Heron Gate Official Plan Amendment

Timbercreek Communities has submitted an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) [PDF 58 KB] to the City of Ottawa for review. The OPA application seeks to permit redevelopment of the existing Heron Gate residential neighbourhood over the next 20 years.

Arabic [PDF 350 KB]

Nepalese [PDF 95 KB]

Somali [PDF 136 KB]

The OPA affects the properties 2851, 2848, 2881 and 2898 Baycrest Drive, 2820 and 2831 Cedarwood Drive and 2816 Sandalwood Drive. The development area is bound by Heron Road to the north, Sandalwood Park and Heron Gate Mall to the east, Walkley Road to the south and the Heron Gate Community Centre and residential neighbourhoods to the west.

Location map [PDF 144 KB]

The site is about 21 hectares in size and currently includes low-rise townhouses, five apartment buildings and the Heron Gate outdoor pool and community garden. Three six-storey apartment buildings are currently under construction in the northeast corner of the site. 

The applicant proposes to retain the apartment buildings at 2861 Baycrest Drive, 2851 Baycrest Drive, 2840 Baycrest Drive, 2850 Cedarwood Drive and 2870 Cedarwood Drive and build new residential buildings on the remainder of the site. The new buildings will range from two to 25 storeys and contain approximately 5,500 units for a total of approximately 6,400 units (new and existing) at full build out. Some of the new buildings along Walkley Road and Heron Road will contain commercial uses at grade. No existing units will be demolished until new units are available on site.

A 1.5-hectare public park is also proposed for the centre of the site and will be connected to the existing Sandalwood Park and Heron-Walkley Park by pathways.

Herongate Master Plan Schedule A

The purpose of the Official Plan Amendment is to create site-specific policies to permit the proposed development. The OPA will include a vision for the area and land use, built form and public realm policies. 

1. First public comment period – June 20 to July 18, 2019
2. Focused session with the Urban Design Review Panel (not public) – Summer 2019 
3. Formal review by the Urban Design Review Panel – March 2021
4. Community Open House – March 22 and 25, 2021
5. Planning Committee and City Council meetings – 2021

You may view all the plans and studies that the City of Ottawa has received as part of the Official Plan Amendment application on the Development Application Search Tool.

You may submit comments on this application:

• Through the Development Application Search Tool
• By email to Melanie.Gervais@ottawa.ca
• By email to herongateopa-mpo@ottawa.ca 
• By mail to Mélanie Gervais, City of Ottawa, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1, mail code 01-14
• By phone to Mélanie Gervais at 613-580-2424, extension 24025
• At a public meeting in March 2021
• At a Planning Committee meeting at a future date in 2021

Email Melanie.Gervais@ottawa.ca if you would like to be notified of all meeting dates and decisions.

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. If you require special accommodation, please email Melanie.Gervais@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2424, extension 24025.

Before the development can proceed, the applicant will also need other planning approvals from the City of Ottawa, including but not limited to Zoning By-law Amendment [PDF 59 KB] and Site Plan Control [PDF 76 KB] applications. These applications will be submitted once the Official Plan Amendment application is approved. The public will be notified when they are submitted and will have an opportunity to comment on them. 

Mélanie Gervais MCIP, RPP
Planner Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department 
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West 
Ottawa, ON  K1P 1J1
Email: Melanie.Gervais@ottawa.ca 
613-580-2424, ext. 24025