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5. PROPERTY ACQUISITION - URBAN NATURAL FEATURE UNA #97 - NAVAN ROAD AND
PAGE ROAD - RICHCRAFT HOMES LTD.. AND MINTO COMMUNITIES INC. ACQUISITION
DE TERRAIN – caractéristique naturelle urbaine, ZUN No
97 – CHEMIN NAVAN ET CHEMIN PAGÉ - RICHCRAFT HOMES LTD.. ET MINTO
COMMUNITIES INC. |
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council approve the acquisition of vacant
parcels of land comprising part of the Urban Natural Feature UNA # 97
consisting of the following real property:
1. Approximately 4.094ha (10.116 acres) owned by Richcraft
Homes Ltd.., referred to as part of PIN 04404-0197 and PIN 04404-0525 described
as being Part of Lot 4, Concession 3 (Ottawa Front), Geographic Township of
Gloucester, now in City of Ottawa, which is shown as Parcels 1, 2 and 3 on Annex
“A” attached hereto, for the consideration of $2,961,327 plus GST subject to
final adjustment on closing; and
2. Approximately 2.006ha (4.957 acres) owned by Minto
Communities Inc., referred to as part of PIN 04404-0264 described as being Part
of Lot 5, Concession 3 (Ottawa Front), Geographic Township of Gloucester, now
in City of Ottawa, which is shown as the hatched area on Annex “B”, for the
total consideration of $1,451,097 plus GST subject to final adjustments on
closing.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU COMITÉ
Que le
Conseil approuve l’acquisition d’un terrain vacant englobant une partie de la
ZUN no 97 de caractéristique naturelle urbaine et constitué du
bien-fonds suivant :
1.
Environ 4,094 ha (10,116 acres) appartenant à Richcraft Homes Ltd.., soit
une partie du NIP 04404-0197 et du NIP 04404-0525, décrit comme étant une
partie du lot 4, concession 3 (façade rivière des Outaouais), canton géographique de Gloucester, maintenant dans la Ville d’Ottawa, illustré comme étant les
terrains 1, 2 et 3 dans l’annexe A ci-jointe, pour un montant de 2 961 327 $ plus
TPS, sous réserve d’ajustement final lors de la signature; et
2. Environ 2,006 ha (4,957 acres)
appartenant à Minto Communities Inc., soit une partie du NIP 04404-0264 décrit
comme étant une partie du lot 5, concession 3 (façade rivière des Outaouais), canton géographique de Gloucester, maintenant dans la Ville d’Ottawa, illustré comme étant la zone
hachurée dans l’annexe B, pour
un montant total
de 1 451 097 $ plus TPS, sous réserve d’ajustement final lors de la signature.
DOCUMENTATION
1. City Manager’s report dated 20 February (ACS2008-CMR-CPO-0008).
Report to/Rapport au :
Corporate Services and Economic Development
Committee
Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique
20 February 2009/ le 20 février 2009
Submitted by/Soumis par: Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager / directeur municipal
Contact
Person/Personne-ressource: Gordon MacNair, Manager, Real Estate Services,
Corporate
Project Office / gestionnaire, Services immobiliers,
Bureau des
projets municipaux
(613)
580-2424 x 21217, Gordon.MacNair@Ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Corporate Services and
Economic Development Committee recommend Council approve the acquisition of vacant parcels of land
comprising part of the Urban Natural Feature UNA # 97 consisting of the
following real property:
1.
Approximately
4.094ha (10.116 acres) owned by Richcraft Homes Ltd.., referred to as part of
PIN 04404-0197 and PIN 04404-0525 described as being Part of Lot 4, Concession
3 (Ottawa Front), Geographic Township of Gloucester, now in City of Ottawa,
which is shown as Parcels 1, 2 and 3 on Annex “A” attached hereto, for the
consideration of $2,961,327 plus GST subject to final adjustment on closing;
and
2.
Approximately
2.006ha (4.957 acres) owned by Minto Communities Inc., referred to as part of
PIN 04404-0264 described as being Part of Lot 5, Concession 3 (Ottawa Front),
Geographic Township of Gloucester, now in City of Ottawa, which is shown as the
hatched area on Annex “B”, for the total consideration of $1,451,097 plus GST
subject to final adjustments on closing.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité des services
organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au
Conseil d’approuver l’acquisition d’un terrain vacant englobant une partie de
la ZUN no 97 de caractéristique naturelle urbaine et constitué du
bien-fonds suivant :
1.
Environ 4,094 ha (10,116 acres)
appartenant à Richcraft Homes Ltd.., soit une partie du NIP 04404-0197 et du
NIP 04404-0525, décrit comme étant une partie du lot 4, concession 3 (façade
rivière des Outaouais), canton géographique de Gloucester, maintenant dans la Ville d’Ottawa, illustré comme étant les terrains 1, 2 et 3 dans l’annexe A ci-jointe,
pour un montant de 2 961 327 $ plus TPS, sous
réserve d’ajustement final lors de la signature; et
2.
Environ 2,006 ha (4,957 acres)
appartenant à Minto Communities Inc., soit une partie du NIP 04404-0264 décrit
comme étant une partie du lot 5, concession 3 (façade rivière des Outaouais), canton
géographique de Gloucester, maintenant
dans la Ville d’Ottawa, illustré comme étant la zone
hachurée dans l’annexe B, pour un montant total de 1 451 097 $
plus TPS, sous réserve d’ajustement final
lors de la signature.
BACKGROUND
The Urban Natural Features Strategy, adopted by Council in
May 2007 (ACS2007-PTE-POL-002), entailed acquisition of 15 privately owned
woodlots over a 10-year period. The
woodlots were selected for acquisition on the basis of a citywide evaluation of
the environmental value of all remaining woodlots over 0.8 hectares in the
urban area. All
privately owned woodlots that were assessed as having high or moderate environmental
values and that were not already committed to other uses were recommended for
acquisition.
The order in which each would be acquired largely
reflected time-to-development, with those located within lands close to
development given higher priority than those in areas with a longer time period
before development. Under the Strategy,
the priority areas for acquisition, other than the six areas already designated
Urban Natural Feature in the Official Plan, would be added to the Official Plan
by amendment only after acquisition by the City. The Urban Natural Feature Strategy was also the subject of a report
ACS2008-ICS-ECO-0031 to Planning and Environment Committee and Council in
November 2008 to address acquisition priorities and funding requirements in the
2009 Budget deliberations.
Evaluated in August 2005 as part of the Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation Study (UNAEES), Urban Natural Area Site #97 (UNA #97) was determined to have a high ecological significance. The site consists of mature maple forest and deciduous swamp forest. It is rich in plant diversity, and is bordered on the south by Mud Creek. These qualities create many microhabitats that support a diversity of ferns and forest wildflowers
Some of the elements that contribute to
the high ecological rating are:
·
the dominance of native plant species, which indicate the
area's relatively high biodiversity.
Unlike many woodlots, invasive plants like buckthorn do not dominate the
under-story;
·
the size and shape of the woodlot provides interior habitat,
which is rare in the urban area;
·
several rare species of flora and fauna are present;
·
the spring ponds that provide habitat for spring breeding
for amphibians.
The majority of UNA #97 is situated within two parcels of land with areas of 4.094ha (10.116 acres) and 2.006ha (4.957 acres), shown on Annex “A” and Annex “B” attached hereto, that are owned by Richcraft Homes Ltd. and Minto Communities Inc., respectively. The lands are designated General Urban Area in the Official Plan and identified as mixed residential use in the East Urban Community - Community Design Plan (CDP) for the Phase 1 Area, within proximity of Navan Road at Pagé Road. As well, they are part of a draft plan of subdivision and zoning by-law amendment proposal submitted by Richcraft Homes and Minto Communities, encompassing 53.97ha (133.3 acres) planned for a mix of residential dwelling types and densities, school site, natural areas and park sites. In accordance with requirements set out in the CDP for the Phase 1 Area, the subject properties have been identified as Woodlot areas on the draft plan of subdivision as depicted on the attached Annex “A” and Annex “B” sketches, and reserved for acquisition by the City pursuant to the Urban Natural Features Strategy; subject to the proviso that if the natural feature cannot be protected in part or in whole by the City through the various securement options, development of the land will proceed in accordance with the underlying direction set out in the CDP.
DISCUSSION
At the request of the Environmental Sustainability Division - Natural Systems Unit, negotiations with Richcraft Homes Ltd. and Minto Communities Inc. were undertaken to acquire the fee simple interests in the UNA #97 lands. These were supported by two (2) independent appraisals completed for the subject property on behalf of the City and each property owner, respectively, in order to provide an estimate of market value attributable to the subject property in its respective highest and best use.
The appraisals completed for respective parties concluded the highest and best use of the subject properties to be development as part of a residential subdivision with a mix of residential dwelling types and densities. Following an exchange of reports for peer review, negotiations with the owners have resulted in an agreement being reached to purchase the fee simple interest in the lands at the unit rate of $292,737 per acre, which represents the mid-point of difference between the two appraisals in which estimates of market value resulted in an aggregate variance of less than two per cent (2%). Therefore, based on the land requirements described above, this results in a total consideration of $2,961,327 for the 10.116 acres (4.094ha) required from Richcraft Homes Ltd. described in Annex “A”, and $1,451,097 for the 4.957 acres (2.006ha) required from Minto Communities described in Annex “B.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Property Acquisition Agreement, a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) will be completed on behalf of the City as part of the due diligence prior to completion of this transaction.
CONSULTATION
Public consultation on the Urban Natural Features Strategy included public information meetings held in June 2005 at six locations across the City, as well as City Hall on 2 May 2006. In addition, meetings were held throughout 2005-2006 with stakeholders and landowners detailed in report ACS2007-PTE-POL-002.
The Ward Councillor is aware of the Urban Natural Features Strategy and supports the recommendations of this report.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Funds are available within 904330 Natural Area Acquisition (Urban).
LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT
There are no legal/risk management
impediments to implementing any of the recommendations arising from this
report.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Attached, as Annex “A” and “B”, respectively, are sketches showing the lands to be acquired.
DISPOSITION
Following Council’s approval, the Corporate Project Office and Legal Services Branches will finalize the transaction.
