Ontario Construction News staff writer
Ottawa’s municipal planning and housing committee has approved a plan to develop 9,000 jobs, 1,400 new homes, and a school, park, community centre, and public library branch in Riverside South.
City council will review and vote on the committee’s recommendations tomorrow (May 1).
The new Secondary Plan for Riverside South will also update the community design plan which was last updated in 2016.
The plan was approved at the committee’s April 24 meeting, with amendments that includes a bus rapid transit (BRT) network, which would connect Riverside South to LRT stations at Limebank and O-Train stations.
The development of the area will be highly transit-oriented with residential and commercial buildings and public transit connecting the area to both LRT and BRT.
The plan includes a range of housing options, with the densest development around O-Train stations, medium density development near BRT stations, and the lowest densities in areas farthest from transit. The plan also identifies opportunities for community jobs, including 7,600 jobs outside of the area.
The committee also approved zoning amendments for two residential subdivisions in Barrhaven. The amendments are aimed at facilitating the development of over 1,900 dwelling units. The zoning changes would only come into effect if the city and the applicant can agree on a cost-sharing arrangement for the BRT corridor.
The committee approved a zoning amendment to facilitate development of a six-storey building on Bank Street, in Old Ottawa South. Three ground-floor commercial units are proposed, along with 45 dwelling units. The amendment does not change the current parent zoning but provides relief from some of the required setbacks, reduces required resident parking while increasing minimum bike parking, and increases permitted height by five metres.
The committee also approved the development of a nine-storey apartment building beside the former All Saints Anglican Church in Sandy Hill. The 113-unit building would be built around the church apse and includes brick and aluminum cladding, coloured glass, and decorative metalwork to unite the design of the two buildings. The building will be primarily residential, but the zoning approved would also allow for possible hotel rooms on the second, third, and fourth floors.
Overall, city staff expect planning decisions will provide home builders the opportunity to build 151,000 “quality market homes” by 2031.