Report to/Rapport au :
Comité de l'urbanisme
05 March 2012 / le 05 mars 2012
Submitted
by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers,
Deputy City Manager, Directrice municipale adjointe, Planning
and Infrastructure/Urbanisme et Infrastructure
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : John L. Moser, General Manager/Directeur général,
Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
(613) 580-2424 x 28869, John.Moser@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That Planning Committee approve the Planning and Growth Management Department’s revised Term of Council workplan for matters within Planning Committee’s mandate as identified in Document 1.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité de
l’urbanisme approuve le plan de travail révisé du Service de l’urbanisme et de
la gestion de la croissance pour la période d’exercice du Conseil, en ce qui a
trait aux questions qui relèvent du mandat du Comité de l’urbanisme tel qu'il
est identifié dans le document 1.
BACKGROUND
In 2011, following an off-site session with Members of Planning Committee, the Planning and Growth Management Department developed a workplan that has served as a tool to guide its business planning for the 2011-2014 Term of Council. This plan has scoped individual staff work programs and budget submissions and has also served to inform Council’s City Strategic Plan objectives.
The purpose of this report is to provide Committee with a status update on the work that was undertaken in 2011 and a revised workplan for the remainder of this Term of Council.
This report also discusses items that have been raised at Committee in 2011 as workplan items that cannot be accommodated within existing staffing resources. It is intended that this report will provide accountable performance measurement to Planning Committee, Council, the public, and the development industry.
DISCUSSION
A draft departmental workplan was developed by Planning and Growth Management staff based on a review of ongoing departmental initiatives, the two corporate priorities of Sustainability and Service Excellence, a review of the platforms from the 2010 municipal election of the Mayor and Council, a review of Advisory Committee workplans, and through ongoing consultations with the development industry and other stakeholders.
It should be noted that this workplan was developed using the department’s existing staff complement and is predicated on this staff complement being maintained throughout the Term of Council. With respect to the staff complement, Budget 2012 provided temporary resources to undertake the Official Plan review and a second permanent Forester position to assist with the processing of development review applications as well as the items on this workplan related to the preservation of the city’s tree canopy.
The initiatives listed are undertaken primarily by policy development staff in the Policy Development and Urban Design and Building Code Services branches and accordingly the workplan does not speak to the ongoing operational activities undertaken by Development Review staff. Finally the workplan is contingent on receiving the operating and capital funds required to complete necessary studies or plans.
As noted in the 2011 report to Committee, the draft departmental workplan focuses on four key priorities within the mandate of Planning Committee:
Advancing the Transportation Agenda to
connect the Transportation System to Neighbourhoods
As the Planning and Growth Management Department’s #1 priority, the
Department will work in partnership with the Rail Implementation Office (RIO)
and Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office (REPDO) to undertake a
series of planning studies over the course of the Term of Council with the aim
of maximizing economic development and neighbourhood connectivity opportunities
along the Tunney’s Station to Blair Station Light Rail Transit Corridor in
advance of the project’s completion. Complementary transit and transportation
studies that will support the network will also be undertaken.
Service Excellence to our
Clients
With the structural reorganization of the Department complete, Planning
and Growth Management will now review several of its business processes and
standard procedures with the aim of moving more towards a Gov 2.0 platform,
removing bureaucratic and internal barriers to the development process, and
promoting a culture of measured risk and empowerment through a common
customer-oriented culture. The importance of this initiative was highlighted to
Council during Budget 2012 where additional funding was provided for culture
and change management expertise for the Department.
Bringing Certainty to the
Design Priority Areas
The Department will undertake several planning exercises with the aim
of providing certainty as to where residential intensification will be
encouraged and where communities will be minimally impacted by development. The
Department will also examine ways to increase the economic potential of other
important community assets.
Sustainable Planning
The Department will undertake several initiatives with the goal of
promoting sustainability in the development review process and profile
alternative green transportation projects.
2011 Workplan accomplishments
The following initiatives on the Planning and Growth Management
workplan within Planning Committee’s mandate were completed in 2011:
ü Old
Ottawa East Community Design Plan
ü Rideau
Street visioning exercise
ü 18-month
One Stop Service Review
ü Review
of mandatory Pre-application consultation for Development Review
ü Establishment
of timelier review protocols with Hydro Ottawa
ü Review
development review processes – Registration, Legal, and Engineering
ü Encouraging
recycling of waste from construction through the Development Review process
ü Permanent
Signs on Private Property By-law – Review of Roof top signs
ü Permanent
Signs on Private Property By-law Reviews and Technical amendments
Workplan amendments
The Term of Council workplan has been amended as set out in Document 1.
Workplan items within the purview of Planning Committee have been noted with
the acronym “PC”, and items within the purview of other Standing Committees
have been listed as well to give Planning Committee context. Any new addition
to the workplan or a project whose timelines have changed has been shaded.
Where projects have been added it has been as a result of direction from
Committee (e.g. Briarcliffe Heritage District Conservation Study) or through an
external body (e.g. the Ontario Municipal Board), or based on a new
availability of staff time as a result of additional resources (e.g. Forest
Management Plan – South March Highlands). The timelines for the completion of
some projects have been shifted for various reasons such as the need for
additional public consultation, a change in scope of the project, or an
inability to complete the project on-time due to competing priorities. A
rationale has been provided in the “Status Update” field and the revised
completion date is noted in the “Completion Date” field.
In addition, coming out of discussions at Committee throughout 2011, it
has been noted that the various activities of the Heritage Services work unit
should have been included in the Term of Council workplan. Accordingly the
workplan notes the major work items to be undertaken by this unit for the
remainder of this Term of Council.
Two items discussed at Committee in 2011 for inclusion in the workplan
have not been included in this plan. The first was direction at Committee in
December 2011 to undertake a “detailed
Zoning study for the Byward Market that examines the possibility of limiting
restaurant uses, for consideration along with studies of other identified main
street priority areas”. Staff are recommending that resources not be dedicated
to this assignment as the Market area has been subject already to an Interim
Control By-law in 2006 related to bars and nightclubs and in addition has had
its zoning reviewed in the course of the creation of the Comprehensive Zoning
By-law. It is staff’s position that the Market has evolved into a vibrant and
dynamic centre for both tourists and the many residents now living in new
developments as envisioned by the Official Plan, and as such that the City
should limit its interference in its natural evolution particularly where the
zoning permits the use.
The
second item is the September 1, 2011 direction from the Ottawa Built Heritage
Advisory Committee to “review the feasability of the creation of a Heritage
Conservation District or the implementation of a Heritage Overlay on all
Colonel By properties facing the Rideau Canal between Bank Street and Bronson
Avenue” as set out in Document 2 of this report. At this time the Heritage
unit, has a set workplan and it has been determined that an exercise of this
magnitude cannot be completed within the existing staff complement unless
another project is deferred.
At
the Planning Committee meeting of January 12, 2012 Committee directed staff to
bring forward a discussion of height limit reviews in residential
neighbourhoods as part of this report. Staff recognize the need to be more
proactive in addressing unique neighbourhood zoning and height concerns outside
of the development review and Community Design Plan processes and do wish to
work more collaboratively with neighbourhoods on targeted small-scale zoning
reviews. As this direction has come post the budget approval process, and as
the existing complement of 2.5 FTEs in the Zoning studies group is focussed on
the implementation of the density targets on Traditional and Arterial
mainstreets and reconciling the Zoning By-law to the Official Plan, a request
for further resources will be brought forward as part of Budget 2013.
RURAL IMPLICATIONS
Several of these projects relate as well to the rural area and will include consultation in the rural area and joint-reporting to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
CONSULTATION
The Term of Council departmental workplan was created based on a review of Advisory Committee workplans, a scan of issues of interest as identified in public consultations on other planning matters and through ongoing consultations with the development industry and was approved in May 2011 by Committee. As the updates to the plan are administrative in nature, no further consultation was undertaken.
Not applicable – City-Wide report.
There are no legal implications associated with this report.
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
There are no risk management implications associated with this report.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Funding for the 2012 workplan is available from within existing resources. Funding for future year workplans is subject to the annual budget process and Council approval.
ACCESSIBILITY IMPACT
Accessibility considerations will be addressed in all policy initiatives brought forward by the Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no environment implications associated with this report.
There are no direct technical implications associated with this report.
Not applicable
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 Planning and Growth Management Term of Council Workplan 2012, 2013, and 2014
Document 2 Request for Analysis of heritage protection options for Colonel By Drive properties facing the Rideau Canal (from Bank Street to Bronson Avenue)
DISPOSITION
The Planning and Growth Management Department will undertake the initiatives outlined in the report and where appropriate will bring forward implementing reports to Committee. The Department will report to Planning Committee in 2013 after the budget is approved by Council with any amendments to the workplan.
DOCUMENT
2
REQUEST FOR ANALYSIS OF HERITAGE PROTECTION
OPTIONS
FOR COLONEL BY DRIVE PROPERTIES FACING THE RIDEAU
CANAL
(FROM BANK STREET TO BRONSON
AVENUE)
Report to/Rapport au :
Comité de l’urbanisme
8 November 2011 / le 8 novembre 2011
Submitted by/Soumis
par : Ottawa
Built Heritage Advisory Committee / Comité consultative sur le patrimoine bâti d’Ottawa
Contact
Person/Personne resource : Melody, Duffenais,
Committee Coordinator /
Coordinatrice des
comités
613-580-2424 x20113, Melody.Duffenais@ottawa.ca
|
Ref N°:ACS2011-CMR-OBH-0003 |
OBJET : DEMANDE D’ANALYSE D’OPTIONS DE PROTECTION DU
PATRIMOINE VISANT LES PROPRIÉTÉS DE LA PROMENADE COLONEL BY FAISANT FACE AU
CANAL RIDEAU (DE LA RUE BANK À L’AVENUE BRONSON)
REPORT RECOMMENDATION(S)
That Planning Committee
recommend that Council direct staff to prepare an analysis, to be completed and
reported back to the OBHAC within three months of approval of this
recommendation by Council, on the feasibility of the creation of a Heritage
Conservation District or the implementation of a Heritage Overlay, whichever is
deemed most appropriate, on all Colonel By Drive properties facing the Rideau
Canal between Bank Street and Bronson Avenue.
RECOMMANDATION(S) DU
RAPPORT
Que
le Comité de l’urbanisme recommande au Conseil de charger le personnel de
préparer une analyse, à soumettre au CCPBO dans les trois mois suivant l’adoption
par le Conseil de la présente recommandation, sur la possibilité de créer un
district de conservation du patrimoine ou une désignation à valeur
patrimoniale, selon ce qui sera jugé le plus approprié, pour toutes les
propriétés de la promenade Colonel By faisant face au canal Rideau, entre la
rue Bank et l’avenue Bronson
BACKGROUND
At its meetings on 4 August and 1 September 2011, the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (OBHAC) considered a request from a resident of Capital ward seeking designation of the house at 9 Rosedale Avenue, at the corner of Colonel By Drive. After considering the background information and correspondence provided by residents, the Committee agreed with Heritage Planning staff’s evaluation of the property and did not feel it met the criteria to warrant heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. However, the Committee felt that the general area in question has heritage value and considered whether the implementation of a Heritage Overlay or the creation of a Heritage Conservation District would be appropriate tools to achieve an adequate level of protection. At its meeting on 1 September, the OBHAC approved the following motion:
That
the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (OBHAC) recommend the Planning
Committee recommend that Council direct staff to prepare an analysis, to be
completed and reported back to the OBHAC within three months of approval of
this recommendation by Council, on the feasibility of the creation of a
Heritage Conservation District or the implementation of a Heritage Overlay,
whichever is deemed most appropriate, on all Colonel By Drive properties facing
the Rideau Canal between Bank Street and Bronson Avenue.
DISCUSSION
It was the opinion of the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee,
following presentations by community residents, that the properties bordering
the Rideau Canal UNESCO Heritage Site were in need of additional
protections. The committee members
lacked sufficient available information to make a recommendation regarding the
nature of the protections and felt that it was necessary that staff prepare the
reports and background information required to move forward with strengthening
the heritage protections in this area.
The proximity to the Rideau Canal site was the primary motivation to
further protections on this stretch of Colonel By Drive. Properties on the
opposite side of the Canal from the proposed study area, fronting onto the
Queen Elizabeth Driveway, already have been afforded the protection of a heritage
overlay. Section 4.6 of the City of Ottawa Official Plan already requires a
cultural heritage impact statement for development applications near the Rideau
Canal. Section 4.6.3 speaks further to the protections around river corridors,
including the Rideau Canal. It states,
“The City will ensure that the shoreline of
the Ottawa River, Rideau River and Canal, and other shorelines in the city
remain accessible and that the river landscapes, which include farms and wooded
areas, are maintained and improved, in terms of their cultural heritage, scenic
quality, and recreation and economic benefits.”
The committee feels that additional protections than are already afforded to the area are needed to successfully meet those stated objectives of protecting both the scenic quality and the cultural heritage of the Rideau Canal. Continual development proposals along this path, while not necessarily having a deleterious effect on the heritage value of the Canal, do have the potential to damage the scenic views from and of the Canal should they not be more stringently reviewed as any of the methods suggested in the Committee’s recommendation would require.
The UNESCO decision regarding the Rideau Canal also noted the potential need for future examination of additional protections outside the 30m buffer established around the Canal. Decision - 31COM 8B.35 - Nomination of natural, mixed and cultural properties to the world heritage list - Rideau Canal states;
“4. Recommends that following the completion of the study of the visual setting of the canal, consideration is given to strengthening its visual protection outside the buffer zone, in order to ensure the visual values of the setting are protected alongside environmental values.”
It was suggested by staff that the recommended studies remain underway by Parks Canada, however the recommendation for additional visual protection outside the buffer is an important consideration for examining improved measures to preserve the built heritage near the Canal. It was recognized by UNESCO in 2007 that additional measures were needed, and to date very little has been done in regards to that recommendation.
The heritage value of the historic corridor along Colonel By Drive into the downtown was also raised as an important reason to further protect the houses that border it. This has been a traditional access route for visiting dignitaries and VIP’s and due to that is key to the representation of Ottawa to a broader community.
The traditional landscape that edges these two corridors needs additional protection if it is to retain the strong cultural heritage value that exists there today.
Planning and Growth Management
Department Comment
At the present time, staff lack the capacity to undertake the requested
analysis. It will however be reviewed as
part of the Department’s 2012 and beyond Work Plans.
RURAL
IMPLICATIONS
There are no rural implications associated with the recommendation in this report.
CONSULTATION
Notice of this meeting was advertised on the City’s website as per
Section 77(1)(b) of the Procedure By-law.
COMMENTS BY THE
WARD COUNCILLOR(S)
Councillor Chernushenko was consulted on this report and provided the
following comment:
“I strongly support the recommendation of the
Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee. The area in question has considerable
heritage value and should warrant either the implementation of a Heritage
Overlay or the establishment of a Heritage Conservation District.”
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
There are no legal implications associated with
this report.
RISK MANAGEMENT
IMPLICATIONS
There are no risk
management implications associated with the report recommendation.
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
There are no direct financial implications
associated with this report.
ACCESSIBILITY
IMPACTS
There are no
accessibility impacts associated with the report recommendation.
TECHNOLOGICAL
IMPLICATIONS
There are no direct technical implications associated with this report.
CITY STRATEGIC
PLAN
Following the results of the analysis, any recommendations from the
Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee with respect to heritage protection measures
would correlate to the following City Strategic Plan directions:
Objective:
Operationalize the Ottawa 20/20 Arts and Heritage Plan and the recently
approved Museum Sustainability Plan.
Objective: Manage
growth and create sustainable communities by:
·
Becoming
leading edge in community and urban design
·
Ensuring
that new growth is integrated seamlessly with established communities
·
Ensuring
that community facilities are built in tandem with new development
·
Evaluating
the impact of policy and development decisions on communities
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION
Appendix 1 – Extract of Minutes from the
Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee meeting of 1 September 2011
DISPOSITION
If approved by Council, heritage planning staff are to undertake an
analysis of the specified area and report back to the OBHAC (within three
months of Council approval) with a detailed summary of options for heritage
protection of the properties in question.
APPENDIX 1
|
Ottawa built heritage Advisory Committee Minutes
10 1 september 2011 |
|
Comité consultatif sur le patrimoine bâti
d’ottawa Procès-verbal
10 le 1 septembre 2011 |
|
|
|
|
memo from staff with respect to 9 ROSEDALE AVENUE
note de service du personnel
CONCERNANT 9, AVENUE ROSEDALE
Capital/capitale (17)
Member Whamond declared a Conflict of Interest on this matter due to
the nature of his employment and the subject area in question. He left the room for the duration of
discussion on this item.
As a follow-up to the discussion that occurred on this subject at the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (OBHAC) meeting of 4 August 2011, the committee received the above-noted memorandum dated 24 August 2011 from Sally Coutts, Heritage Planner. She submitted an updated Heritage Survey and Evaluation Form that reflected the information presented to the committee at its August 4th meeting. She indicated that heritage staff did not feel the additional information was sufficient to increase their original scoring of 5.5/9. She asked OBHAC to review the Heritage Survey Form and make a recommendation regarding the significance of the house at 9 Rosedale Avenue, as per the public request they had considered on August 4th. A copy of the memo is held on file pursuant to the City’s Records Retention and Disposition By-law.
The committee heard the following delegations:
Michael Lynch disagreed with staff’s scoring of the property, suggesting the contextual value is considerable because of its placement just outside the buffer zone of the Rideau Canal corridor, a designated world heritage site. He asked the committee to consider this unique setting and relationship and to recommend the contextual value of the heritage evaluation be increased sufficiently to warrant protection of the property. A copy of Mr. Lynch’s more detailed comments is held on file pursuant to the City’s Records Retention and Disposition By-law.
David Jeanes, Heritage Ottawa disagreed with staff’s scoring of the property in terms of historical value, suggesting that greater significance should have been given to the previous owner, W. Frank Jones, Manager of the Ottawa Dairy. He also felt the scoring for the contextual value could be increased because the house supports the character and values of the area. Mr. Jeanes indicated that Heritage Ottawa would support the creation of a Heritage Conservation District, even were it to include just that block of Rosedale Avenue.
Michael Patenaude provided some historical details about 9 Rosedale Avenue and suggested the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission should work together to bring that type of history to the forefront. He felt that staff should have scored the historical value of the property higher. He spoke in support of the creation of a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) for Old Ottawa South in the vicinity of Rosedale Avenue and Colonel By Drive and offered to apply for heritage designation for his own home on Colonel By Drive to participate in this potential HCD. He suggested that demolition of 9 Rosedale would permanently deface the streetscape and might end the chance for such a heritage designation. A copy of more detailed comments submitted by Mr. Patenaude and Rhonda Francis is held on file pursuant to the City’s Records Retention and Disposition By-law.
Lydia Oak restated her original position, as presented to OBHAC on August 4th, that 9 Rosedale should be designated. She suggested the property’s contextual value is significant, noting its relationship to the Rideau Canal, its prominence as a community landmark and gateway to Rosedale Avenue, and a 100-125-year old tree located on its lot. She remarked that several neighbours have expressed interest in working toward a HCD and will work with their community association and anyone else willing to move that forward. Ms. Oak submitted written correspondence to the committee on 30 and 31 August (the latter submitted jointly with her husband Brian Oak), copies of which are held on file pursuant to the City’s Records Retention and Disposition By-law.
Maggie Asher Biesterfeld spoke in opposition to the demolition of 9 Rosedale Avenue.
William Price, Secretary and Board Member, Heritage Ottawa proposed that OBHAC recommend a Heritage Conservation District study be initiated for the area, which could lead to the implementation of an interim control bylaw on development for the area in question while it is being reviewed.
In addition to the comments submitted by the aforementioned
delegations, the committee received the following correspondence on this
matter:
Emails from:
·
Lydia
Oak on behalf of Alex Rankin
·
Ann
d. Sharp dated 26 August 2011
·
Gurneen
Sidhu dated 29 August 2011
·
Joy
Large dated 29 August 2011
·
Karen
Smith and Bob Irvine dated 29 August 2011
·
Edward
Mexiner-Ruzylo dated 29 August 2011
·
Evelyn
Stein dated 30 August 2011
·
Lynne
Eagan dated 30 August 2011
·
Don
Westwood dated 30 August 2011
·
Chris
Black dated 30 August 2011
·
Michaël
Gazier & Tania Claes received on August 30
·
Kathleen
Marsman dated 31 August 2011
·
Randy
Ervin dated 31 August 2011
·
Dorothy
Rogers dated 31 August 2011
·
Kathy
Krywicki dated 1 September 2011
·
Brendan
McCoy, OSWatch Co-Chair, Old Ottawa South Community Association Inc. (OSCA)
dated 1 September 2011.
After considering the information and comments provided by both residents and staff, the committee did not feel the house met the criteria to warrant heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. However, the committee felt that the general area in question has heritage value and considered whether the implementation of a Heritage Overlay or the creation of a Heritage Conservation District would be appropriate tools to achieve an adequate level of protection. They felt that an analysis of the two options would be beneficial and passed the following motion.
Moved by Jérôme Doutriaux:
That the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (OBHAC) recommend the Planning Committee recommend Council direct staff to prepare an analysis, to be completed and reported back to the OBHAC within three months of approval of this recommendation by Council, on the feasibility of the creation of a Heritage Conservation District or the implementation of a Heritage Overlay.
CARRIED
Action: The committee will prepare and submit a report to the Planning Committee and Council for consideration with respect to the above-noted motion.