Vars Neighbourhood Plan

Why choose Vars for a pilot Neighbourhood Planning Initiative?

Vars is a small, stable rural community with a population of 1365. It is located approximately 25 kilometres east of downtown Ottawa, and one kilometre off Highway 417. Approximately 900 residents live in the village proper, and the remainder live in the surrounding area. Vars is a relatively affluent community, but provides limited employment opportunities so many Vars residents commute to Ottawa for work.

Vars was chosen as a rural neighbourhood with a “carte blanche” opportunity as it had no other City projects scheduled during the time of the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI).

What public consultation took place?

Beginning in September 2007, Vars residents attended over 40 meetings, including two open houses, and developed 60 recommendations for their community.

What were the outcomes in Vars?

The two-year neighbourhood planning process in Vars produced a number of significant outcomes, including:

• An improved relationship between the residential care home residents and the broader community
• The reactivation of the Vars Community Association
• Highlighting the need for a community centre located in the village
• Coordinating new community signage and confirming the construction of a new village welcome sign
• Agreement on a number of top priorities that need to be addressed in the community

What are the next steps in Vars?

• Community Sustainability staff are now working with residents in Vars and other City departments to implement the Vars Neighbourhood Plan
• The Neighbourhood Plan represents the community’s vision and priorities today and for the future, and is intended to be the first point of reference for any planned work in Vars
• Community Sustainability staff are developing a framework to integrate the NPI with other City planning tools to build more sustainable communities.

For more information on the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative, contact NP_PdQ@ottawa.ca.