The Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees approved a new Urban Boundary Expansion Official Plan Application Process at a joint meeting on Wednesday.
In this video, Councillor Kelly shared with City staff his strong concerns about urban boundary expansion, including its effect on agricultural resource lands.
An updated Provincial Planning Statement goes into effect on October 20 and allows private landowners to request an urban or village expansion at any time through an Official Plan Amendment application. Such expansions have historically been considered only during an Official Plan update. The report recommends Council advance the next Official Plan update by five years, with work set to start in 2025, as opposed to 2030.
In the interim to the Official Plan update, the City is introducing a new application type and fee. Landowners can apply for an Official Plan amendment at any time for a fee of $1.8 million. The fee has been calculated to ensure cost recovery, reflecting how much it would likely cost the City to review land needs, infrastructure capacity, and location alternatives. The fee would be a graduated to help minimize risk to the industry. At the end of each step, applicants could choose to not proceed. Any unspent fees would be returned. Landowners still have the option to hold until the next Official Plan update in 2025 and participate at no-cost.
Prior to the joint meeting, the Planning Committee convened separately and approved a zoning amendment to facilitate the development of a residential subdivision south of the Jock River and north of River Run Avenue, west of Greenbank Road. The proposed development includes 98 single-detached units and 421 townhomes for a total of 519 dwellings. The plan also includes 11 new streets and a centrally located park. A stormwater management facility and two open space areas are planned as well. The current flood plain boundary is proposed to be modified through a cut-fill permit application with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
The Committee passed a zoning amendment to allow development of a low-rise apartment building on Renaud Road, between Mullin Private and Glenlivet Avenue, in Chapel Hill South. The building would include eight two-bedroom units and parking in the rear yard. The applicant has also put forward a second development concept that would include construction of a new semi-detached dwelling on the western part of the site and the retention of the existing dwelling on the eastern portion. The proposed zoning amendment would accommodate either option, and permit the low-rise apartment land use. Additional exceptions are proposed to alter required setbacks, eliminate narrow lots for townhouse dwellings, and require a larger front yard setback to provide space for trees.
Visit ottawa.ca/residentialdwellings for a graphic showing quarterly progress towards Ottawa’s housing pledge targets.
The Committee received the Build Ottawa 2023 Annual Report. Formerly the Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation, Build Ottawa was rebranded in December 2023. As part of its new mandate, it prioritizes the sale or redevelopment of surplus lands for affordable housing. Build Ottawa did not complete any land sales in 2023 as the new mandate meant staff spent the year evaluating sites for affordable housing. Two properties were marketed but received no offers. The first, at 3179 Conroy Road, was designated for industrial uses but staff are evaluating recent provincial legislative changes that might permit redesignating the land for residential development. The second, at 2060 Lanthier Drive, was proposed for residential development, but one of the conditions of sale involved construction of a portion of Vanguard Drive and no offers were received. The corporation has now secured provincial funding to help with that road construction and the parcel of land will soon be remarketed.
Since its inception, Build Ottawa has recorded total sales exceeding $108 million, providing $7.1 million to affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Land and Funding Policy.
The Committee also passed an omnibus Official Plan Amendment to implement a series of policy and mapping updates to the Official Plan. The updates intend to ensure that the Official Plan aligns with Provincial legislation, is accurate, and is effective.
Items from Wednesday’s meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, October 16 with the exception of the omnibus Official Plan Amendment which will rise to Council on October 30.