A Cyrville high-rise development is set to proceed despite objections from residents, who say it will radically alter the neighbourhood.
If approved by full city council, two 30-storey towers will be built on the northeast corner of Ogilvie Road and Cummings Avenue.
But it would bring too many people to the area, one resident says.
“I find this project to be actually monstrous,” Roxane Babinska told a recent meeting of the city’s planning committee. She said that it will add to all the high-density housing already built or under construction nearby.
“Even though I’m not against any type of construction … this doesn’t seem to be motivated by any type of quality of living,” she said. “I find it quite threatening, in fact, to any quality of life.”
The development would need a zoning amendment, which is supported by city staff saying the site can accommodate buildings up to 40 storeys under the Official Plan. The project also falls within a policy that encourages high-rise developments near transit.
Local resident Richard Hannoff urged councillors to reject the development, saying that it will cast large shadows around the area, noting the shadow study provided only considered sunlight loss in June.
“The June time period doesn’t look at the other times of the year where shadow actually impacts the existing neighbourhood,” said Hannoff.
Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry said that she sympathizes with residents but that there’s no legal right to sunlight.
“We have had this conversation many times about the right to sunlight,” said Curry.
“But it is heartbreaking for people because they want the sunlight in their living room.”
Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney says he sympathizes with residents but emphasizes the importance of the city’s plan for transit-oriented development.
“Traffic impacts — it’s a very big concern. I guess the silver lining in this is in the provincial statement, which is building homes and a need for intensification around transit stations,” said Tierney.
