It took Ottawa’s Planning and Housing Committee just five minutes to approve a low-rise development in Orleans, something the local councillor attributes to a community-engaged process and a land-swap deal to save a local woodland.
“Often, we’ve got a conflict between what the community wants and what the developer wants,” said Orléans South-Navan Coun. Catherine Kitts, a member of the committee. “But in this instance, it was a positive experience.”
The plan, supported by a city staff report, calls for the development of 39 homes on land between Provence Avenue and Portobello Boulevard. Local residents objected to the original proposal, which called for homes to be built on the location of a small forest beside Lalande Conservation Park. Kitts said a land swap with the city proved to be a compromise everyone could live with.
“Initially, there was concern about the project as it threatened a mature forest owned by Regional [Group of Companies], sparking community concern about tree loss and recreational space,” said Kitts after the Sept. 25 meeting.
“But a land swap was negotiated … where the city traded a surplus parcel for the forest, allowing the developer to proceed with more units while preserving the trees. This outcome is celebrated as a positive example of cooperation.”
Kitts says she intends to hold a pre-construction meeting with the developer to walk through the construction schedule and then inform the community about potential disruptions, such as vibrations and noise.
The goal is to minimize disruption and maintain community satisfaction, during construction, said Kitts.
Derrick Moodie, the city’s planning services director, said he is happy with the outcome of the meeting, adding that the city intends to move quickly to allow construction to begin.
“We will expedite the long-anticipated subdivision at the east end of 2050 Provence Ave. which will lead to the construction of the new homes,” Moodie stated.
Kitts said the project has gone through various phases since her election four years ago, and the current phase involves lower-density construction that fits with the Orléans South-Navan goals.
The plan still needs to be approved by full City Council.
