We’re on a quick 30-minute break right now from a clash between the development industry and the city over infill homes in Ottawa’s most established neighbourhoods.

Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume teed up the discussion at planning committee by telling councillors it’s one of the most significant policy topics for the group.

There are 20 delegations and so far we have heard from developers, who want the committee to defer this report on recommended changes to infill policies.

Lots of doom and gloom from the industry. One architect suggested the changes would “cripple” the infill development business. Yikes!

Everything was briefly sidetracked when Coun. Peter Clark scolded staff for allegedly not providing a certain development consultant with information.

We’ll see what the committee will do. I’ll have a story after the meeting.

Here’s the staff presentation that boils down the issues. The pictures with red circles are examples of home designs that staff don’t like.

Infill Presentation April 10 2012

Mayor Jim Watson and planning committee chairman Peter Hume are, presumably, trying to show they won’t be pushed around by developers. Their evidence comes in a press release sent this afternoon saying they won’t allow a developer to increase density for a plan previously approved by council. The latest report on the Redwood development was just published.

It’s a somewhat unusual press release. Hardly do we see the city bringing attention to a development application, especially if it’s voicing an opposing view. But we saw Watson up against the ropes recently after council approved two condos taller than what the previous zonings permitted. This, of course, was after he said in his 2012 budget speech that developers shouldn’t be treating zoning as “mere suggestions.”

For immediate release:

December 30, 2011

City moves to cap size of Redwood development

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa’s Planning Department is recommending a zoning change to cap the number of units built at the Redwood community in College Ward after the developer submitted an application that increased the size of the project by more than 75 per cent.

The site, bounded by Baseline Road, Morrison Drive and Draper Avenue, was approved by Planning Committee and City Council for 334 residential units after extensive community discussion and input in 2009. However, a revised application from the developer has made the proposed buildings larger and radically upped the number of units to 590.

The Planning Department is recommending a zoning amendment that will ensure the original agreement on size of the development will stand.

“This project went through an extensive planning process and a great deal of public debate. The agreement that resulted between the community, developer and the City cannot be arbitrarily overturned on a technicality, after the fact, by the proponent,” said Mayor Jim Watson.

“This developer came to Planning Committee with a concept plan that eventually secured our agreement for a zoning change. Now the company is attempting to throw out the concept plan. That’s wrong and we cannot allow it to happen,” said Councillor Peter Hume, chair of Planning Committee.

“I am delighted that the City’s Planning Department has agreed that almost doubling the size of this project would not be fair to the people of my ward,” said College Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli. “We had an agreement. If Planning Committee and Council agree to this zoning, that agreement will stand.”

The matter will go before Planning Committee on January 10 and City Council on January 25.

There is plenty of old infrastructure under Ottawa roads.

Really old.

This planning report on SoBa, a proposed residential tower on Catherine St., tells us the watermain under the road is pretty ancient.

…With respect to infrastructure, the existing 127 mm diameter watermain along this stretch of Catherine Street is in need of replacement due to “aging”.  According to the City’s records, the existing watermain appears to have been in place since 1889.  Moreover, it was indicated by the Watermain Resources Unit – Asset Management Branch that the current watermain cannot supply enough pressure and flows for both domestic and fire flow requirements for the proposed development and future developments along this strip of Catherine Street.  Thus upgrading this watermain from 127mm to 203mm will increase the water pressure and supply for such development.  Therefore, it is our understanding that the upgrade of this watermain by the developer will be beneficial for the City, the proponent, and future developers along this strip of Catherine Street…

How nice of the developer to offer to replace 130 metres of pipe for us. Of course, it should be noted the developer is asking to build 76 metres high instead of the 19 metres currently zoned.