Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

27

Date:

Thursday, September 04, 2025

Time:

10:00 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Location:

Ben Franklin Place, The Chamber, Main Floor, 101 Centrepointe Drive, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair: David Brown, 
• Vice-Chair Clarke Kelly, 
• Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
• and Councillor Isabelle Skalski 

Absent:

• Councillor Matt Luloff 

---

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, September 10, 2025 in Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Report 27.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, and the deadline to register by email to speak is 9:00 am on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Conformément à la Loi sur l’aménagement du territoire, la présidence fait la lecture de la déclaration suivante au début de la réunion.

La présente réunion est une réunion publique visant à examiner les modifications proposées du Plan officiel et du Règlement de zonage qui sont inscrites au point(s) 4.1, 4.2 et 4.3 de l’ordre du jour.

En ce qui concerne ledit point, seules les personnes qui prendront la parole aujourd’hui ou qui présenteront des observations écrites avant l’adoption des modifications pourront interjeter appel devant le Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire. Le requérant pourra lui aussi interjeter appel devant le Tribunal si le Conseil n’adopte pas les modifications proposées dans les 90 jours suivant la réception de sa demande si celle-ci concerne le Règlement de zonage, et dans les 120 jours si elle concerne le Plan officiel.

Pour présenter des observations écrites sur les modifications proposées avant leur examen par le Conseil municipal le 10 septembre 2025, prière de communiquer avec la coordination du Comité ou du Conseil, par courriel ou par téléphone.

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

ARAC Minutes 26 – July 3, 2025

4.

Planning, Development and Building Services Department

4.1

Zoning By-law Amendment – 2164 Old Prescott Road

File No. ACS2024-PDB-PS-0051 – Osgoode (20)

Mr. Eric Bays, Stantec, had registered to speak on behalf of his client, but opted not to address the Committee in response to a question from Chair D. Brown as to whether he would need to speak if Committee was prepared to ‘Carry’ the item on consent.  The report recommendation was then put before Committee and was "Carried" as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 2164 Old Prescott Road, as shown in Document 1, to permit a detached dwelling, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That 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 September 10, 2025 subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
  Carried

4.2

Zoning By-law Amendment – 5581 Doctor Leach Drive

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0059 – Rideau-Jock (21)

Mr. Jacob Bolduc, FoTenn, had registered to speak on behalf of his client, but opted not to address the Committee in response to a question from Chair D. Brown as to whether he would need to speak if Committee was prepared to ‘Carry’ the item on consent.  The report recommendation was then put before Committee and was "Carried" as presented.

Correspondence was also received from Mr. Christian Cotroneo, and is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 5581 Doctor Leach Drive, as shown in Document 1, to amend rural exception [580r] to permit a two-storey apartment building, as detailed in Document 2.
  2. That 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 10 September 2025 subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
  Carried

4.3

Minor Zoning By-law Amendment - 6158 Rideau Valley Drive

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0030 - Rideau-Jock (21)

Please note that, as Statutory Notice pursuant to the Planning Act was previously issued regarding the above report’s consideration at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) meeting of Thursday, 4 September 2025, the report has been added to the current ARAC agenda.  It is, however, anticipated that this item may be deferred to a future date via Motion to be introduced at Committee.

As Statutory Notice pursuant to the Planning Act had been previously issued regarding this report’s consideration at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) meeting of Thursday, 4 September 2025, it had been added to the current meeting agenda.  Subsequent to the foregoing, the applicant requested deferral of this item to ARAC’s meeting in November.  The Committee had received three requests to speak on this item, from Mr. Roberto Aburto, Mr. Ian or Mrs. Cathy Merritt and Mr. Ryan Poulton.  No correspondence had been received.

The Vice-Chair read out a Motion to defer this item, and the Chair noted that pending the outcome of the Committee’s consideration of the Motion, the delegates were welcome to return when this matter is next considered.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  1. That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council refuse an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 6158 Rideau Valley Drive, as shown in Document 1.
  2. That 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 September 10, 2025 subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
• Motion No. ARAC 2025-27-01
  Moved by C. Kelly

  WHEREAS the applicant has requested additional time due to availability and con-sideration of additional details related to the application; and
  WHEREAS the first notice of meeting had been sent to the public prior to the re-quest to change Committee dates;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee ap-prove the following:

  1. Defer report ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0030 for further consideration and return to ARAC at the November 6, 2025, meeting; and 
  2. Permit staff to include, if necessary, a revised staff report and/or supporting documentation for inclusion in the distribution of the meeting agenda with appropriate notice being provided.
  Carried

4.4

Rural Community-Building Grant Program – Grant Application Review Marlborough Community Recreation Association

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PS-0061 – Rideau-Jock (21)

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the recommendation on the Rural Community-Building Grants Program application as detailed in Document 1.  

  Carried

5.

Public Works Department

5.1

Result of the Traffic Signal and All-Way Stop Control Warrant Review in Consideration to Rural Context

File No. ACS2025-PWD-ARAC-0001 - West Carleton-March (5), Orléans South-Navan (19), Osgood (20), Rideau-Jock (21), Riverside South-Findlay Creek (22)

At the outset, the Committee received a detailed slide presentation overview of the report from Ms. Heidi Cousineau, Manager, Traffic, Safety and Mobility, Public Works Department.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

Vice-Chair Kelly then read out the following Motion on behalf of Chair Brown:

Chair Brown spoke to provide context for the Motion after which, the report recommendations were put before Committee and were ‘Carried’ as amended by Motion No. ARAC 2025-09-02.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend City Council:

  1. Receive for information enhancements made under delegated authority to the signal warrant review process as described in this report; and,
  2. Approve the new warrant criteria associated with the implementation of all-way stop control (AWSC) on rural collectors as described in this report.
  Carried as amended
• Motion No. ARAC 2025-27-02
  Moved by C. Kelly

  WHEREAS Richmond is the fastest growing village in Ottawa, representing 63.8% of the population growth experienced across all of Ottawa’s rural villages be-tween 2020 and 2024; and

  WHEREAS infrastructure and commercial amenities in Richmond have not always kept pace with the speed of development; and

  WHEREAS Richmond is expected to continue growing at a similar rate in the coming years; and

  WHEREAS currently, there is only one grocery store in Richmond, located within the commercial plaza on Perth Street between Shea and Eagleson; and 

  WHEREAS in order to manage increased traffic flows from vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists more effectively and safely, residents have been clear that new infra-structure is required at the intersection of Perth and Shea; and

  WHEREAS the intersection of Perth and Shea is expected to meet warrants for a traffic control signal within the coming years, especially given the scale and scope of planned and approved residential development in Richmond; and 

  WHEREAS the intersection of Perth and Shea is identified on the Intersection Control Measures List in the 2024 Development Charges Background Study and is a candidate for design and construction between 2024 and 2031 once traffic control signal warrants have been met; and

  WHEREAS when an Intersection Pedestrian Signal (IPS) at Perth near Gamble was installed, staff noted that it would need to be replaced in the future with a full signalized traffic control signal at Perth and Shea given its close proximity to the intersection; and 

  WHEREAS the IPS at Perth near Gamble did not meet warrants when it was in-stalled and is under-utilized because it does not fully or sufficiently cover pedes-trian movements to the commercial plaza; and

  WHEREAS resolving these concurrent challenges along a timeline that meets the rapidly-evolving needs of the community requires an expedited approach to de-sign and construction.

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a traffic control signal be approved for instal-lation at the intersection of Perth and Shea; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff be directed to undertake the design re-quired to support the removal of the IPS at Perth near Gamble and the addition of a traffic control signal at Perth and Shea along such a timeline as to permit con-struction as soon as possible; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff be directed to include the detailed design and construction of this traffic control signal for Council’s consideration as part of the 2026 Capital Budget, Intersection Control Measures Program (100% funded through Development Charges).

  Carried

6.

Strategic Initiatives Department

6.1

Rural Environmental Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program Terms of Reference and Property Selection Criteria

File No. ACS2025-SI-CCR-0005 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommends that Council approve the proposed Terms of Reference for the Rural Environmental Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program, attached as Document 1, including the proposed Property Selection Criteria.

  Carried

7.

Infrastructure and Water Services Department

7.1

Engineer’s Report for the McKinnons Creek Municipal Drain

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0014 – Orléans South-Navan (19)

Due to a technical error in public notification, Councillor Kitts introduced the following Motion to defer this item to ARAC’s meeting of 2 October, 2025:

Correspondence had been received from Mr. Wendell and Mrs. Cheryl Wyatt and is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend that Council adopt the engineer’s report prepared by Robinson Consultants Inc., entitled Engineer’s report for the McKinnons Creek Municipal Drain, and give first and second readings to the By-law attached as Document 3 in accordance with Sections 42 and 45 of the Drainage Act of Ontario.

   
• Motion No. ARAC 2025-27-03
  Moved by C. Kitts

  WHEREAS a technical error occurred in the public notice regarding the deadline to sign up as a delegation to speak on this item; 
  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee ap-prove the following:

  1. Defer report ACS2005-IWS-WL-0014 to the ARAC October 2, 2025, meeting; and 
  2. Permit staff to include, if necessary, a revised staff report and/or supporting documentation for inclusion in the distribution of the meeting agenda with appropriate notice being provided.
  Carried

7.2

McIntyre-Scobie Municipal Drain – Appointment of Engineer

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0016 - Rideau-Jock (21)

The Committee heard from Mrs. Barb and Mr. Frank Chieffallo.  Mr. Dave Ryan, Drainage Superintendent, Infrastructure and Water Services Department, was present to respond to questions. 

At the conclusion of questions to staff, the report recommendation was put before Committee and was ‘Carried’, as presented.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council receive the request for major improvement under Section 78(1) of the Drainage Act for the McIntyre-Scobie Municipal Drain and deny the request to appoint an Engineer for this project.

  Carried

8.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

9.

Information Previously Distributed

9.1

Q3 2025 – Status update on the new Zoning By-law - Final Draft

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PS-0054 – City-wide

10.

Open Mic Session

• Ms. Deborah Doherty, Co-Chair, Bird-Friendly Ottawa

11.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

12.

Inquiries

12.1

ARAC 2025-01 – Rural Crossing Guards

Submitted by Councillor I. Skalski:

I would like to ask this: As another school year begins, I have heard from parents concerned about kids safely crossing at elementary schools in rural communities. Drivers are paying less attention and speeding more on rural roads - this is contributing to concerns about safe crossing at schools. I have some inquiries for City staff on the Adult School Crossing Guard Program:

-What school locations in rural ottawa have been assessed for school crossing guards?

-What were the results of those assessments? (If the crossing guard was unwarranted, did it fail on the City’s policy parameters or per legislative/other underlining constraints defined by the province?)

-Has the adult school crossing guard program ever been assessed to ensure it accounts for the rural context?

-Have we ever performed a jurisdictional analysis to see how other rural municipalities apply school crossing guard programs? 

Please provide a response by December meeting.

13.

Other Business

There was no other business.

14.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

Tuesday, October 2, 2025.

The meeting adjourned at 10:42 am.