The City’s Planning Committee on Friday approved repealing and replacing Ottawa’s Parkland Dedication By-law. Whenever development occurs, Ontario municipalities can require developers to either dedicate parkland or contribute cash in lieu to the municipality. The City’s by-law sets out rules and rates specific to Ottawa for dedication, but recent provincial legislative changes require the City to replace its current by-law.
The replacement would revise existing regulations to better support the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan’s call for two hectares of parkland per 1,000 residents. The by-law would deliver more parkland from development to better meet the population growth projected in the new Official Plan.
The Committee also approved zoning amendments to facilitate redevelopment of an underused downtown property on Nepean Street east of O’Connor Street. A 27-storey building would replace the existing 60-space surface parking lot, adding about 300 apartments and significant intensification to a highly walkable community.
Recommendations from Friday’s meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, August 31.
