Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

22 November 2007 / le 22 novembre 2007

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Deputy City Manager

Directrice municipale adjointe,

Planning. Transit and the Environment

Urbanisme, Transport en commun et Environnement 

 

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

 

City-wide

Ref N°: ACS2008-PTE-PLA-0010

 

 

SUBJECT:

VACANT URBAN RESIDENTIAL LAND SURVEY, 2006 UPDATE

 

 

OBJET :

ENQUÊTE SUR LES TERRAINS RÉSIDENTIELS VACANTS EN MILIEU URBAIN, MISE À JOUR DE 2006

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Planning and Environment Committee receive this report for information.

 

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement prenne connaissance du présent rapport.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Since 1982, the Vacant Urban Residential Land Survey (VURLS) has monitored the supply of vacant urban residential land to determine if it meets policies of the Official Plan and Provincial Policy Statements.

 

The survey includes a summary report, plus a detailed parcel list and accompanying map which shows unit potential, approval status, ownership and other information for individual properties. Copies of the report (publication #13-17) and map with parcel list (publication #13-18) are available at the main Client Service Centre.

 

Based on the new 2007 growth projections, the 2006 land supply is sufficient to accommodate housing development in the urban area for approximately 23 years.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

·           The inventoried supply of vacant urban residential land and its unit potential stood at approximately 2 750 net hectares and 104 400 units at the end of 2006, compared to 2 930 hectares and 106 700 units in December 2005. This supply is sufficient for 23 years at land consumption rates based on 2007 draft projections for 2006-31 and is well above the 10-year requirement of the 2005 Provincial Policy Statement.

 

·           The supply of land serviced with trunk sewers and watermains represents a 12-year supply based on average demand over the last five years, or 15-years’ supply based on projected consumption. This exceeds the required three-year supply set out in the Provincial Policy Statement.

 

·           The supply of serviced vacant land by area is as follows: Inside the Greenbelt 3.9 years, Kanata/Stittsville 13.4 years, Orléans 14.9 years, South Nepean 11.4 years, Riverside South 9.6 years and Leitrim 29.2 years.

 

·           The supply of registered and draft-approved land in December 2006 (862 net hectares) represents a 5.8-year supply based on average consumption over the last five years, or 7.1 years based on projected demand. This is a significant increase from 2005 (673 hectares), and exceeds the Provincial Policy requirement for a three-year supply of serviced registered and draft-approved lots.

 

·           Consumption of vacant urban residential land in 2006 totalled 133 net hectares, up from 117 hectares in 2005 but below the five-year average of 150 hectares. Housing units constructed on these lands totalled 4 108, up from 3 382 in 2005.

 

·           Vacant land supply shares by area:

·           Kanata-Stittsville 34%

·           Riverside South 21%

·           South Nepean 19%

·           Orléans 18%

·           Leitrim 5%

·           Inside the Greenbelt 3%

 

·           Residential intensification activity was strong in 2006, accounting for 36 per cent of new dwelling units started in the urban area. The average since 2001 has been 31 per cent.

 

·           Ten major landowners held at least 54 per cent of the land supply in 2006. Major owners were Richcraft (15.4%), Urbandale (10.5%), Brookfield (4.8%), KNL Developments (4.4%), Minto (4.4%), Mattamy (3.9%), Westpark (3.9%, now sold to Claridge), Tartan (3.5%), City of Ottawa (2.2%), and Claridge (2.0%). If known partnerships are accounted for, Richcraft and Urbandale together account for over 30 per cent of the land supply.

 

Further details on the city's vacant residential land supply are available in the main report, “Vacant Urban Residential Land Survey, 2006 Update”, which was distributed separately.

 

CONSULTATION

 

This report deals with research and analysis matters and, as such, public consultation was not undertaken.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no direct financial implications related to this report. 

 

The Council-approved Fiscal Framework directs that the Official Plan discussion about options to expand the urban boundary should include the projected impact on the operating budget and capital budget as well as estimate property tax revenue.  This discussion will take place with the tabling of the draft Urban Development Strategy in Spring 2008.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1      Vacant Urban Residential Land Survey, 2006 Update (distributed separately).

 

Copies of the report are available at the City Hall Client Service Centre (publication #13-17 for the report, and publication #13-18 for the map and parcel list).

 

DISPOSITION

 

N/A