8.         SALE OF CLOSED LANE ADJACENT TO 1089-1091 NORTH RIVER ROAD

 

VENTE DE LA RUELLE FERMÉE ADJACENTE AUX 1089-1091 DU CHEMIN NORTH RIVER

 

 

 

 

Committee RecommendationS

 

That Council:

 

1.      Declare a parcel of vacant land shown hatched on Annex “A” attached, containing an area of approximately 87 m2, described as the lane south of Prince Albert Street, north of the easterly extension of the southerly limit of Lot 186, Plan 318, City of Ottawa, subject to final survey, as surplus to the City’s needs; and

 

2.      Approve the sale of the land outlined in Recommendation 1, subject to final survey and subject to any easements that may be required to François Brulé and Hélène Brulé for $21,000 pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale that has been received.

 

 

Recommandations du comité

 

Que le Conseil:

 

1.   Déclare terrain excédentaire de la Ville la parcelle de terrain vacant hachurée sur l’annexe « A » ci-jointe, d’une superficie d’environ 87 m2, décrite comme la ruelle au sud de la rue Prince-Albert, au nord du prolongement est de la limite sud du lot 186, plan 318, Ville d’Ottawa, et assujettie à un arpentage définitif; et

 

2.   Approuve la vente du terrain mentionné dans la Recommandation 1, sous réserve de l’arpentage définitif et de tout droit de passage qui pourrait être demandé, à François Brulé et Hélène Brulé pour la somme de 21 000 $, en vertu de la convention d’achat et de vente qui a été reçue.

 

 

Documentation

 

1.      Deputy City Manager of City Operations’ report dated 31 October 2008 (ACS2008-COS-RPM-0060)

 

Report to/Rapport au :

 

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

31 October 2008/ le 31 octobre 2008

 

Submitted by/Soumis par: Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager, City Operations / Directeur municipale adjoint, Opérations municipales

 

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

 

Rideau-Rockcliffe (13)

Ref N°: ACS2008-COS-RPM-0060

 

 

SUBJECT:

SALE OF CLOSED LANE ADJACENT TO 1089-1091 NORTH RIVER ROAD

 

 

OBJET :

VENTE DE la ruelle FERMÉE ADJACENTE AUX 1089-1091 DU CHEMIN NORTH RIVER

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:

 

1.                  Declare a parcel of vacant land shown hatched on Annex “A” attached, containing an area of approximately 87 m2, described as the lane south of Prince Albert Street, north of the easterly extension of the southerly limit of Lot 186, Plan 318, City of Ottawa, subject to final survey, as surplus to the City’s needs; and

 

2.                  Approve the sale of the land outlined in Recommendation 1, subject to final survey and subject to any easements that may be required to François Brulé and Hélène Brulé for $21,000 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 terrain excédentaire de la Ville la parcelle de terrain vacant hachurée sur l’annexe « A » ci-jointe, d’une superficie d’environ 87 m2, décrite comme la ruelle au sud de la rue Prince-Albert, au nord du prolongement est de la limite sud du lot 186, plan 318, Ville d’Ottawa, et assujettie à un arpentage définitif; et

 

2.         D’approuver la vente du terrain mentionné dans la Recommandation 1, sous réserve de l’arpentage définitif et de tout droit de passage qui pourrait être demandé, à François Brulé et Hélène Brulé pour la somme de 21 000 $, en vertu de la convention d’achat et de vente qui a été reçue.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The subject property is a 3m wide lane, extending southerly from Prince Albert Street between properties known municipally as 4 Prince Albert Street, and 1087, 1089-1091 North River Road.  At the present time, this lane primarily serves to provide access to a frame garage located at the southerly end of the lane at the rear of 1091 North River Road.  An application has been made to close the subject lane so it can be purchased and consolidated with abutting properties at 4 Prince Albert Street, and 1087, 1089-1091 North River Road. 

 

As a result of the application submitted by the abutting owner, Planning and Infrastructure Approvals Branch, pursuant to the Delegation of Authority By-law 2001-12 as amended, approved the closure of the lane adjacent to 1087-1091 North River Road, subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. Notice of the proposed closing shall be given in accordance with By-law No. 2002-522, as amended;

 

  1. A conveyance of a closed road shall be at current market value in accordance with By-law No. 2002-38, or as provided for under any previous valid agreements with the City;

 

  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 plan, showing the road, 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 road 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; and

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

 

  1. Should the conditions of 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; and

 

  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 completed pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Real Estate Services typically offers non-viable properties, such as the subject lane, to all abutting owners.  Although the lane in question abuts properties owned by Francois and Hélène Brulé, Serge Landry and the Gospel Hall, both Serge Landry and owners of the Gospel Hall have indicated that they have no interest in purchasing any portion of the lane. 

 

An Agreement has been reached with François and Hélène Brulé to purchase the subject property for $21,000.  Since an overhead power line extends the entire length of the lane, the sale will be subject to an easement in favour of Hydro Ottawa.

 

City policy requires the sale of property to be on the basis of market value.  An appraisal confirms the recommended sale price of $21,000 to be consistent with current market values for comparable lands in the area.  In addition to the purchase price, the purchaser will be responsible for survey costs.

 

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

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The subject property does not contain significant natural environment lands and has not been identified in the Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation Study (March 2006).  No implications to the natural environment have been identified for the proposed action.

 

 

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 Services, 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)

Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC)

Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC)

 

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 the circulation process and by subsequent notification.

 

 

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 property and therefore does not meet the affordable housing criteria outlined in the Housing First Policy.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

This transaction represents revenue of $21,000 to the Corporation, which will be credited to the City’s Sale of Surplus Land Account.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Attached, as Annex "A" is a sketch showing the surplus land, which has been approved for closure.

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

Following approval, Legal Services will finalize the Agreement of Purchase and Sale.