1.             OLD OTTAWA EAST COMMUNITY DESIGN PLAN, SECONDARY PLAN, OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT

 

PLAN DE CONCEPTION COMMUNAUTAIRE POUR LE VIEIL OTTAWA EST, PLAN SECONDAIRE, MODIFICATION DU PLAN OFFICIEL ET MODIFICATION DU RÈGLEMENT DE ZONAGE

 

 

Committee recommendationS

 

(This matter is Subject to Bill 51)

 

That Council:

 

1.                  Approve the Old Ottawa East Community Design Plan (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk and shown as Document 5);

 

2.         Approve an amendment to the Official Plan, Schedule B, to change the Traditional Mainstreet designation for Main Street south of Clegg Street to General Urban Area, to designate Hawthorne Avenue between Colonel By and Main Street as Traditional Mainstreet, and to change the designation of various lands to Mixed Use Centre or Major Open Space, all of which is shown in Document 2 and detailed in Document 6;

 

3.                  Approve an amendment to the Official Plan to add to Volume 2A the Old Ottawa East Secondary Plan as detailed in Document 6 (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk); and

 

4.                  Approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 to change the zoning of properties marked as Areas A to R on Document 3, all of which is detailed in Document 4.

 

 

RecommandationS DU Comité

 

(Cette question est assujettie au Règlement 51)

 

Que le Conseil :

 

1.                  approuve le plan de conception communautaire pour le Vieil Ottawa-Est (distribué séparément et conservé dans les dossiers du greffier municipal, étant le document 5);

 

2.                  approuve une modification du Plan officiel, annexe B, afin de faire passer le zonage de la rue Main située au sud de la rue Clegg de « rue principale traditionnelle » à « zone urbaine générale », d’attribuer la désignation « rue principale traditionnelle » à l'avenue Hawthorne entre la promenade Colonel-By et la rue Main et d’attribuer à divers terrains la désignation « centre polyvalent » ou « grande aire ouverte », comme l’illustre le document 2 et le précise le document 6;

 

3.                  approuve une modification du Plan officiel afin d'ajouter au volume 2A le Plan secondaire du Vieil Ottawa-Est, comme le précise le document 6 (distribué séparément et conservé dans les dossiers du greffier municipal); et

 

4.                  approuve une modification du Règlement de zonage 2008-250 afin de changer le zonage des propriétés constituant la zone A à R dans le document 3, comme le précise le document 4;

 

 

Documentation

 

1.      Deputy City Manager's report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, dated 13 June 2011 (ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0115).

 

2.      Extract of Minutes 16, Planning Committee meeting of 28 June 2011

 


Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

13 June 2011 / le 13 juin 2011

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager

Directrice municipale adjointe, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability

Services d'infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

 

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Richard Kilstrom, Manager/Gestionnaire, Policy Development and Urban Design Branch/Élaboration des Politiques et Design urbain, Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance

(613) 580-2424, 22653 Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

 

Capital (17)

Ref N°: ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0115

 

 

SUBJECT:

Old Ottawa East community Design Plan, Secondary PLan, Official Plan Amendment and Zoning by-law amendment

 

 

OBJET :

plan de conception communautaire pour le vieil Ottawa Est, PLan Secondaire, modification du Plan officiel et modification du Règlement de zonage

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Planning Committee recommend Council:

 

1.                  Approve the Old Ottawa East Community Design Plan (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk and shown as Document 5);

 

2.                  Approve an amendment to the Official Plan, Schedule B, to change the Traditional Mainstreet designation for Main Street south of Clegg Street to General Urban Area, to designate Hawthorne Avenue between Colonel By and Main Street as Traditional Mainstreet, and to change the designation of various lands to Mixed Use Centre or Major Open Space, all of which is shown in Document 2 and detailed in Document 6;

 

3.                  Approve an amendment to the Official Plan to add to Volume 2A the Old Ottawa East Secondary Plan as detailed in Document 6 (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk); and

 

4.                  Approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 to change the zoning of properties marked as Areas A to R on Document 3, all of which is detailed in Document 4.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme recommande au Conseil :

 

1.                  d'approuver le plan de conception communautaire pour le Vieil Ottawa-Est (distribué séparément et conservé dans les dossiers du greffier municipal, étant le document 5);

 

2.                  d'approuver une modification du Plan officiel, annexe B, afin de faire passer le zonage de la rue Main située au sud de la rue Clegg de « rue principale traditionnelle » à « zone urbaine générale », d’attribuer la désignation « rue principale traditionnelle » à l'avenue Hawthorne entre la promenade Colonel-By et la rue Main et d’attribuer à divers terrains la désignation « centre polyvalent » ou « grande aire ouverte », comme l’illustre le document 2 et le précise le document 6;

 

3.                  d'approuver une modification du Plan officiel afin d'ajouter au volume 2A le Plan secondaire du Vieil Ottawa-Est, comme le précise le document 6 (distribué séparément et conservé dans les dossiers du greffier municipal); et

 

4.                  d'approuver une modification du Règlement de zonage 2008-250 afin de changer le zonage des propriétés constituant la zone A à R dans le document 3, comme le précise le document 4.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

Assumptions and Analysis

 

This report recommends approval of the Old Ottawa East Community Design Plan (CDP), the Old Ottawa East Secondary Plan covering the same area as the CDP, and related Zoning By-law amendments, which contribute to the implementation of these plans.

 

The planning strategy of the CDP and Secondary Plan provide a framework for change that will see Old Ottawa East as it is today become the community of tomorrow.  A unifying vision foresees an attractive and livable urban community, based on “green” principles and featuring a wide mix of uses, enhanced green spaces, excellent transit service and well-designed development that will build the area’s diversity and vibrancy.  Compatible intensification will occur primarily on appropriate sites along the Traditional Mainstreets, including Main Street, Hawthorne Avenue, and the Mixed Use Centre along Lees Avenue adjacent to the Lees Transit Station, where Official Plan policy objectives related to compatible development can be met.

 

The CDP area currently contains about 5100 dwelling units.  A minimum intensification target for the area projected to 2030 would add 1500 new dwellings, which represents a moderate increase from the existing zoning development potential.

 

The CDP also projects that the current mix of residential and commercial uses on the Mainstreets will continue; that some of the existing institutional uses will be replaced by residential/commercial mixed use; and that the Lees Avenue Mixed Use Centre will continue to provide an opportunity for increased office employment use in association with the development of the University of Ottawa campus and the Lees Transit Station.

 

The CDP proposes a detailed building envelope and infill development guidelines derived from a broad-based assessment of the Old Ottawa East area to help achieve the Official Plan’s compatibility principles for intensification in established neighbourhoods.  More specific guidance is provided in particular for the properties currently owned by the Oblate Fathers, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and St. Paul University, which have considerable redevelopment potential and where a change in ownership and use is expected in the near term.

 

A greenspace network strategy is also proposed, including improved pathway links to the Rideau River and Canal, enhancement of Ballantyne Park and Legget Park as civic spaces, and the greenway corridor along the Rideau River with its string of recreation facilities, natural features and scenic river frontage.

 

The CDP planning exercise made use of the findings of the Main Street Traffic and Streetscape Study (Delcan, 2000) to determine the potential changes to the road system and streetscape environment.  A number of improvements have been carried out in the past decade and there remains the potential for more depending on traffic volumes and road reconstruction.

 

The financial implications of the Old Ottawa East CDP and Secondary Plan are that it contains several proposals for capital improvements to streets, parks and City facilities throughout the area.  When these initiatives come forward in future work programs, they will have budget implications that will be addressed at that time.

 

A summary of the public consultation program, including the comments received, is detailed in Document 7.

 

Financial Implications:

 

Capital improvement project proposals listed in the implementation section of the Community Design Plan, and in the Appendix of the Secondary Plan, that require City funding, will be brought forward through the City’s capital budget and will be subject to Council approval.

 

If any of the amendments adopted through this report were to be appealed to the OMB and the City is required to retain an outside firm, then a precise estimate of the cost will be provided by the City Clerk and Solicitor Department at the time.

 

Public Consultation/Input:

 

Notice of the subject amendments was carried out in conformity with the City's Public Notification and Consultation Policy.  Outstanding issues related to the subject amendments include the permitted height of buildings within the Traditional Mainstreet, intensification targets, and the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor.

 

RÉSUMÉ

 

Hypothèses et analyse

 

Le présent rapport recommande l’approbation du Plan de conception communautaire (PCC) pour le Vieil Ottawa-Est, du Plan secondaire pour le Vieil Ottawa-Est, qui porte sur le même secteur que le PCC, ainsi que des modifications de zonage connexes, qui concourent à la mise en œuvre de ces plans.

 

La stratégie d’urbanisme contenue dans le PCC et le Plan secondaire prévoient un cadre de changement en vertu duquel le Vieil Ottawa-Est d’aujourd’hui deviendra la communauté de demain.  Une vision unificatrice prévoit une communauté urbaine attrayante, où il fait bon vivre, basée sur des principales écologiques et comportant des utilisations variées, de meilleurs espaces verts, un excellent service de transport en commun et un développement bien conçu, qui assurera la diversité et le dynamisme du secteur.  Il y aura une densification compatible, qui s’effectuera principalement sur des sites appropriés, le long des rues principales traditionnelles, notamment la rue Main, l’avenue Hawthorne et le centre polyvalent situé le long de l’avenue Lees, dans le voisinage de la station de transport en commun Lees, où il est possible d’atteindre les objectifs du Plan officiel en matière d’aménagement compatible.

 

Le secteur visé par le PCC compte environ 5 100 logements à l’heure actuelle.  L’objectif de densification minimum fixé pour 2030 devrait donner lieu à l’ajout de 1 500 logements, ce qui constitue une augmentation modérée, par rapport au potentiel de développement inhérent au zonage actuel.

 

Le PCC prévoit aussi que la combinaison actuelle d’utilisations résidentielles et commerciales le long des rues principales sera maintenue; que certaines des utilisations institutionnelles seront remplacées par une utilisation résidentielle et commerciale; et que le centre polyvalent de l’avenue Lees continuera d’offrir la possibilité d’accroître le nombre d’emplois de bureau, parallèlement au développement du campus de l’Université d’Ottawa et de la station de transport en commun Lees.

 

Le PCC propose des lignes directrices détaillées pour ce qui concerne l’enveloppe des bâtiments et les aménagements intercalaires. Ces lignes directrices découlent d’une évaluation générale du Vieil Ottawa-Est qui avait pour but de contribuer à l’application des principes de compatibilité énoncés dans le Plan officiel pour ce qui est de la densification des quartiers établis.  Le PCC énonce aussi certaines orientations plus précises, notamment en ce qui concerne les propriétés qui appartiennent aux Pères Oblats, aux Sœurs du Sacré-Cœur et à l’Université St‑Paul. Ces propriétés comportent un potentiel de réaménagement considérable et l’on s’attend à ce qu’elles fassent l’objet d’un changement de propriétaire et d’utilisation à court terme.

 

Le Plan prévoit également une stratégie d’établissement d’un réseau d’espaces verts, et notamment l’amélioration des sentiers de raccordement à la rivière et au canal Rideau ainsi que la mise en valeur des parcs Ballantyne et Legget comme lieux publics et du couloir de verdure le long de la rivière Rideau, qui comporte une série d’installations récréatives, de caractéristiques naturelles et de grèves panoramiques.


Les auteurs du PCC se sont appuyés sur les conclusions de l’étude sur la circulation et le paysage de rue sur la rue Main (Delcan, 2000) pour déterminer les modifications possibles au réseau routier et au paysage de rue.  La dernière décennie a donné lieu à un certain nombre d’améliorations et d’autres peuvent être apportées, en fonction de la densité du trafic et de la réfection des routes.

 

Les répercussions financières du PCC et du Plan secondaire pour le Vieil Ottawa-Est tiennent au fait qu’il propose plusieurs améliorations aux immobilisations dans les rues, les parcs et les installations municipales du secteur.  Lorsque ces initiatives seront mises en œuvre dans le cadre de programmes de travaux futurs, elles auront des répercussions budgétaires dont il faudra alors tenir compte.

 

Le document 7 renferme un résumé du programme de consultation publique, y compris des commentaires qui ont été reçus.

 

Répercussions financières

 

Les propositions de projets d'amélioration des immobilisations énumérées dans la section « Mise en œuvre » du Plan de conception communautaire, ainsi que dans l’annexe du Plan secondaire, et qui requièrent un financement de la Ville, seront examinées dans le cadre du budget des immobilisations de la Ville et seront sujettes à l’approbation du Conseil.

 

Si l’une ou l’autre des recommandations adoptées par le biais du présent rapport devait faire l’objet d’un appel à la CAMO et que la Ville doive retenir les services d’une firme extérieure, alors une estimation précise des coûts sera fournie par le Bureau du greffier municipal et chef du contentieux à ce moment-là.

 

Consultation publique/commentaires :

 

Les modificatons en cause ont donné lieu à la publication d'avis conformément à la politique sur les consultations et les avis publics. Les questions qui demeurent en suspens relativement aux modifications en cause concernent la hauteur permise des immeubles sur les rues principales traditionnelles, les objectifs de densification et le couloir de transport d'Alta Vista.     

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

In the fall of 2005, the Old Ottawa East Community Association (OOECA) responded to development occurring on Main Street by organizing workshops to create a vision for the future of the community.

 

A survey was also conducted to gain input from the community.  This helped to expand on the key themes that emerged in the workshops by generating a list of desired land uses.  With the support of then Councillor Clive Doucet’s office, a request for staff and resources was brought forward to Committee and Council to initiate a Community Design Plan process that would test and formalize the community vision created in the workshop setting. 

 

A Public Advisory Committee (PAC) was formed with representatives from the OOECA, institutional and business stakeholders in the community.  A “terms of reference” was drafted in consultation with the PAC, and the CDP proceeded through a process that spanned three years, including three public open house meetings where several drafts of the CDP were presented and discussed with the community.  The City website has been used to track the planning process and provide updates on the CDP as it progressed.  Comments from the open houses were also posted on the site with links to reference material and related planning documents.

 

The goal of the process is to prepare a CDP focused on Main Street but also responsive to the vision of the Old Ottawa East community as a whole.  The plan is meant to provide a broad and integrated 20-year vision and guidance for the growth of the area.

 

The CDP boundaries as shown on the Location Map, (Document 1) generally include Colonel By Drive on the north, the Rideau Canal on the west, the Rideau River on the east, the McIlright Bridge and Riverdale Avenue on the south.  Main Street is the existing Traditional Mainstreet that bisects the community north to south.  The CDP encompasses a number of smaller neighbourhoods that are influenced by their proximity to Main Street, including Archville, Spenceville, and Rideau Gardens.  The large size and varied character of the planning area necessitated that it be divided into a number of precincts along the length of the Main Street corridor and its adjoining neighbourhoods.

 

This CDP was prepared for presentation to Planning Committee last June but the institutional property owners (Oblate Fathers, Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and St. Paul University) requested a deferral to allow a more detailed process to consider options for the development of their land.  As this was considered to be an important parcel (12 hectares) within the community and the owners had not previously engaged in the CDP process, it was decided to defer the approval until a Demonstration Plan could be produced to illustrate and inform further detailed policy direction and zoning for this land.  The process over the past year has involved staff working with consultants for these owners and the community to develop a Demonstration Plan.  A number of workshops and related meetings were held over the past year, which culminated in a public open house on March 10th at St. Paul University.  The Plan was generally well received by the community with a few issues being raised with respect to vehicle access to Clegg Street, provision for community gardens within the plan, the desire for indoor programmable community space, and the height and density proposed.  The community representatives on the Public Advisory Committee generally support the Demonstration Plan and do not consider these issues to be a barrier to its approval.  The Demonstration Plan is attached as Appendix 1 to the CDP and the Powerpoint presentation of this plan is available for viewing on the Ottawa East Community Association website.

 

DISCUSSION

 

RECOMMENDATION 1

 

Recommendation 1 is to approve the CDP as Council’s direction for the future development of the Old Ottawa East area.  The Plan projects a broad and integrated 20-year guiding vision for the growth of the area. 

 


It provides a survey of existing conditions, policies to direct future change within the various precincts and neighbourhoods of the community, and an implementation strategy, including zoning, built heritage, transportation and streetscape improvements, capital projects, and design guidelines.  As such the CDP provides a framework to manage and assess changes to land use and built form within the community to the year 2031.

 

 

Planning Strategy

 

The CDP’s planning strategy will provide direction for change that will see the community as it is today evolve into the vision for the future.  This unifying vision foresees an attractive and liveable urban community, based on sustainable planning principles and featuring a wide mix of uses, improved green spaces, excellent transit, cycling and pedestrian connections and well-designed development that will enhance the area’s diversity and vibrancy.  Compatible intensification will occur on appropriate Traditional Mainstreet sites along and contiguous with Main Street and Hawthorne Avenue, and within the Lees Avenue Mixed Use Centre adjacent to the Lees Transit Station, as directed by the Official Plan.  Urban Design policies will direct that the valued existing characteristics of the community are retained and enhanced.  It will also ensure that new development of the public and private realm will contribute to a compact, mixed-use, walkable and sustainable built form.  Parks and open spaces will be improved in order to fulfill their role to serve for recreation, leisure, natural environment and civic design functions.  Heritage resources will be identified, conserved and integrated with new development.  Pathways and routes through the community will provide improved access.  Infrastructure will be upgraded over time to ensure that the growth anticipated by the land use designations and zoning can be accommodated.

 

As the CDP process was undertaken concurrent with the creation of a new Comprehensive Zoning By-law for the city, there was an opportunity to influence the zoning for the study area as the plan was being formed.  Some major aspects of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law, such as the building envelope for the Traditional Mainstreet (TM) zone, were based on experience gained with examples from Main Street in Old Ottawa East.  Therefore, when the new Zoning By-law 2008-250 was adopted in May of 2008 it included much of the zoning that is appropriate to implement the policies of this CDP.  There remain a few zoning amendments for the Traditional Mainstreet corridor and more extensive changes for the lands currently owned by the Oblate Fathers, Sisters of the Sacred Heart and St. Paul University that are referred to in Recommendation 4 to bring the zoning into conformity with the general intent of the CDP and the more specific proposals of the Demonstration Plan that is attached as Appendix 1 to the CDP.

 

While there are currently no heritage districts and only three designated properties within the community there are a number of properties that are on the Heritage Reference List.  Among the properties identified as having heritage interest are a number of schools and monastic buildings that have considerable potential for adaptive reuse in any redevelopment.  Therefore the CDP suggests that an architectural conservation study be undertaken with respect to any proposal for redevelopment of a property that is included on the Heritage Reference List.  This will ensure that all options for heritage conservation are explored early in the Site Plan process.

 

The CDP projects that a minimum of 1500 new residential units could be built in the community out to the time horizon of 2031.  This is a moderate expectation relative to the 2500 dwelling units representing full build-out of the properties designated as Traditional Mainstreet. 

Much of the potential increase in units is focused on the Traditional Mainstreet corridor along Main Street and Hawthorne Avenue as well as the Mixed Use Centre at the east end of Lees Avenue and the Lees Transit Station.  Contiguous to Main Street are the institutional lands currently owned by the Oblate Fathers, Sisters of the Sacred Heart and St. Paul University that provide a large portion (minimum 1000 dwelling units) of the potential for intensification in Old Ottawa East.

 

Housing affordability is addressed in the CDP by reinforcing the policy direction of the Official Plan.  Essentially the goal to provide 25 per cent of new housing within the affordable range will be applied within the area of Old Ottawa East.  This will ensure that a proportional allotment of affordable housing is provided within the community.

 

Capital improvement projects are listed and described in the CDP in order to identify the public realm improvements that will be undertaken as part of any street reconstruction, park development or other City facilities.  The improvements have been strategically identified to support the land use and urban design strategy of the CDP.  They will be built over the life cycle of this Plan.

 

Design guidelines are provided in the CDP to assist with the development review process with respect to projects that will be presented over the life of the plan.  Projects may be either private sector developments or public realm improvements by the City or other public agency.  The guidelines are intended to be applied with discretion and with due consideration for the context of the project.

 

RECOMMENDATION 2

 

Recommendation 2 is to amend Schedule B to the Official Plan to eliminate the Traditional Mainstreet designation for Main Street south of Clegg Street.  The Traditional Mainstreet designation was applied by City Council to the full length of Main Street as part of Official Plan Amendment 28 in 2005.  The intent was to ensure that the Mainstreet develop as a compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-orientated form of development.  However, the analysis carried out as part of this CDP reveals that the area south of Clegg Street is a stable, low-rise residential neighbourhood, which is not considered suitable for a Mainstreet built form.  Therefore, it is recommended that the length of Main Street south of Clegg Street be designated General Urban Area consistent with the remainder of the residential neighbourhoods in Old Ottawa East. 

 

Also as part of the analysis undertaken as part of this CDP, it was noted that the length of Hawthorne Avenue between Colonel By Drive and Main Street is in transition to a mix of residential, retail and service-type uses.  It forms a direct connection with the Glebe neighbourhood to the west via the Pretoria Bridge and is part of the Highway 417 collector road network.  It provides an important route for all modes of transportation through the community.  Therefore, it is considered suitable for a Traditional Mainstreet designation.  The built form will accommodate to the lot configurations that are existing along the street.

 

Modifications to the Major Open Space designation are proposed along the west bank of the Rideau River to update the configuration of this designation with respect to development that has occurred on private property, parks that exist along this corridor, and to provide the land needed to support a Multi-use Pathway in conformity with Schedule I of the Official Plan.

 

RECOMMENDATION 3

 

The adoption of a Secondary Plan, which provides an extract from the CDP, is considered important to establish the legal status of the key policy direction for Old Ottawa East.  The Secondary Plan essentially divides the CDP into three parts including Part A, The Preamble, that introduces the actual Amendment but does not constitute part of the amendment; Part B, The Amendment, constitutes the actual amendment to the Official Plan; and Part C, The Appendix, does not form part of the amendment but is provided to describe how the Amendment would be implemented.

 

RECOMMENDATION 4

 

As the Comprehensive Zoning By-law was under review during the CDP process, a number of adjustments were made to the zoning of the community as part of that review.  The CDP process informed the larger zoning review throughout the community.  However, there are zoning amendments that are proposed to address details of the CDP as follows:

 

 

Summary

 

The above-noted discussion provides the rationale for the recommendations of this report.  The CDP, Secondary Plan, Official Plan Amendment and related Zoning By-law Amendments create a comprehensive framework for evaluating new private development and set standards for improvements to the public realm within Old Ottawa East.  This is considered to be an appropriate framework for the 20-year life of the Plan, dependent on adjustments that may take place as part of five-year reviews of the Official Plan.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

CONSULTATION

 

Notice of this new CDP, Secondary Plan, related Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments was carried out in accordance with the City's Public Notification and Consultation Policy.       

 

The outstanding issues can be summarized as follows:

 

 

Detailed responses to the proposed CDP, Secondary Plan, Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments are provided in Document 7.

 

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR

 

“The CDP is a very promising document and a reflection of the hard work and commitment of all parties involved, including the property owners, the community, and City staff. As the CDP is implemented in the years ahead, all parties must remain cognizant of the additional demand for public amenities that will accompany the steady growth associated with the CDP. In that regard, additional schools, daycare, indoor community spaces, playgrounds and other community services will be in demand. More and more families with young children are returning to the urban core, as they trade long drives and large yards for walkable commutes and shared City parks. This growing trend will need be to be taken into account by all parties as the CDP moves from the drawing board to reality.

 

I am aware that some residents of Clegg Street and Marlowe Crescent do not want to allow vehicle access to the pending re-development from Clegg. However, I am inclined to agree with City planners who maintain that it is important to include access to the re-developed lands from more than one street. My sense is that developments that are not integrated into the larger surrounding community have a higher likelihood of failure.

In addition, an important objective must be to integrate in some fashion the old and new, so that residents of the new development will feel included in the older community, and that the existing community will feel comfortable coming and going through this new precinct. I have seen where restricted road and travel access has created a “gated community” feeling, and it is not a positive thing. “A balance, however, must be achieved whereby some additional flow and integration is provided but not to the point where existing, quieter residential streets become fundamentally altered or overwhelmed by a large volume of new traffic.”

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

As a City initiated matter, in the event that Council were to determine not to adopt the Official Plan Amendments and/or Zoning By-law recommended in this report, no appeal rights would exist.  In the event that the Official Plan Amendments and/or Zoning By-law are adopted substantially in the form in which they have been recommended to Council and should they be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board, it is anticipated that the hearing could be conducted within staff resources. The length of the hearing would depend upon the number and nature of the appeals to the amendments.  Should a modification be made to the amendments that Planning staff advise that they cannot provide professional opinion evidence to support, it would be necessary to retain an outside firm if an appeal of that provision were made to the Board. An estimate of the costs that would be incurred by the City could be provided if the precise details of such a modification were introduced. 

 

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no risk management implications with this report.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Capital improvement project proposals listed in the implementation section of the Community Design Plan, and in the Appendix of the Secondary Plan, that require City funding, will be brought forward through the City’s capital budget and will be subject to Council approval.

 

If any of the amendments adopted through this report were to be appealed to the OMB and the City is required to retain an outside firm, then a precise estimate of the cost will be provided by the City Clerk and Solicitor Department at the time.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Approval of the Community Design Plan will ensure that open space is protected along the Rideau River and runoff does not negatively impact on the quality and quantity of this waterway.  The intensification of development within this community will provide for a compact, mixed-use and walkable built form.  Large parcels of land will be developed with a LEED standard for environmental sustainability.  New bicycle and walking paths will be secured through the community thus providing an alternative to reliance on motorized vehicles.  New development will bring a new landscape with many new trees and shrubs and general greening of the area.

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

 

The Plan for Old Ottawa East addresses many objectives of the Strategic Plan.  In particular it excels at the following:

 

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1    Location Map

Document 2    Proposed Official Plan Amendment Map

Document 3    Proposed Zoning Amendment Map

Document 4    Details of Recommended Zoning

Document 5    Old Ottawa East Community Design Plan (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk)

Document 6    Old Ottawa East Secondary Plan (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk)

Document 7    Consultation Details

 

DISPOSITION

 

Planning and Growth Management Department to undertake the follow-up implementation measures outlined in the CDP and Secondary Plan.

 

Notify the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department and the Infrastructure Services Department of Council’s decision regarding the CDP recommendations with respect to capital projects.

 

Planning and Growth Management to prepare the by-law adopting the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law amendments, and forward to Legal Services.

 

Legal Services will forward the implementing by-laws to City Council.

 

Notify persons who made oral or written submissions at the Planning and Environment Committee meeting, as well as all persons who requested to be notified of the adoption of the Official Plan amendment and Zoning By-law amendment.

 


LOCATION MAP                                                                                                DOCUMENT 1


PROPOSED OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT MAP                                   DOCUMENT 2

 

 


PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT MAP                                                    DOCUMENT 3

 


DETAILS OF RECOMMENDED ZONING                                                      DOCUMENT 4

 

 

Details of Recommended Zoning:

 

1.      Rezone the subject properties shown on Document 3 as follows:

 

(a)    Area A is rezoned from TM7 to TM7[XXXA]

(b)   Area B1 is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to TM7[XXXB]-h

(c)    Area B2 is rezoned from R4M to TM7[XXXC]-h

(d)   Area C is rezoned from I1A[F(1.5) to GM[XXXD] H(20)-h

(e)    Area D is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to R5B[XXXE]-h

(f)    Area E is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to GM[XXXF] H(20)-h

(g)   Area F is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to O1[XXXG]-h

(h)   Area G is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to R5B[XXXH]-h

(i)     Area H is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) R3P[XXXI]-h

(j)     Area I is rezoned from R4M and I1A F(1.5) to R4M[XXXJ]-h

(k)   Area J is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to R5B[XXXK]-h

(l)     Area K is rezoned from I2A[1416] F(1.5) to TM7[XXXL]-h

(m) Area L is rezoned from I2A[1416] F(1.5) to GM[XXXM] H(20)-h

(n)   Area M is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to I2A[1416] F(1.5)

(o)   Area N is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to R5B[XXXN]-h

(p)   Area O is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to R5B[XXXO]-h/O1[XXXO]-h

(q)   Area P is rezoned from I1A F(1.5) to R5B[XXXP]-h/O1[XXXP]-h

(r)     Area Q is rezoned from GM[63] F(1.0) to GM[63] F(2.1)

 

2.      Add the following exceptions to Section 239 containing provisions similar in effect to those listed within the following Table:

 

 


 

Area on Doc. 3

Proposed Text in:

Column II

Column III

Column IV

Column V

A

TM7[XXXA]

 

 

– a parking garage is only permitted below grade

- office uses are not permitted on the ground floor

B1

TM7[XXXB]-h

 

– all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- minimum permitted building height: 15 m

- minimum permitted number of storeys: 4

– a parking garage is only permitted below grade

- office uses are not permitted on the ground floor

- Table 197(g)(ii)(3) does not apply

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

B2

TM7[XXXC]-h

 

– all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- minimum permitted building height: 15 m

- minimum permitted number of storeys: 4

– a parking garage is only permitted below grade

- office uses are not permitted on the ground floor

- Table 197(g)(ii)(3) does not apply

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXC], R4M[XXXJ] and R5B[XXXH] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

C

GM[XXXD] H(20)-h

 

– all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- animal care establishment

- animal hospital

- drive through facility

- funeral home

- service and repair shop

- small batch brewery

- technology industry

- maximum permitted number of storeys: 6

- all buildings must be mixed-use buildings

- non-residential uses may only be located on the ground floor and 2nd storey

- except for a place of assembly and community centre, the cumulative total of all non-residential uses may not exceed 30% of the gross floor area of a mixed-use building

- Table 187(g) does not apply

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

D

R5B[XXXE]-h

 

– all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- required minimum separation distances between buildings are:

(i) where the height of abutting buildings is less than or equal to 14.5: 1.2 m

(ii) in all other cases: 3 m

- maximum permitted height of an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 28 m

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

E

GM[XXXF] H(20)-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- animal care establishment

- animal hospital

- drive through facility

- funeral home

- service and repair shop

- small batch brewery

- technology industry

 

- maximum permitted number of storeys: 6

- all buildings must be mixed-use buildings

- non-residential uses may only be located on the ground floor and 2nd storey

- cumulative total of all non-residential uses may not exceed 30% of the gross floor area of a mixed-use building

- Table 187(g) does not apply

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

F

O1[XXXG]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

G

R5B[XXXH]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- maximum permitted number of storeys for an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 6

- maximum permitted height of an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 20 m

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXC], R4M[XXXJ] and R5B[XXXH] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the lot line abutting Main Street is deemed the front lot line

 

- minimum rear yard setback: 3 m

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

H

R3P [XXXI]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

I

R4M[XXXJ]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXC], R4M[XXXJ] and R5B[XXXH] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the lot line abutting Main Street is deemed the front lot line

- minimum rear yard setback: 3 m

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

J

R5B[XXXK]-h

 

 

- required minimum separation distances between buildings are:

(i) where the height of abutting buildings is less than or equal to 14.5: 1.2 m

(ii) in all other cases: 3 m

- maximum permitted height of an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 20 m

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

K

TM7[XXXL]-h

- correctional facility
- court house
- emergency service
- hospital
- parking lot
- post secondary educational institution
- shelter,
see Part 5, Section 134
- sports arena

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- minimum permitted building height: 15 m

- minimum permitted number of storeys: 4

- a parking garage is only permitted below grade

- office uses are not permitted on the ground floor

- the lands zoned I2A[1416] F(1.5), GM[XXXM] H(20), and TM7[XXXL] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

L

GM[XXXM] H(20)-h

- correctional facility
- court house
- hospital
- museum
- park
- parking garage
-parking lot
- post secondary educational institution
- school
- shelter
- sports arena

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- animal care establishment

- animal hospital

- drive through facility

- funeral home

- service and repair shop

- small batch brewery

- technology industry

- maximum permitted number of storeys: 6

- a building must be a mixed-use buildings unless the building contains only additional permitted land uses

- except for additionally permitted uses, all non-residential uses may only be located on the ground floor and 2nd storey

- cumulative total of all non-residential uses other than additional permitted uses may not exceed 30% of the gross floor area of a mixed-use building

- Table 187(g) does not apply

- the lands zoned I2A[1416] F(1.5), GM[XXXM] H(20), and TM7[XXXL] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

 

 

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

N

R5B[XXXN]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- required minimum separation distances between buildings are:

(i) where the height of abutting buildings is less than or equal to 14.5: 1.2 m

(ii) in all other cases: 3 m

- maximum permitted height of an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 20 m

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

O

R5B[XXXO]-h/O1[XXXO]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- the uses permitted are either those permitted in the O1 zone, subject to the O1 zone requirements; or those permitted in the R5B zone, subject to the requirements of the R5B zone

- required minimum separation distances between buildings in the R5B zone are:

(i) where the height of abutting buildings is less than or equal to 14.5: 1.2 m

(ii) in all other cases: 3 m

- maximum permitted height of an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 20 m

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

P

R5B[XXXP]-h/O1[XXXP]-h

 

- all uses except existing uses until the holding symbol is removed

- the uses permitted are either those permitted in the O1 zone, subject to the O1 zone requirements; or those permitted in the R5B zone, subject to the requirements of the R5B zone

- maximum permitted height of an apartment dwelling mid-high rise: 28 m

- required minimum separation distances between buildings in the R5B zone are:

(i) where the height of abutting buildings is less than or equal to 14.5: 1.2 m

(ii) in all other cases: 3 m

- the lands zoned TM7[XXXB], GM[XXXD] H(20), R5B[XXXE], GM[XXXF] H(20), O1[XXXG], R3P[XXXI], R5B[XXXK], R5B[XXXN],  R5B[XXXO] / O1[XXXO, R5B[XXXP] / O1[XXXP] are considered one lot for zoning purposes

- the holding symbol may not be removed until such time as an application for Site Plan Control has been approved

 


 

  1. Amend Exception [45] of Section 239 by adding to Column V text similar in effect to the following:

“- a parking garage is only permitted below grade”

 

  1. Amend Exception [1416] of Section 239 by adding to Column V text similar in effect to the following:

“- the lands zoned I2A[1416] F(1.5), GM[XXXM] H(20), and TM7[XXXL] are considered one lot for zoning purposes”

 

  1. Amend Exception [63] of Section 239 as follows:

 

By replacing the FSI of 1.0 in Column II with 2.1

By deleting all of the text in Column IV; and,

Inserting in Column V the text:

“- the Floor Space Index which must be provided on the lands zoned GM[XXXN] is 2.1

- the floor space index is both a minimum and a maximum”


CONSULTATION DETAILS                                                                              DOCUMENT 7

 

The impetus for this CDP was in response to an initiative of the residents in Old Ottawa East to create a vision for the future of their community.  Two workshops and a survey were conducted by the Community Association in 2005, which provide the basis of values and principles of the community vision.  The City was then formally approached through Councillor Clive Doucet’s office in 2006 to manage the CDP process.  A Public Advisory Committee was formed to provide input from the various interest groups with respect to the future development of the community.  A webpage was included on Ottawa.ca to provide a repository for information related to the CDP and to enable the public to track its progress.  Three public open houses were conducted over the course of the CDP process (June 2007, March 2008, October 2009).  Comments submitted at these sessions are provided below.  The final position of the Old Ottawa East Community Association on the CDP is provided below, with a response from planning staff on the outstanding issues.  A request from the consultants to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Oblate Fathers, and St. Paul University for deferral of the recommendations of this CDP was granted in June of 2010 and a year-long process ensued, which culminated in the presentation of a Demonstration Plan on March 10, 2011 to a public open house.  Comments from this final open house and the response of staff is attached.      

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC INPUT

 Summary of Comments: Old Ottawa East – Community Design Plan – Open House June 4th and 9th, 2007

 

.           Wants shops at the south end of Main (Smyth Bridge to Riverdale) to serve neighbourhood

.           Wider sidewalks are needed on Main and throughout the community

.           Bike path connections to Main and Col By need to be improved

.           Develop park on Hawthorne with pedestrian underpass

.           Bike path along Rideau should be stone dust (stormwater infiltration)

.           Pedestrian bridge over canal between Clegg and Fifth

.           Bury the overhead wires on Main Street

.           Calm traffic on Main Street – provide for cycling

.           Restore Beckwith pillars

.           Nature path along the Rideau – naturalize the river bank (oppose multi-purpose pathway)

.           Round a bout at Riverdale and Main is a great idea

.           Provide bike lanes on the Pretoria Bridge

.           Like General Urban designation south of Clegg

.           Like stepped building heights on Main

.           Improve river access at east end of Clegg

.           Provide low fence or wall along Main at Legget Park

.           There is a need for traffic-calming on Clegg Street to slow vehicles exiting the ball park

.           We need a plan for Legget Park (program activities and facilities)

.           The Alta Vista corridor needs to be shown on the maps given its potential impact on the neighbourhood

.           Concern that 6 storeys is too high for Main Street – 4 storeys would be better (some want 2 storeys max. not min.) – solar access

.           When the Oblate lands are redeveloped it should not be suburban tract housing but more consistent with the character of the neighbourhood.

.           Need better drainage and sewers in certain locations – overland flow and detention

.           Would like to see community gardens and a related farmer’s market

.           Agree with change of Traditional Mainstreet to General Urban south of Clegg but no concensus

.           The Lees Avenue apartment neighbourhood needs to be better connected to the larger community

.           Suggest flowing traffic is better than obstructions that impede flow (traffic calming)

.           Reduce Main Street to 3 lanes (wider lane for cyclists) and widen sidewalks

.           Springhurst zoning east of Rosemere should be changed from R5 to R3 as is surrounding neighbourhood

.           Need adequate setback of buildings on Main Street to provide for wider sidewalks

.           Properties with frontage on Main Street (north of Clegg) should address with doors facing that street

.           Road widenings can be used to increase sidewalk width

.           Properties on the west side of Main Street between Hazel and Immaculata H.S. should be Traditional Mainstreet

.           Concentrate density and retail on Main Street

.           General support for the stepped building profile along Traditional Mainstreet

.           Shoreline area within Mixed Use Centre should be naturalized

.           Ensure that residential areas are protected from intense development

.           King’s Landing is shown as a natural open space and leisure area – it is now developed as a townhouse planned unit development

.           Review area enclosed by Queensway as open space (contributing)

.           Panel 13 should indicate a focus on Main Street built form

.           Find a place for a “village square” as a focus to the community (Oblate property)

.           The above-noted comments are paraphrased from those received at the Public Open Houses held June 4th and 5th, 2007.

Old Ottawa East Community Design Plan - Comments from Public Open House – March 1, 2008

 

·           Congratulations on a terrific achievement, articulating in a fair and visionary way what the community wants.

·           Concern expressed that planning staff will support the CDP policy when development applications come forward.

·           LEED standards for building design should be a requirement of the CDP for new development.

·           Public transit should be more integrated within the community (eg. Lees transit station needs more and better sidewalk access).

·           I am impressed with the work done on the Community Development Plan.  Congratulations and thank you.

·           Sustainability is an important element of good design and should be a requirement of development that complies with the direction of the CDP.

·           A ferry across the Rideau Canal should be used as a precursor to construction of a pedestrian bridge from the foot of Clegg to Fifth Avenue.

·           I support the Traditional Mainstreet designation for Hawthorne, from the Pretoria Bridge to Main.

·           I like the Rideau River pathway idea and would suggest a dock at the end of Clegg.

·           The idea of a commercial street with shops is a good one but would be difficult without available parking and good sidewalks for pedestrians.

·           It was an excellent presentation and charts.

·           Further planning needs to be done with respect to traffic and residential infill in the area north of Hawthorne on Main and to the east of Main.

·           It was unclear how intensification and the large number of dwellings anticipated could co-exist with plans to reduce lane widths and provide for traffic calming on Main Street.  Traffic congestion along Main is already an issue at many times of the day and I see no traffic improvements.

·           Prior to completing the CDP it would be helpful to have a clear idea of the numerical amounts expected of Ottawa East with respect to intensification and time lines.

·           The potential for development of Ottawa East has been thoroughly studied but does not seem to have a plan for encouraging developers.

·           We have some concerns about extending the Traditional Mainstreet designation to Hawthorne Avenue west of Main Street.  If the south side of Hawthorne is designated as a TM7 zone the houses will be torn down and six storey buildings will go up, which would adversely affect the residents residing on Graham Avenue. 

·           Provide strong development guidelines with sensitive residential neighbourhoods, such as Colonel By and the Queensway.  Do not allow for minor variances to increase building height and remove green space by locating a so-called “garden” on the roof.

·           Do not allow high-rises as happened in the Golden Triangle and Centretown areas.

·           Maintain and enhance the distinct character of OOE with intensification that keeps the scale and character.

·           Expand the use of the nature trail along the Rideau River.

·           Young families need schools, daycare, and playgrounds.  They walk to local shops with strollers.  More commercial will bring needed services to the community.

 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION COMMENTS

Old Ottawa East Community Association (OECA), as submitted to the Public Open House Meeting of 10/29/09

 

Primarily through a volunteer working group, the OECA has been working with the City planning department for more than two years in the development of a Community Design Plan for Old Ottawa East.  The purpose of this document is to brief residents of the proposed OECA position on the current Community Design Plan, on the areas where progress has been made and the remaining issues.

Your feedback is needed; we are at a critical milestone.

 

As stated in the draft Community Design Plan, it is meant to:

 

·           provide a broad and integrated 20-year vision and guidance for the growth of the area,

·           express the main themes from the Community Vision in the policy direction of this plan and

·           be the backbone of any significant change in a community and to provide guidelines, boundaries and pathways from which the enabling conditions for sustainable development will emerge, and be of sufficient detail to guide change in both the public and the private realms, as implemented through urban design guidelines and Zoning

By-law provisions.

 

The Community Design Plan will be subject to a review every five years along with the Official Plan.

 

OECA Proposed Position

 

The OECA acknowledges that, on balance, the CDP as presented has come a long way, and reflects much of the community’s hopes.  Our opinion is that it is better to go forward at this point than have no Plan at all.  Our objective is for an amendment to be brought forward at Planning and Environment Committee to correct the three issues described below.

 

Progress

 

There has been much progress and a number of key ideas from the community have been adopted into the new plan.

 

·           Expansion of the Community Design Plan to all of Old Ottawa East, including the area occupied by the Lees Avenue Apartments, the Oblates property, and acknowledgement of the important character of existing neighbourhoods. Consolidation of the proposed Traditional Main Street designation in the Official Plan to the portion of Main Street between Clegg Street and Colonel By Drive.  At the core of the CDP was the future of Main Street.  While several of the ideas that came from the community were not implemented, the Traditional Main Street designation will steer future development of Main Street towards the type of neighbourhood-pedestrian centred shopping street that the community has long advocated.

·           Designation of Hawthorne Avenue between Main Street and Colonel By Drive as a Traditional Main Street.

·           Designation of Main Street south of Clegg as General Urban area, which will allow for some infill and intensification of properties fronting on arterial roads like Main Street and Riverdale, while maintaining a low profile form.

·           Identification of a Rideau River nature corridor from Smyth Bridge to the Lees Avenue Ottawa University campus.

·           Proposed building height restrictions and sustainability provisions (e.g., storm water management, LEED standards) for development of the Oblate property.

 

Remaining Issues

 

There are three issues that have not been fully resolved and which remain a concern, in spite of strenuous efforts of the OECA Working Group.

 

·           Reduction in the height and density of parts of Main Street from the standard 18m (approximately 6 storeys) to 13m (approximately 4 storeys), where the higher height would have particularly negative impacts on adjacent residential properties.  This especially occurs on the west side, between Immaculata High School and Clegg, where the blocks are parallel to Main Street.

·           The Community Design Plan does not acknowledge that the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor as it is currently planned by the City (a major arterial highway that will bisect the community and isolate the Lees Avenue apartments) will have detrimental impacts on the community.  Nor does it discuss alternative future scenarios for land use in this area in the event the Transportation Corridor doesn’t go ahead.  The OECA has consistently documented that the AVTC will significantly degrade the quality of life in OOE, particularly in the area around the apartment buildings on Lees Ave and in the neighbourhood further west.  Approximately half of the population of Old Ottawa East live in the 5 apartment buildings on Lees and this is the only appropriate green recreational space available to them.

·           Acceptance that the “intensity targets” in the plan should be generalized over the whole of OOE, in order to permit future flexibility in determining the best height and density for each part of the community.  A key concern is the City objective to accommodate a significant share of its residential intensification on Traditional Main Streets.  Old Ottawa East has one of relatively few streets in the City that will have this designation, and is already a community with a small population, which means that our community will take a proportionately large share of intensification compared with most other parts of the City.  In addition to this, the likely future redevelopment of the Oblates property will add much more residential intensification.

 

Old Ottawa East Community Association (OECA) motion from Annual General Meeting of November 10, 2009

 The Old Ottawa East Community Association recognizes the tremendous work of the community over many years for a more comprehensive community vision and supports the final draft of the City of Ottawa Community Design Plan, while continuing to vigorously seek resolution of outstanding community issues raised by the CDP working group, which include stronger support for public use in the Alta Vista corridor, firm height standards and the clarification of generalized intensity targets, as well as those concerns raised at the Open House by residents, such as increased pedestrian safety."

 

PLANNING STAFF RESPONSE

The comments submitted by the Old Ottawa East Community Association (OOECA) above outline the key issues that remain outstanding at the end of the CDP process.  Planning staff has worked with the OOECA in an attempt to resolve these issues; however overriding City policy with respect to the public good of the larger city will not allow us to change our position for this one community with respect to the following:


 

·         The six-storey height limit for the area designated Traditional Mainstreet is based in the policy of the Official Plan for such areas, which would permit buildings ranging from four to six storeys.  A standard building envelope was created in the Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2008-250 to apply to these areas in order to ensure an adequate volume of building area to meet the intensification targets as required by the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS).  This six-storey building envelope has been applied consistently in Traditional Mainstreets across the city where the former zoning also allowed for six storeys.  The new Traditional Mainstreet (TM) zoning also provides for compatibility with adjacent low-rise residential neighbourhoods by stepping the building mass down at the front and rear above the fourth storey.  This is especially true where the TM zone abuts to the rear yard of a low-rise residential neighbourhood as it does along Main Street. Further, as the intensification targets for new residential units can be met within this building envelop, we are proposing there is no need for taller buildings that would otherwise be allowed by the Official Plan (OP) in certain circumstances.  This approach provides a significant concession to the concerns of the Community Association with respect to taller buildings.  By this means we have been able to achieve a compatible built form along the Traditional Mainstreet without compromising the objective of intensifying residential units to create a compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented, and sustainable built form.

·         With respect to the status of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor (AVTC) it is important to acknowledge this proposed roadway as an approved component of the Transportation Master Plan and the Official Plan.  While we have included reference to the long-standing opposition of this roadway by the OECA in the CDP, our concern is that the CDP not contradict the OP.  An Environmental Assessment (EA) for the AVTC was approved by City Council and the Minister of Environment in 2008, which considered the impacts of the roadway on the surrounding communities and provided mitigating measures where necessary.  Therefore, we will not include any alternative development scenarios for the land dedicated for this road if and until it is ever removed from the Official Plan.

·         With respect to intensification target, the Provincial Policy Statement and the Official Plan require that the City target specific areas of the City for an increase in residential dwellings and jobs in order to create a compact, mixed-use form of development, which is more sustainable.  Traditional Mainstreets are identified in the Official Plan as being suitable for this type of development.   Main Street and a portion of Hawthorne in Old Ottawa East have been identified as two of these areas.  Overall there are 18 Traditional Mainstreets designated across the city.  Main Street and Hawthorne Avenue are projected to achieve a minimum increase of 1500 dwelling units, which would represent a mid-range increase relative to other Traditional Mainstreets across the city.  Given the large number of sparsely developed institutional properties in Old Ottawa East that have potential for redevelopment, the intensification target for Main Street is considered achievable within the 20-year timeframe of this plan.   The intensification target is proportionate to the location and planned function of this Traditional Mainstreet in Ottawa.  Ultimately this provides for greater certainty for the residents to know the location and extent of future development in their community.  It is unlikely and undesirable to be located within existing, stable low-rise neighbourhoods.            


Old Ottawa East CDP – Comments from Public Open House – March 10, 2011

 

A final Public Open House was held on March 10th at St. Paul University primarily to present and discuss the Demonstration Plan for the land currently owned by the Oblate Fathers, Sisters of the Sacred Heart and St. Paul University.  The consultants for these property owners and City staff presented the Demonstration Plan to about 100 residents from the community in attendance.  The key issues that were raised are summarized as follows:

 

·           A group of residents from Brantwood Park submitted 22 of the written comments objecting to a road access being provided to Clegg Street from the new development on the Oblate lands.  They are concerned that the additional traffic will impact negatively on their neighbourhood.

·           Residents who make use of the Community Gardens on the Oblate land submitted 14 written comments expressing their concern that their gardens be located somewhere within, or in proximity to, the area of the Demonstration Plan.

·           There were eight comments from residents expressing their concern that the height and density of the development illustrated in the Demonstration Plan is excessive and is a significant departure from the character of the Old Ottawa East community.

 

Staff have the following responses to the above-noted comments with respect to the Demonstration Plan as presented at the March 10th open house:

 

·           With respect to a potential road connection to Clegg Street it is important to note that the proposed policy for this neighbourhood states the importance of extending the surrounding streets and views through the site but that the prime access/egress shall be to Main Street, with Clegg being a secondary connection.  The intent is clearly that infill development of the Oblate lands should be well connected to the surrounding community and not isolated with one or two connections to Main Street only.  Clegg Street is designated as a Collector Road in the Official Plan and can accommodate significant traffic volumes.  The intersection of Clegg Street and Main Street is signalized presently given its role as a Collector Road.

·           It is recognized that the Oblate Fathers have provided their land for the use of the surrounding community for allotment gardens in recent years.  As they prepare to divest of their land holdings that will apparently change.  The Demonstration Plan that they have sponsored does not provide for community gardens.  Although the zoning for these lands would permit community gardens, it is not clear if any new owner would welcome such a use of private land.  However, the City of Ottawa has an expanding program of providing community gardens on its land holdings.  New gardens are now being planned at the south end of Springhurst Park, which will provide for at least some of the demand.

·           With respect to the height and density portrayed in the Demonstration Plan, the existing condition of the property owned by the Oblate Fathers, Sisters of the Sacred Heart and St. Paul University represents one of the largest vacant parcels in the inner city area.   Due to its use as a monastic residence for the last century it has been removed from the development of the surrounding community.  It has been perceived and used by the community as an open space resource; however, it has always been in private ownership.  A change of use on this site is inevitable given its location and natural setting.  With its pending sale and redevelopment there is an opportunity to realize its potential at a strategic location within the community and larger urban context for intensification in a sustainable form. 

While this may be perceived as a dramatic change by some in the community, it is consistent with the direction of the Official Plan.  The Demonstration Plan illustrates a design for a sustainable neighbourhood that is integrated and compatible with the surrounding community.  It represents the product of a collaborative planning process over the past year that is generally supported by all of the stakeholders and community groups.  As such, staff is in support of this positive change that the Demonstration Plan represents.

 


OLD OTTAWA EAST COMMUNITY DESIGN PLAN, SECONDARY PLAN, OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT

PLAN DE CONCEPTION COMMUNAUTAIRE POUR LE VIEIL OTTAWA EST, PLAN SECONDAIRE, MODIFICATION DU PLAN OFFICIEL ET MODIFICATION DU RÈGLEMENT DE ZONAGE

ACS2011-ICS-PGM-0115                                                                     CAPITAL (17)

 

(This matter is Subject to Bill 51)

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Planning Committee recommend Council:

 

1.                  Approve the Old Ottawa East Community Design Plan (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk and shown as Document 5);

 

2.                  Approve an amendment to the Official Plan, Schedule B, to change the Traditional Mainstreet designation for Main Street south of Clegg Street to General Urban Area, to designate Hawthorne Avenue between Colonel By and Main Street as Traditional Mainstreet, and to change the designation of various lands to Mixed Use Centre or Major Open Space, all of which is shown in Document 2 and detailed in Document 6;

 

3.                  Approve an amendment to the Official Plan to add to Volume 2A the Old Ottawa East Secondary Plan as detailed in Document 6 (distributed separately and on file with the City Clerk); and

 

4.                  Approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 to change the zoning of properties marked as Areas A to R on Document 3, all of which is detailed in Document 4.

 

Committee received the following written submissions, copies of which are held on file with the City Clerk:

·         77-signature petition regarding the Development of the Oblates/St. Paul’s properties – concerned by the proposed road access on Clegg Street, submitted by Nancy MacDonald. 

·         E-mails dated 19, 21 June and 23 March 2011 from Edward J. Cuhaci.

·         E-mail dated 18 June 2011 from Jamey Burr.

·         E-mail dated 22 June 2011 from Claire McMenemy and Owen Savage

·         E-mail dated 24 June 2011 from Nancy MacDonald.

·         E-mail dated 25 June 2011 from Wendy Finan.

·         E-mail dated 27 June 2011 from William Johnson

·         E-mail dated 28 June 2011 from Maureen and Paul Bernier

Charles Lanktree, Planner, provided an overview of the staff report by means of a PowerPoint presentation. A copy of his presentation is held on file with the City Clerk.

 

Committee heard from the following public delegations:

 

Nick Masciantonio, John Dance and Paul Goodkey, * presented on behalf of the Old Ottawa East Community Association.  They were in general support of the Community Design Plan (CDP.) However, they outlined some outstanding community issues and requested some additional minor amendments.  These are outlined in the association’s PowerPoint presentation, copies of which are held on file with the City Clerk.

 

Christian Pupp,* also a member of the Old Ottawa East Community Association, spoke in support of the CDP and the process that had led to its development. His comments are held on file with the City Clerk.

 

Michael Polowin and Lloyd Phillips on behalf of the Oblates and St. Paul University, and Ted Fobert on behalf of Sisters of the Sacred Heart, were present in support of the CDP as written.  Mr. Polowin asked staff to consult with his team if any changes to the plan were to be proposed. Mr. Fobert spoke highly of the process between the City, the institutional owners and the community, suggesting that it be taken as a model to follow for future CDPs.

 

*Presentation and/or written submission held on file with the City Clerk.

 

MOTION NO PLC 16/3

 

Moved by Councillor J. Harder:

 

That staff review the suggested amendments, from the Old Ottawa East Community Association, consult with the other presenters, and work with the Ward Councillor and interested parties to see which can be incorporated into the plan. 

 

And that all the above be done before the matter is considered by City Council, so that motions can be brought forward at Council to make changes where appropriate.

 

And that this item be submitted to the August 24, 2011 meeting of City Council

 

                                                                                                           CARRIED

 

The report recommendations were put to Committee and CARRIED as amended by motion PLC 16/3.