Planning committee okays Cathedral Hill proposal

In a decision that Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes argued lacked transparency, city council's planning committee today approved the Christ Church Cathedral development plan.

The committee’s decision included sending the proposal for a final approval to city council tomorrow. This, Holmes said, is “short-circuiting the public process” because there have been more private meetings to discuss the proposal than public consultations.

The proposed developments include a 21-storey condominium, a row of four townhouses and a 12-storey office building that currently does not have confirmed ownership.

The land affected by the proposed development is bordered by Bronson Avenue to the west, Sparks Street to the south and Queen Street to the north, with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church to the east.

Several individuals and community group representatives attended the meeting to express either support or opposition. Some of the key areas of opposition circulated around continued debates on the height of the 21-storey proposed condominium, availability of affordable housing and lack of available visitor parking.

Bronson Avenue resident James McGraw said the proposed plans will “overwhelm the cathedral” because of the height.

Supporters, however, cited the development as a source of stable revenue for the cathedral.

Representatives from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa said the cathedral faces upwards of $100,000 per year in restoration costs and repairs. They said this compromises the church’s ability to contribute to social programs in the city.

The church hosts more than 300 non-church events, is an active promoter of the arts, and assists in the funding of many social programs, they said.

It is the $350,000 of debt “that is overwhelming us” and not the height of the proposed developments.

Sheila Pepper, of the Provincial Council of Women, and a member of the cathedral’s congregation requested that at least five units be reserved for social housing. She had no objections to the height.

The developers indicated there is nothing in the proposal for social housing, but are open to the idea of incorporating social housing. 
The development will go before the full city council for approval tomorrow.

More details below:

Church condo-versy escalates

Cathedral makes headway on long-planned development