Two council committees held a marathon session in mid-December to discuss Ottawa’s long-awaited new zoning bylaw.
The rare joint meeting of the planning and housing, and agriculture and rural affairs committees on Dec. 17 heard from 42 public delegations and debated 30 amending motions from councillors.
After nine hours of presentations, debates, and question and answer periods, the joint committee voted in favour of the main report recommendations for the final draft of the new zoning bylaw, in addition to nearly all the motions brought by members.
The core subjects of debate in committee were related to balancing development against ecosystem and green space conservation, as well as affordable housing and maximum building heights.
Environmental organizations like the Bird Friendly Ottawa and the David Suzuki’s Butterfly Way Project emphasized the need to protect the ecodiverse McCarthy Woods and Southern Corridor, noting that the proposed new zoning bylaw “would affect about 103 hectares, or 150 football fields, or ecologically valuable greenspace.”
Meanwhile, private residents and community associations expressed concerns over the draft bylaw’s proposal to allow three-storey buildings in neighbourhoods across the city. The Chair of the Planning Committee for Old Ottawa East, Anthony Leaning, noted that the 11m height limits in N1 and N2 neighbourhoods will actually allow for four-storey buildings, calling this an “unintended anomaly.”
“Four-storey apartment buildings in existing low-rise neighbourhoods is a guaranteed result of the proposed bylaw,” he warned. “Going back to a three-storey limit will still significantly increase density with less impact on the existing character of one- and two-storey neighbourhoods.”
Carolyn McKenzie, representing the Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa (FCA), highlighted similar concerns relating to 11 m height adjustment for buildings in Ottawa’s N1 and N2 zones.
“The FCA believes that permitting 11 m — or three-and-a-half storey, or possibly four storey — single family, luxury homes do not add density in terms of additional housing units, but can significantly impact street character and livability of residential areas,” said McKenzie.
She called the proposed motion “contentious,” and noted that “a number of communities within the FCA believe that this does not constitute gentle intensification.”
In his concluding comments, Coun. Jeff Leiper (Kitchissippi) emphasized the difficulties associated with growth and change.
“Colleagues, cities grow. In Ottawa’s case, we expect to grow by around 500,000 people in the next 20–30 years. That’s like adding the population of Halifax to our city.”
He continued: “The new zoning bylaw will enable new residential density that will reign in sprawl. . . It will ultimately help us build a more sustainable city.”
He acknowledged, however, that “it’s important that we recognize that many in the community are uncomfortable with the changes proposed. There will be tall towers built where people may never have thought tall towers would be built. One and two storey neighborhoods may evolve over time to three storey neighbourhoods, changing the way those look.”
The committee ultimately approved the amended draft zoning bylaw, recommending its approval by council, to be considered on Jan. 28.
