Ottawa planning committee approves zoning for new medical research centre, mixed-use building and townhomes

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The City of Ottawa’s planning committee has approved the zoning for a new medical research centre on Smyth Road.

The six-storey building, which will be located near the Ottawa Hospital General Campus, will replace part of an existing surface parking lot and will be part of the larger Ottawa Health Science Complex.

The amendment would retain the current Major Institutional zoning and is only sought to provide relief from the requirement to have a three-metre landscaped area along the property line. Ring Road and its sidewalks cross that line, making it impossible to landscape, but tree planting and landscaping are proposed between Ring Road, the new parking lot and the proposed building.

In other business, the committee approved a zoning amendment for the development of a mixed-use building southwest of Preston and Larch streets. The new building will have 30 residential and two ground-floor commercial units. The amendment will allow for a height increase in the area and some revised setbacks from lot lines, however, no vehicle parking will be proposed as it is close to the Corso Italia O-Train Line 2 Station.

The city has also approved an amendment to facilitate the development of townhomes on the north side of Maple Grove Road in Stittsville. The development will include six townhouse blocks with 38 units. The amendment will allow for a mix of residential buildings, including townhomes, and will change the zoning from Development Reserve to Residential Third Density, allowing for tree planting.

The city says that the new guidelines will help achieve the city’s objective of transit-oriented development near rapid transit, while also protecting rail transit infrastructure from impacts and conflicts.

City council will vote on the recommendations on Wednesday.