11 is amended such that the maximum building height is reduced from 176 m above sea level to 108 m above sea level, shown on Document 5.

 

4.      The land known municipally as 11 Champlain Street shown as Area B on Document 6 and zoned TM8 H(11) Traditional Mainstreet Zone, is rezoned to TM8 H(15) to reflect a maximum building height increase from 11 m to 15 m shown on Document 6.

 

5.      The land known municipally as 222 Beechwood Avenue shown as Area D on Document 6 and zoned TM8 H(10) Traditional Mainstreet Zone, is rezoned to TM8 H(15) to reflect a maximum building height increase from 10 m to 15 m.

 

6.   The land known municipally as 260 Beechwood Avenue shown as Area F on Document 6 and zoned TM8[1279] H(10) Traditional Mainstreet Zone, is rezoned to TM8[1279] H(15) to reflect a maximum building height increase from 10 m to 15 m.

 

7.      The lands known municipally as 2 Acacia Avenue and 207, 229 and 231 Beechwood Avenue shown as Areas G, C and E respectively on Document 6 and zoned R4N[1321] H(11) Residential Fourth Density Zone, are rezoned to R4N[1321] H(12.5), to reflect a maximum building height increase from 11 m to 12.5 m.

 

Details of the Proposed Zoning Changes relating to the former City of Ottawa Zoning By‑law:

 

8.      For part of the land known municipally as 280 Beechwood Avenue shown as Area A on Document 6 and zoned L3G Leisure and Open Space Zone, the maximum building height is reduced from 10.7 m to 1.5 m for that portion of land between the Tommy Douglas Memorial/Poet’s Hill and the eastern property line contained within the Parliament Hill viewshed, as identified in Annex 11 of the Official Plan.  The subject land will be rezoned from L3G to L3G SCH 134.

 

9.      For the lands within the block south of Murray Street, north of Clarence Street and west of King Edward Avenue and zoned R7C F(5.0) SCH 207 and R7C [1009] F(5.0) SCH 207, shown on Document 8, Schedule 207 is amended as follows:

 

(a)  the said lands currently identified as area “E” will be assigned the letter “F” on the map

(b)  a new line entry will be added to the list of maximum permitted building heights that states:  “F” = 24.0 Metres

 

10.  For the lands known municipally as 384 Wellington Street shown as Area A on Document 10 zoned L3 [693]-h Sch.135 Leisure and Open Space Zone; Schedule 135 is amended such that the maximum building height is reduced from 176 m above sea level to 108 m above sea level, as shown on Document 9.

 

11.  The land known municipally as 11 Champlain Street zoned CN13 [955] H(11.0) Neighbourhood Commercial Zone, is rezoned to CN13 [955]  H(15) to reflect a maximum building height increase from 11 m to 15 m as shown on Document 6.

 

Details of the Proposed Zoning Changes relating to the former City of Vanier Zoning By‑law:

 

12.  For the land known municipally as 222 Beechwood Avenue and zoned C1/D.198 District Commercial Zone, and the land known municipally as 260 Beechwood Avenue and zoned C1/D.54 District Commercial Zone, clause 16.2(i) is amended to by deleting the words “but excluding 222 and 260 Beechwood Avenue” so that the maximum building height is 15 metres as shown as Areas D and F on Document 6.

 

Details of the Proposed Zoning Changes relating to the former Village of Rockcliffe Park

Zoning By-law:

 

13.  For the lands known municipally as 2 Acacia Avenue and 207, 229 and 231 Beechwood Avenue shown as Areas G, C and E respectively on Document 6 and zoned RD9(02) Residential Multiple Family Zone, subclause 6.9.4.2 is amended by deleting the words “except for 2 Acacia Street and 207, 229 and 231 Beechwood Avenue”.


DOCUMENT 3

 


DOCUMENT 4


DOCUMENT 5

 


DOCUMENT 6


DOCUMENT 7

 


DOCUMENT 8


DOCUMENT 9

 


DOCUMENT 10

 

OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT                                                                       DOCUMENT 11

 

 

Official Plan Amendment **Insert Amendment # here
to the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa

 

Index

 

 

 

The Statement of Components

 

 

 

 

Part A – The Preamble

 

 

Purpose

 

 

Location

 

 

Basis

 

 

 

 

Part B – The Amendment

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Details of the Amendment

 

 

Implementation and Interpretation

 

 

Schedules

 

 

 

 

Part C – The Appendices

 

 

The Statement of Components

Part A – The Preamble, introduces the actual Amendment but does not constitute part of the Amendment No. **Enter Amendment # here to the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa.

 

Part B – The Amendment, consisting of the following text and schedules constitutes the actual Amendment No. **Enter Amendment # here to the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa.

 

Part C – The Appendices, does not form part of the Amendment but is provided to clarify the intent and to supply background information related to the Amendment.

 

Part A – The Preamble

1.0       Purpose

The purpose of this amendment is to establish a policy framework designed to protect the views of Parliament Hill from two locations in Canada’s National Military Cemetery - Beechwood Cemetery. The two locations are the Tommy Douglas Memorial and Poets Hill. The policy framework will lead to the establishment of land use and other regulatory provisions that prohibit the encroachment of buildings and/or other structures into the viewshed.

 

2.0       Location

This amendment applies to the land between Beechwood Cemetery and Parliament Hill, contained in the viewshed as shown in Figure 1, and includes land:

 

·        In Vanier, Rockcliffe Park and New Edinburgh near Beechwood Avenue

 

3.0       Basis

This Amendment is consistent with the Strategic Direction contained in Section 2 of the Official Plan, which “supports the overall image of Ottawa as the Nation’s capital” and which contributes to the creation of  “attractive public spaces and important vistas”.

 

The Amendment is also consistent with the land use policies in Section 3.6.6 of the Official Plan which supports “…protecting the visual integrity and symbolic primacy of the Parliament Buildings and other national symbols…and that buildings constructed in the area…do not visually mar the silhouette of the Parliament Buildings and do not visually dominate the Parliament Buildings and other national symbols.” It is also consistent with the provisions of the Central Area Secondary Plan, which contain provisions on view protection and building height.

 

Part B – The Amendment

 

1.0       Introduction

All of this part of this document, entitled Part B – The Amendment consisting of the following text and the attached Schedule 1 constitutes Amendment No.      to the Official Plan.

 

2.0       Details of Amendment

The following changes are hereby made to the Official Plan:

 

2.1  Add the following phrase after 8D in the first introductory sentence in Section 7 Annexes in Volume 1:

“…and Annex 12,…”,

 

And renumber Annex 12 as Annex 13 at the end of the Annex list and add the following before Annex 13: Annex 12 Viewshed Area of the Parliament Buildings from Beechwood Cemetery

 

2.2       Add the following provisions at three locations in Volume 1: City of Ottawa Official Plan:

·        At the end of the policy section under 3.6.1 – General Urban Area as policy 11

·        At the end of the policy section under 3.6.3 – Mainstreets as policy 14, and

·        At the end of the policy section under 3.6.6 – Central Area as policy 10:

 

“The City will protect the views of the Parliament Buildings from two locations in Beechwood Cemetery. The view area, or viewshed, and the two locations, the Tommy Douglas Memorial and Poet’s Hill, are identified in Annex 12. A building or structure is deemed to obstruct the view if it visually blocks the foreground view or visually mars the background silhouette view of the Parliament Buildings.

c)      For each property in the viewshed, no zoning by-law amendment or minor variance shall be permitted that would obstruct the view

d)      Site plan control approval, other regulations and City maintenance practices may also be adjusted to ensure that fences, signs, trees and other elements do not obstruct the view.”

 

2.3  Add Schedule 1 attached as Annex 12 in Section 7 in Volume 1 and rename the existing Annex 12 – Official Plan Amendments as Annex 13.

 

2.4  Add the following provision at six locations in Volume 2A: Secondary Plans:

·        At the end of section 1.4.3 i) View from Downtown Streets in the former City of Ottawa Official Plan – Central Area, Parliamentary Precinct,

·        At the end of section 1.5.3 n) Views in the former City of Ottawa Official Plan – Central Area, By Ward Market,

·        At the end of section 1.7.3 g) Vantage Points in the former City of Ottawa Official Plan – Central Area, The Canal,

·        At the end of section 1.8.3 k) Views in the former City of Ottawa Official Plan – Central Area, Lowertown,

·        At the end of section 1.10.3 f) Views in the former City of Ottawa Official Plan – Central Area, Upper Town,

·        At the end of section 1.13.3 m) View in the former City of Ottawa Official Plan – Central Area, Sparks Street:

 

“City Council shall protect the views of the Parliament Buildings from two locations at Beechwood Cemetery, as identified in Annex 12 in Volume 1 of this Plan.”

 

3.0       Implementation and Interpretation

Implementation and interpretation of this Amendment shall be in accordance with the policies of the City of Ottawa Official Plan.


 SCHEDULE 1


CONSULTATION DETAILS                                                                               DOCUMENT 12

 

The Official Plan Amendment and the proposed list of zoning changes were included in the public and technical circulations. The notice of the applications was included in the advertisement, which appeared in the Citizen and Le Droit on October 17, 2008. In response to the public and technical circulation of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment in July 2008, the following comments were received.

 

Rockcliffe Park Residents Association

“The Rockcliffe Park Residents Association supports the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments proposed to implement the Beechwood Cemetery View Protection Study.  Protecting the viewshed from the Tommy Douglas Memorial and Poet’s Hill to Parliament Hill is a commendable idea and we are pleased to support it. It is important to us that the strategic direction in the Official Plan supporting the overall image of Ottawa as the nation’s capital be maintained and that there be no buildings or edifices constructed that impede the view of the Parliament Buildings.”

 

Staff Response

None required.

 

Beechwood Cemetery

“At Beechwood, we wholeheartedly support this plan to ensure that the view from Beechwood to Parliament is not obstructed for future site developments…”

 

Staff Response

None required.

 

Ottawa Forest and Greenspace Advisory Committee

We support these amendments, as they will enhance the beauty and value of one of Ottawa’s great greenspaces: the historic Beechwood Cemetery. The Poet’s Pathway project, a work in progress, will take walkers from McCarthy Woods, an important ecological area, through locations known and loved by some of Canada’s greatest poets, to Beechwood Cemetery and Poet’s Hill and the gravesite of Tommy Douglas. These two sites within the Beechwood site should have unobstructed views of Parliament Hill in perpetuity.”

 

Staff Response

None required.

 

11 Champlain Avenue

For 11 Champlain Avenue, the “existing residential uses” should be included in the zoning in accordance with the planning report for the Beechwood Community Design Plan (May 18, 2006).

 

Staff Response

The zoning has been checked and it is confirmed that the existing use (a 4-unit apartment) is a permitted use in the TM8 Zone so no changes are required.

 

National Capital Commission (NCC).

“The NCC does support the principle of extending the protection of important viewsheds to the key National Symbols from outside of the core area. In order to be consistent with the methodology used in other existing Views Protection, we wish to make some recommendations for the final amendments. We commend the City’s planning staff for initiating this OP amendment to further protect the views of National Symbols and the Parliamentary silhouette from locations in the City outside of the central area. Beechwood Cemetery itself also has National Significance and the identification of a link between the Cemetery and Parliament is proactive and confirms the positive long term civic vision to preserve this valuable symbol.

 

1.      We suggest the final amendments be more precise as to the actual view to be protected from the two (2) points at the cemetery; and perhaps identifying a tangible view point or series of views (for example, is it just the area above the eaves line, all the view between the Library of Parliament and the East Block, just the Peace Tower?). It is appropriate to also note the benchmark elevation/ coordinates representing points 1 and 2 on draft OP annex 11.

2.   The proposed OP Annex 11 notes the foreground and background area in the viewshed cone. The areas of Parliament Hill, the Federal Judicial Precinct and the specific federal properties identified in the Beechwood Viewpoint study are already protected, because they are either subject to a lower height restriction than the recommended maximum height controls needed for the protection of the National Symbols and/or they are in the Central Capital landscape area of foreground controls in the existing central area views protected by the Views Study and the existing OP Annex 8A provisions. These portions of the Parliamentary Precinct are well governed with respect to height limits for the protection of views in both the previously noted federal plans and the OP. We suggest that it may be suitable to consider re-labelling the proposed Annex 11 legend to replace “background control” with “Area under regulation of Parliamentary Precinct and Ottawa Views Study”.

3.      Given a review of the model, we can support the principle that the municipal zoning provisions may be suitable for a reduction from the permitted 176 masl to the proposed 108masl for the NCC site at 84 Bronson. However, the model limits seem to exclude the entire 84 Bronson site.

4.      As noted above, 384 Wellington is owned by PWGSC. We reiterate our position that in this instance, formal comments should be sought directly from our federal partner on these applications.”

 

Staff Response

 

1.      Precise coordinates, benchmark elevations and the identification of the tangible view have been added to the amendment as suggested by the NCC.

2.      The labelling, as suggested by the NCC, has been added to Schedule 1.

3.      The site at 84 Bronson Avenue property has been removed from the zoning amendment as it is not within the final viewshed.

4.      Public Works was circulated the package by the NCC and attempts were made by staff to contact them.

 

 

 


BEECHWOOD CEMETERY VIEW PROTECTION - OFFICIAL PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENT

LA PROTECTION DES VUES DU CIMITIÈRE BEECHWOOD – MODIFICATION DU PLAN OFFICIEL ET DU RÈGLEMENT DE ZONAGE

ACS2008-ICS-PLA-0216                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                Rideau-Vanier (12), Rideau-Rockcliffe (13), somerset (14)

 

(This matter is subject to Bill 51)

 

Iola Price, Rockcliffe Park Residents Association, expressed support for the Official Plan Amendment in a comment sheet submitted on October 28, 2008.

 

Jane Ironside, J.E. Ironside Consulting Ltd., requested deferral of the amendments, pertaining to 222 Beechwood Avenue, recently purchased by Domicile Developments.  She requested that items 5 and 12 of Document 2 be deferred.

 

Richard Kilstrom, Manager of Community Planning and Design, explained the permitted height issues for 222 Beechwood Avenue; specifically, the consolidated Vanier by-law, as printed, showed 20 metres; as opposed to the by-law passed by Vanier Council bylaw, which allows 15 metres.  The current comprehensive zoning by-law, recently approved by the Ontario Municipal Board, permits 10 metres.  Mr. Kilstrom stated that a deferral would allow staff to verify the actual view lines, which cross only part of the property.

 

That Recommendation 1 be amended by deferring Items 5 and 12 of Document 2 to November 14, 2008 and that Recommendation 3 be deferred to November 14, 2008.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED

 

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.         Approve the proposed changes to the Zoning By-law 2008-250 as detailed in Document 2-10 with the exception of 222 Beechwood Avenue, which will be considered on November 14, 2008.

 

2.         Approve the proposed changes to the former City of Ottawa Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

3.         Approve the proposed changes to the former City of Vanier Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10. (Deferred to November 14, 2008)

 

4.         Approve the proposed changes to the former Village of Rockcliffe Park Zoning By-law as detailed in Document 2-10.

 

5.         Approve the Official Plan Amendment as contained in Document 11.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED as amended