Planning and Housing Committee

Agenda

Meeting #:

24

Date:

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 10:30 A.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Members:

• Chair: Councillor Jeff Leiper, 
• Vice-chair: Councillor Glen Gower, 
• Councillor Riley Brockington, 
• Councillor Cathy Curry, 
• Councillor Laura Dudas, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, 
• Councillor Clarke Kelly, 
• Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
• Councillor Wilson Lo, 
• Councillor Tim Tierney, 
• and Councillor Ariel Troster 

Kelly Crozier, Committee Coordinator
[phone], ext. 16875
[e-mail]

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Planning and Housing Committee Report 24.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, and the deadline to register by email to speak is 8:30 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

2.

Declarations of Interest

2.1

Zoning By-law Amendment – 112 and 134 Nelson Street

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

PHC Minutes 23 – Wednesday, February 28, 2024

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

PHC-2024-01 - National and Provincial Building Code Harmonization

5.

Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department

5.1

Zoning By-law Amendment - 1274 Marygrove Circle 

ACS2024-PRE-PS-0009 – College (8)

• Report recommendation(s)

  1. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 1274 Marygrove Circle, as shown in Document 1, to rezone to Residential Second Density, Subzone J, Urban Exception[xxxx] to permit the construction of semi-detached dwellings, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That Planning and Housing Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 3, 2024,” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
     

5.2

Zoning By-law Amendment - 1806 Scott Street  

ACS2024-PRE-PS-0043 - Kitchissippi (15)

• Report recommendation(s)

  1. That the Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 1806 Scott Street, as shown in Document 1, to permit a four-storey apartment building with 16 dwelling units, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That Planning and Housing Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 3, 2024, subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.

5.3

Zoning By-law Amendment – 112 and 134 Nelson Street

ACS2024-PRE-PS-0005 – Rideau-Vanier (12)

• L. Johnson declared a conflict on this item.

• Report recommendation(s)

  1. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 112 and 134 Nelson Street, as shown in Document 1, to permit a nine-storey residential use building and remove the Holding Symbol as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council direct Legal staff to enter into a revised Section 37 Agreement on the terms outlined in Document 4.
  3. That Planning and Housing Committee direct that the implementing Zoning By-law not proceed to Council until such time as the agreement under Section 37 of the Planning Act is executed by the Owner.
  4. That Planning and Housing Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 3, 2024,” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
     

5.4

Zoning By-law Amendment – 617 Bank Street

ACS2024-PRE-PSX-0012 – Capital (17)

• Report recommendation(s)

  1. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 617 Bank Street, as shown in Document 1, to permit office use on the ground floor within six metres of the front building wall facing the street, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That Planning and Housing Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 3, 2024,” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.

5.5

Zoning By-law Amendment – 5210 and 5220 Innes Road

ACS2024-PRE-PS-0046 - Orléans South-Navan (19)

• Report recommendation(s)

  1. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 5210 and 5220 Innes Road as shown in Document 1, to permit a three storey self-storage facility, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That Planning and Housing Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of 3 April 2024, subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
     

5.6

2023 Annual Report Pursuant to the Building Code Act 

ACS2024-PRE-BCS-0001 – Citywide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council receive this report for information.

5.7

City of Ottawa’s Housing Accelerator Fund Use of Funds and Roadmap

ACS2024-PRE-EDP-0035 – Citywide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That Planning and Housing Committee recommend:

  1. That Council approve the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Spending Plan, which allocates 90 per cent of the HAF funding towards the Non-Profit Affordable Housing Pipeline Strategy (Initiative 6) and ten per cent towards the remaining nine Initiatives as outlined in this report to support the implementation of the HAF Action Plan, attached as Document 1; and
  2. That Council delegate authority to the Director, Housing Services to allocate 90 per cent of what the City receives from all four advances of the Housing Accelerator Fund towards initiative 6, being the Non-Profit Affordable Housing Pipeline Strategy, through conditional capital contributions agreements with housing providers, with 90 per cent of the first three advances, being up to $119 million, to be allocated in a manner that will best achieve the deliverables of the HAF, taking into consideration the recommended projects identified through the Request for Expression of Interest; and 
  3. That Council delegate authority to the General Manager, Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development, in consultation with the General Manager, Community and Social Services to allocate ten per cent of the HAF funding advances towards the remaining 9 Initiatives, and potential housing- and community-related infrastructure projects that are not included in the action plan, as eligible projects that will significantly contribute toward achieving HAF growth targets by the end of 2026; and
  4. That Council delegate authority to the General Manager, Planning Real Estate and Economic Development and the General Manager, Community and Social Services to make minor adjustments to the Spending Plan allocations, to ensure funds are allocated in a manner that ensures targets can be met and funds are spent by the December 2027 deadline.  
     

  Carried with Councillor R. Brockington dissenting on recommendation number 2

5.8

Development Review Legacy File Official Plan Amendments

ACS2024-PRE-PS-0042 - City Wide

This report was submitted to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on March 7, 2024.

• Report recommendation(s)

  1. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to the West Downtown Core Secondary Plan within Volume 2A of the Official Plan, for 665 and 625 Albert Street, to add a new policy to Chapter 4, Subsection 4.1, and amend Schedule K, as detailed in Document 3.

  2. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to the Central and East Downtown Core Secondary plan within Volume 2A of the Official Plan, for 315 Chapel Street, to permit a mid-rise building to a maximum height of nine storeys, as detailed in Document 4.

  3. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Schedules B5 and C12 of the Official Plan, Volume 1, for 785 Cope Drive, to permit the planned reconfiguration of a park block and adjacent residential lots within the Fernbank Community, as detailed in Document 5.

  5. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to the Official Plan, Volume 2C, for 1154, 1176, 1180, and 1208 Old Montreal Road, to permit a maximum building height of up to six storeys, as detailed in Document 7.

  6. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to the Official Plan, Volume 2C, for 481 Tullamore Street, to permit a minimum lot size of 0.3 hectares within a rural residential subdivision, as detailed in Document 8.

  7. That the Planning and Housing Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of April 3, 2024 subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.

• 4. That Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to the Official Plan, Volume 2C, for 270 Lamarche Avenue, to permit a maximum building height of up to seven storeys, as detailed in Document 6.

   

• WHEREAS Report ACS2024-PRE-PS-0042 (the “Report”) recommends amending the West Downtown Core Secondary Plan within Volume 2A of the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan to facilitate the development of two high-rise buildings comprising 608 residential dwelling units, including 247 affordable housing units at 625 and 665 Albert Street; and 

  WHEREAS the Report would add a new policy to Subsection 4.1 – Albert Corridor Character Area of Section 4: Character Areas of Chapter 4: Pimisi Station and LeBreton Flats District of the West Downtown Core Secondary Plan within Volume 2A – Urban Secondary Plans of the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan; and 
  WHEREAS Council did not amend height maximums for 625 Albert Street on 9 November 2022; 

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council amend Report ACS2024-PRE-PS-0042 – Development Review Legacy File Official Plan Amendments by replacing the text of Document 3 – Details of Recommended Official Plan Amendment – Albert Street, Part B – The Amendment, Clause 2.1a) with the following text: 

  “inserting a new policy 9 to the Built Form policies of Subsection 4.1 – Albert Corridor Character Area with wording as follows: 

  “In the case of the properties municipally addressed as 665 Albert Street, height maximums are determined by the in-effect zoning as adopted on November 9, 2022, which sets out the maximum building height and maximum number of tower(s) and storeys.”” 

  ; and 

  THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be no further notice pursuant to Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended.

6.

Councillors’ Items

6.1

Loss of Affordable Rental Housing

ACS2024-OCC-CCS-0029 – Citywide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Planning and Housing Committee receive this report for information.

7.

In Camera Items

8.

Information Previously Distributed

8.1

Residential Dwelling Approval Pipeline – Q4 2023

ACS2023-PRE-EDP-0029

8.2

Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department 2023 Delegated Authority Report

ACS2024-PRE-GEN-0003

9.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

9.1

Motion - Councillor G. Gower (for Councillor S. Plante) - Affordable Housing Acquisition / Preservation Fund

• WHERAS, as highlighted in the Loss of Affordable Rental Housing Report received by the Planning and Housing Committee on March 27, 2024, the City of Ottawa is losing 31 affordable rental housing units for every affordable rental housing unit being built (based on a $1,000.00/month or less in rent); and

  WHEREAS the federal government is expected to announce within the upcoming federal budget a national acquisition fund to assist in housing affordability; and

  WHEREAS the City of Ottawa in 2021 approved its first Long Range Financial Plan for Affordable Housing (LRFP) to plan and leverage any provincial and federal funds and “stack” suitable funds and grants from other levels of government or through partnerships, with City of Ottawa fund towards the building or acquisition of affordable housing.

  WHEREAS staff in Community and Social Services, working with staff in Finance and Corporate Services, is currently refreshing the LRFP for Council consideration and approval in Q2 2024;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council direct staff to:

  1. assess the merits of a city of Ottawa Acquisition/Preservation fund and/or strategy inclusive of a fund dedicated to acquiring affordable housing, and/or land that would be acquired/preserved for building affordable housing; 
  2. evaluate the merits of such a fund and/or strategy, similar to the City of Toronto’s Multi-Residential Acquisition Fund (MURA) and the City of Hamilton’s Affordable Housing Funding (AHFP) Program; and
  3. report back to the appropriate Standing Committee of Council with the findings of this assessment.

10.

Inquiries

10.1

Councillor A. Troster

• One of the consistent themes I’ve been hearing at PHC is concern from residents that adding density will damage their property values. As we anticipate the new zoning bylaw, it would be useful to have some facts and data in hand to better understand what the relationship actually is. 

  Could staff clarify the relationship between property value and addition density in historically single-family communities. As well, could staff clarify some of the potential ancillary benefits and drawbacks of greater density in historically single-family neighbourhoods, drawing from existing case studies. 

11.

Other Business

11.1

Waiver of Demolition Control – 10 Empress Avenue N.

• That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following motion to enable the necessary site preparation and soil testing to facilitate the construction of affordable housing.

  WHEREAS the buildings on the parcel of land known as 10 Empress Avenue N. are owned by Dalhousie Non-Profit Housing Co-operative Inc. (the Owner); and

  WHEREAS the building located at 10 Empress Avenue N. is currently vacant and subject to Site Plan Control and Building Permit processes; and

  WHEREAS the site is subject to a Demolition Control application in the event the owner applies to demolish the buildings before obtaining Site Plan Control approval and issuance of a Building Permit; and

  WHEREAS the Owner will apply for a Zoning By-law Amendment to construct a low-rise apartment building containing affordable dwelling units; and

  WHEREAS the Owner is to conduct further soil testing to satisfy Ministry of Environment requirements and removal of the dwelling will facilitate this.

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Planning and Housing Committee recommend Council waive Demolition Control approval and allow the Owner to proceed directly to demolition of 10 Empress Avenue N., via a Demolition Permit.  

12.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

Wednesday, April 10, 2024.