Lincoln Fields Station Secondary Plan

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to prepare a Secondary Plan to guide future development in the Lincoln Fields Station Area that compliments the City’s new Official Plan. The main objective of the study and the secondary plan is to facilitate a more urbanized place through context sensitive design.

The study area boundary identifies what is approximately an 800-metre or 10-minute walk from the future Lincoln Fields LRT station, as well as lands outside of that in order to consider elements such as connectivity, infrastructure, or potential renewal. The study area is simply that and the final area for which the secondary plan applies will be determined through the study process. It will also be determined through the study process if Zoning By-law amendments are required.

Project Status

In December 2019, the City officially launched the process for a Lincoln Fields Station Area Secondary Plan, with an open house held at Ron Kolbus Lakeside Center.

City staff were on hand to answer questions related to the study and Stage 2 Light Rail Transit, as well as receive input from the public on the study’s priorities and objectives.

In early 2020, the study took pause as the City’s process for a new Official Plan progressed. The purpose of a secondary plan is to hone in on site-specific considerations that are not reflected in the Official Plan and for that reason, draft Official Plan policies were needed in order to better inform the policies of the secondary plan.

With the release of the draft Official Plan, the Lincoln Fields Station Area Secondary Plan process will resume.

Study Area

Objectives of the Study

• Engage the community to identify appropriate built-form, height, density, that is context sensitive and considerate of major elements such as Carling Avenue, Richmond Road, Lincoln Fields Station, and the existing communities.
• Identify opportunities to improve the public realm including connectivity.
• Ensure clarity for the community, the development industry, and city staff to guide the review of future development proposals for the area.

This planning study will not:

• Produce a Community Design Plan
• Influence the alignment of the LRT or the location of Lincoln Fields Station
• Prevent growth or development in the area

Fall 2020 - Study Area will be modified to align with Official Plan designations and objectives.

Winter 2021 - Discussions continue with public and technical advisory committees

Spring 2021 - Public Open house #2 to engage public on draft considerations including station connectivity options

Fall 2021 - Presentation of draft proposal

Winter 2022 - Study completion and final adoption of the plan

The Pinecrest and Queensview Stations Secondary Plan Study shares a similar timeline and many of the same stakeholders. In order to avoid duplication and streamline participation for stakeholders, future public events will be paired together.

To receive occasional emails about the study’s progress, including web updates and future meetings, please sign up.

If you have already been receiving emails about this study, there is no need to sign up.

Concurrent projects

Stage 2 Light Rail Transit

Pinecrest and Queensview Stations Secondary Plan Study

New Official Plan

For more information, contact:

Natalie Persaud, MCIP RPP
Planner II
Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Development Department
City of Ottawa
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 12681

Community input session

Wednesday, December 11, 2019, 6:30 pm

Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre
102 Greenview Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2B 8J8

As we heard it report [ PDF 218 KB ]

The City of Ottawa welcomes you to attend a community input session for the Lincoln Fields Station Secondary Plan Study. The purpose of this land use planning study is to develop policies that will guide the evolution of lands around the future Lincoln Fields Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.

How will this project impact the study area?

This project aims to provide direction on how the study area can grow and evolve through the next Official Plan with a Secondary Plan. These new policies will provide guidance on appropriate land uses building heights, built form, connectivity and transportation, and contributions to the public realm.

What is a Secondary Plan?

The City of Ottawa’s Official Plan provides a vision for the future growth of the city and a policy framework to guide the City's physical development. Ottawa’s Official Plan includes a number of Secondary Plans that provide more detailed guidance for development within an identified area.

Secondary Plans include direction on land uses, building heights, densities, particular design requirements for buildings or sites, detailed public realm elements, and implementation of the plan. Proposed development that is not in keeping with the policies of Secondary Plans would require an application to amend the Official Plan.

How can I get involved?

There are several ways you can stay informed and engaged throughout the study process:

• Attend public events
• Sign-up to the project’s email list to receive updates on the planning study’s progress and invites to public events
• Visit this webpage to stay up-to-date about upcoming events and current information
• Contact the Project Lead (see contact information below) at any time during the process to request information or submit feedback.

Who is involved in this study?

Many stakeholders are involved in this planning study:

• A Stakeholder Working Group will be responsible for reviewing study materials and providing feedback throughout the process. This group will include representatives from local community associations, property and business owners and Ward Councillor.

• A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will also be part of the planning study. The TAG will include City staff and representatives from other agencies to help assess existing conditions, provide technical feedback, ensure that the planning study meets City policies.

The purpose of a secondary plan is to adapt land use planning policies provided by an Official Plan to address local context. With that in mind, it is important to understand what the draft Official Plan says about the Lincoln Fields Station Area in order to inform what policy direction may be required in order to achieve priorities for this area.

Here is what the draft Official Plan says about planning and development in the Lincoln Fields Station Area

Inner Urban Transect Area

The study area is located within the Inner Urban Transect Area. This area surrounds the downtown core and is characterized by its mix of urban and suburban built form. The objectives for this transect area is to see it be come more urbanized with high-density mixed-use development. This also includes making walkability and cycling a priority by limiting car-oriented development such as surface parking, drive-throughs, and service stations. Infill and redevelopment of old shopping centres is also a focus as these forms of development are opportunities for creating complete communities and expanding housing choices.

Hubs

The new Official Plan designates lands around Lincoln Fields Station as a Hub. Hubs are major destinations on the rapid transit network. They are the focus for density and urban development which may include major employment. Hubs are intended to contribute to 15-mintue neighbourhoods. In the Inner Urban Transect Area, buildings within 400 metres walking distance of a rapid transit station shall be a minimum height of three storeys to a maximum height of twelve storeys.

Carling Avenue and Richmond Road designated as Mainstreets

The new Official Plan designates Carling Avenue and Richmond Road as a single designation, Mainstreet. Mainstreet corridors are intended to provide for daily and weekly services to those who live and work nearby. Built form along mainstreets is intended to be mid-rise.

Transforming Neighbourhood Overlay

The new Official Plan now includes overlays which provide direction for a change in character in the designated areas. Areas designated as Transforming Neighbourhood are experiencing rapid change in urbanization from low to high density. The intention of the policies applied to lands designated as Transforming Neighbourhood Overlay is to limit low density built form and car-oriented development such as private approaches, as well as ensure positive contributions to the public realm. Lands within the Lincoln Fields Station Study Area are subject to this overlay.

Protected Major Transit Station Area

Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) are a discretionary tool that municipalities may use in order to establish transit-supportive densities within a designated area that surrounds a rapid transit station area. The new Official Plan designates lands within the Lincoln Fields Station Area as PMTSA. Policies within the new Offical Plan for PMTSAs include establishing a minimum density target of 200 people/jobs per gross hectare. This will be achieved through medium to high density housing developments and commercial and employment uses. Establishing a PMTSA also provides the municipality with an opportunity to apply inclusionary zoning provisions which promotes the supply of affordable housing.