Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

March 9 2005 / le 9 mars2005

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Ned Lathrop, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint,

Planning and Growth Management / Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance 

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Grant Lindsay, Manager/Gestionnaire

Planning and Infrastructure Approvals/Approbation des demandes d'aménagement et d'infrastructure

(613) 580-2424 x 13242, grant.lindsay@ottawa.ca

 

Rideau-Vanier (12)

Ref N°: ACS2005-DEV-APR-0091

 

 

SUBJECT:

NICHOLAS/WALLER Triangle settlement DISPOSITION

 

 

OBJET :

DISPOSITION DU TRIANGLE NICHOLAS-WALLER

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council approve the priorities for disposition of the Nicholas Waller Triangle Settlement as detailed in Document 1.

 

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver les priorités concernant la disposition du triangle Nicholas-Waller, comme il est détaillé dans le document 1.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On November 13, 2002 two buildings on the Nicholas Waller Triangle were demolished by Les Jardins Pondev Ltée / Groupe Lepine without the benefit of municipal permits and contrary to development agreements with the City. The City initiated prosecution and the terms for  resolution of the dispute were eventually approved by City Council.

 

At its meeting of September 3, 2003 City Council approved the following motion :

 

The Development Services Department confer with the Ward Councillor, Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) and Heritage Advisory Committee (subsequently discontinued) and bring forward a recommendation to Planning and Development Committee on the disbursement of the $250,000 settlement.

 

A court settlement was reached on November 18, 2004 and the funds have been received by the City.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Councillor Bédard believes that since the demolished buildings were part of the heritage of Sandy Hill, funds arising from the dispute resolution should be directed, in large part, towards a project in that neighbourhood. The Councillor would prefer to see funds allocated to a heritage study of the Sandy Hill neighbourhood with a view to examining areas not previously researched. The study would be carried out by a consultant under the direction of the Planning and Growth Management Department in accordance with Terms of Reference to be approved by Council following review by LACAC and Planning and Environment Committee. This initiative has also been supported by the Sandy Hill community through Action Sandy Hill.

 

Councillor Bédard would also prefer to have the City initiate a Community Design/Urban Design Study for the north side of Rideau Street between Cumberland and Sussex. This consultant study would be carried out with the intent of developing recommendations to guide the main street character of this area in conformance with the Official Plan.

 

At its meeting of December 9, 2004 LACAC considered the two projects described above as well as other ideas. The project that they believe will have the most benefit for heritage awareness across the entire city is a second edition of the publication "Ottawa A Guide to Heritage Structures."The book was initially produced in 2000 as a millenium project by the City's LACAC. It was produced prior to amalgamation and so only 220 individually-designated heritage properties in the former City of Ottawa are included. A second edition would be updated to include another 80 properties within the new City as well as designations passed since 2000.

 

After its deliberation on the issue, LACAC passed the following motion:

 

That the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee recommend that the following projects (in order of priority) be retained for funding with the $250,000 from the Groupe Lépine dispute resolution:

 

1.         A second edition of "Ottawa: A Guide to Heritage Structures,"

 

2.         A heritage study of Sandy Hill and its conservation districts,

 

3.         A Community Design Plan of Rideau Street between Cumberland and Sussex

 

During the course of discussion of this item at LACAC and in subsequent correspondence to the Department of Planning and Growth Management, Mr. David Flemming, President of Heritage Ottawa,  suggested a fourth funding priority. He recommended that any remaining funds be allocated to assist with the heritage components of Community Design Plans (CPD) in rural areas where a concentration of heritage resources was thought to exist and an inventory of those resources could be of help in the preparation of the CDP.

 

The Department supports the four projects described below and in Document 1 because they are consistent with the heritage policies of the Official Plan and goals and workplan of the Department as well as LACAC.

 

Project 1, Heritage Study Sandy Hill ($150,000), is consistent with Official Plan policies relative to the identification and designation of heritage resources in the city and will enable better management of the existing heritage districts in Sandy Hill in accordance with the Official Plan

( S.2.5.5.2 p. 52), the Sandy Hill Secondary Plan and the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

Project 2, Second Edition "Ottawa A Guide to Heritage Structures," ($36,000) is a LACAC project which is consistent with their mandate and work plan and will promote a better awareness of designated heritage resources across the city.

 

Project 3, Community Design Plan/Urban Design Study, Rideau Street ($40,000) will assist the City in guiding new development on Rideau Street in accordance with the Official Plan and Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy.

 

Project 4, Community Design Plan Heritage Components ($24,000) is consistent with the Official Plan policies relative to the nature and content of Community Design Plans (S.2.5.7.3.g p. 57) and the need to inventory potential heritage resources across the city, particularly in the core areas of Villages etc. (S.2.5.5.3 p. 52).

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

The Ward Councillor, Georges Bédard and LACAC were consulted in the identification of the priorities for disposition of the Nicholas/Waller Triangle Settlement as directed by City Council. Action Sandy Hill provided input through the Ward Councillor and representatives of Heritage Ottawa as well as the City's Arts Heritage and Culture Advisory Committee provided input at the LACAC meeting of December 9, 2004.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Funds in the amount of $250,000 arising from this settlement are in Capital Account 990234 517005 Heritage Studies.

 

Subject to the approval of this report, the fund would be generally allocated as follows in order of priority :

 

1.         Heritage Study Sandy Hill $150,000

2.         Second Edition "Ottawa A Guide to Heritage Structures," $36,000. This amount would be added to the existing fund of approximately $16,000 raised from sale of the current book which is committed to publication of a second edition.

3.         Community Design Plan/Urban Design Study, Rideau Street $40,000

4.         Community Design Plan Heritage Components $24,000 

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1      List of Priorities for Disposition of Nicholas/Waller Triangle Settlement

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

The Department of Planning and Growth Management Department, Planning and Infrastructure Approvals Branch to prepare an Action Report for the consideration of LACAC, PEC and Council outlining the Terms of Reference for a  Heritage Study of Sandy Hill.

 

The Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee to initiate the production of a second edition of "Ottawa A Guide to Heritage Structures" in cooperation with the Department of Planning and Growth Management Department, Planning and Infrastructure Approvals Branch.

 

The Department of Planning and Growth Management, Planning Environment and Infrastructure Policy to implement a Community Design/Urban Design Study for the north side of Rideau Street between Cumberland and Sussex in the context of their future work programs.

 

The Department of Planning and Growth Management, Planning Environment and Infrastructure Policy Branch in cooperation with the Planning and Infrastructure Approvals Branch to commission heritage inventories as part of Community Design Plans in rural areas when and if required. 

 

 


LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR DISPOSITION OF

NICHOLAS/WALLER TRIANGLE SETTLEMENT                                                 Document 1

 

1.  Heritage Study of Sandy Hill.

 

This consultant study would prepare a management plan for the existing heritage conservation districts in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood and identify the potential for additional heritage designations under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Terms of Reference for this study would be the subject of a subsequent report to LACAC, Planning and Economic Development Committee and City Council.

 

2.  "Ottawa:A Guide to Heritage Structures," Second Edition.

 

 The book was initially produced as a millenium project in 2000 by the former City of Ottawa Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC).The book was produced prior to amalgamation and so only 220 individually-designated heritage properties in the former City of Ottawa are included. A second edition would be updated to include another 80 properties from the new city as well as designations passed since 2000.

 

3.  Rideau Street Community Design Plan/Urban Design Study.

 

 This consultant study would examine the north side of Rideau Street between Cumberland and Sussex with the intent of developing recommendations to guide the main street character of this area in conformance with the Official Plan.

 

4.  Community Design Plans-Heritage Components.

 

Remaining funds could be used to assist with heritage inventories in rural areas and main streets as part of Community Design Plans for those areas.