| This week at Planning and Housing, committee members approved the 3430 Carling Avenue application for two 6-storey buildings that will have 186 units. My office held community meetings on this project, and because of community feedback, the original proposal in 2021 was for two 9-storey buildings, and it was reduced to two 6-storey buildings. View the Public Meeting on the Villa Lucia property redevelopment – Bay Ward Bulletin Another concern, as this development will be precedent setting for the area, was related the setbacks from Carling Avenue. Throughout the process of this application, I have continued to emphasize the need to ensure we protect the needed right-of-way on Carling Avenue to ensure it will be sufficient to provide a focus on active transportation. The approved plan will meet the need for the 37.5-meter right-of-way necessary to ensure Carling Avenue can be renewed with proper sidewalks and cycle tracks on both sides of the street. |
Noted in the discussion was the need to consider a pedestrian and cycling crossing to the bus stop, which staff stated can be discussed in site plan control, as well as increasing the onsite bicycle parking. This is something I will be keeping my eye on going forward as we continue to ensure development on Carling Avenue contributes to a walkable and bikeable neighbourhood.
Committee approves affordable housing spending plan
| Another major component to this week’s meeting was the approval of the affordable housing capital spending plan. This plan includes the strategy to fund the construction of new affordable housing and maintain existing projects that are underway. The plan speaks to the full term of Council between 2023 and 2026, doing so will ensure work can begin on planned and shovel-ready projects and help as we work toward the goals of the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. |
The capital spending plan outlines more than $75.7 million to create new affordable housing through partnerships with housing providers, stabilize projects under development and acquire a property for use as supportive housing.
The funding includes about $66.6 million in 2023 funding commitments from all levels of government, plus an additional $9.1 in reallocated City funds. Commitments include:
- $24.1 million in provincial funding to Ottawa Community Housing Corporation to support construction of 271 affordable units in three buildings at 715 Mikinak Road
- $2.1 million to Nepean Housing Corporation to build a three-storey apartment building with 31 affordable units at Dunbar Court
- $18.5 million in federal funding to Ottawa Salus Corporation to build 54 supportive housing units at 56 Capilano Drive
- $7 million for a contingency budget to support projects currently under development and that require additional funding.
- $21.2 million to acquire a property to be developed as supportive housing, to help transition people experiencing homelessness out of the shelter system and into permanent housing
The 2023 spending plan will help fund new, permanent affordable housing units – bringing the total number of units in Ottawa either under development or in pre-development to 1,787. In addition, the report recommends a spending plan for the full term of Council, until 2026. Those commitments include:
- $32.4 million to Ottawa Community Housing Corporation to support construction of 273 units in phase two of the Rochester Heights project, now in the late stages of pre-development
- $15 million to Multifaith Housing Initiative to support construction of a 133-unit affordable rental project in LeBreton Flats
- $2.7 million to Ottawa Salus Corporation to complete the final six supportive housing units at 56 Capilano Drive
The Committee also approved a direction to amend the current Zoning By-law to align with the Province’s Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. That bill amended the Planning Act to allow three dwelling units on any residential lot that has municipal water and sewer services. Based on the approved direction, staff will bring a report to the Committee before the end of 2023 to amend the Zoning By-law to formalize permissions for such additional dwelling units in Ottawa, along with interim provisions on regulations for buildings and lots with additional dwellings units.
The City is developing a new comprehensive Zoning By-law that will implement the policies and directions in the new Official Plan. Visit Engage Ottawa for updates and information on future public engagement opportunities to have your say on the new Zoning By-law.
The Committee approved a zoning amendment on Maritime Way to facilitate two towers with 615 dwellings and ground-floor commercial space in the Kanata Town Centre. The amendment would add a schedule to define heights for one 28-storey and one 30-storey tower, in line with the Kanata Town Centre Secondary Plan that envisions heights up to 30 storeys at this property. It also requires the development include nearly 400 square metres of commercial space to help achieve Kanata Town Centre employment targets.
The Committee approved a zoning amendment to facilitate four buildings on Ridgewood Avenue, east of Riverside Drive and Mooney’s Bay. One 20-storey building is proposed, along with one six-storey and two four-storey buildings. The development would add 444 dwellings and ground-floor commercial space to an underdeveloped site now occupied by a one-storey shopping plaza and surface parking lot. The amendment would increase the current 18-metre height limit to accommodate the new buildings, which range between 16.2 and 66 metres. It would add high-rise apartment dwelling as a permitted use and reduce resident parking from 533 to 420 spaces, consistent with the location adjacent to Riverside Drive – a transit priority corridor.
On Carling Avenue, the Committee approved a zoning amendment to permit two six-storey residential buildings that would introduce 186 dwellings between Ullswater and Crystal Beach drives. The amendment would increase permitted height at the front of the property from 18.5 to 20.5 metres.
Recommendations from this meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, September 13.
