2.             CARP Airport – WEST CAPITAL dEVeLOPMENTS – AGREEMENT

 

AÉROPORT DE CARP – ENTENTE AVEC WEST CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS

 

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Council:

 

1.                  Authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a settlement agreement with West Capital Developments (WCD) for the purchase and development of the Carp Airport as set out in this report;

 

2.                  Upon execution of the settlement agreement that the City Manager negotiate and execute an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with WCD based on the provisions as set out in the settlement agreement; and

 

3.         Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement as described in this report.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU COMITÉ

 

Que le Conseil :

 

1.                  autorise le directeur municipal à finaliser et à signer un règlement à l’amiable avec West Capital Developments (WCD) pour l’achat et l’aménagement de l’aéroport de Carp, tel qu’établi dans le présent rapport ;

 

2.                  demande au directeur municipal, au moment de l’exécution du règlement à l’amiable, de négocier et de signer une convention d’achat et de vente avec WCD conformément aux dispositions établies dans le règlement à l’amiable ;

 

3.         autorise le directeur municipal de négocier et de signer un accord relatif aux immobilisations municipales, tel que décrit dans le présent rapport.

 

 

 

DOCUMENTATION

 

1.                  City Manager’s report dated 5 October 2010 (ACS2010-CMR-REP-0050).


Report to/Rapport au:

 

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

5 October 2010 / le 5 octobre 2010

 

 Submitted by/Soumis par: Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager / Directeur municipal

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Gordon MacNair, Director, Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office/Directeur, Partenariats et Développement en immobilier

(613) 580-2424 x 21217, Gordon.MacNair@Ottawa.ca

 

City-wide

Ref N°: ACS2010-CMR-REP-0050

 

 

SUBJECT:

CARP Airport – WEST CAPITAL dEVeLOPMENTS - AGREEMENT

 

 

OBJET :

AÉROPORT DE CARP – ENTENTE AVEC WEST CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.                  Authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a settlement agreement with West Capital Developments (WCD) for the purchase and development of the Carp Airport as set out in this report;

 

2.                  Upon execution of the settlement agreement that the City Manager negotiate and execute an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with WCD based on the provisions as set out in the settlement agreement; and

 

3.                  Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement as described in this report.

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil :

1.                  d’autoriser le directeur municipal à finaliser et à signer un règlement à l’amiable avec West Capital Developments (WCD) pour l’achat et l’aménagement de l’aéroport de Carp, tel qu’établi dans le présent rapport ;

2.         de demander au directeur municipal, au moment de l’exécution du règlement à l’amiable, de négocier et de signer une convention d’achat et de vente avec WCD conformément aux dispositions établies dans le règlement à l’amiable ;

3.                 d’autoriser le directeur municipal de négocier et de signer un accord relatif aux immobilisations municipales, tel que décrit dans le présent rapport.

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

On 14 March 1997, the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton (RMOC) acquired the Carp Airport from Transport Canada under a series of agreements that obliged the RMOC to maintain an operational airport until, at least, 14 March 2007.  

In July 2002 the City, as successor to the RMOC, initiated a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process regarding the sale and development of the Carp Airport property.  The objectives wore to maintain and enhance this small general aviation airport facility with additional development, to eliminate the need for the City to be responsible for its management and operations, and for continuing to financially subsidize this facility on a long term basis.

 

On 11 October 2002, the City received four (4) expressions of interest but only a submission from West Capital Developments (WCD) responded fully to the RFEOI criteria by setting out a comprehensive project to own, manage and develop the Carp Airport property as a private sector corporation.        

As set out in the project chronology document, attached as Document 3, Council provided a series of approvals in the period from 13 May 2003 to 9 March 2005 with respect to providing WCD with an option to purchase and develop the Carp Airport.

 

 The City initially entered into an Option to Purchase and Development Agreement with WCD on 31 May 2004 based on the Council authority of 12 May 2004 and subsequently entered into an amended agreement on 18 March 2005 ( the Agreement) based on the Council authority of 9 March 2005. As noted in Document 3, the City also entered into an agreement for WCD to manage the airport on behalf of the City.

 

The Agreement provided for a development of the Carp Airport property with three distinct areas: 1) the core airport, which would be a municipal capital facility agreement; 2) an airport accessory residential community; and 3) an aerospace business park, as shown on the March 2005 Land Use Plan attached as Document 5 of this report. The 2005 Land Use Plan provided for 280 residential units, a 187 acre aerospace business park (approx. 800,000 sq. ft. total building floor area), maintaining the existing 4,000 ft. runway and construction of  a new airport terminal building and Fixed Based Operation facility (FBO) with the development being served by private water and wastewater services.

 

The Agreement also provided that, before WCD could exercise its option to purchase and develop the airport, WCD had to first:

 

  • Obtain all planning and related infrastructure approvals; and
  • Modify its business plan to account for all changes since the Council approval in May 2004 and submit the plan to the City for review and approval as a prerequisite to entering into a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement (MCFA) for the airport property.

 

The Agreement also required WCD, when exercising the option, to submit an agreement of purchase and sale that includes the terms set forth in Schedule “E” of the Agreement, which Schedule includes an option in favour of the City to repurchase the property.

 

As a condition of closing, the Agreement also required WCD to: secure and provide a financial commitment for the first phase of the development shown on the land use plan approved for the development; enter into the Municipal Capital Facility Agreement; enter into development and option to repurchase agreements; and agree to accept certain conditions precedent with respect to the environmental status of the airport as well as Transport Canada and NavCanada agreements and approval authorities over the airport.

 

As set out in Document 3, WCD obtained zoning and draft plan of subdivision/condominium approvals for this project through the City’s standard integrated environmental assessment and subdivision planning process.

 

The draft plan of subdivision, as shown on Document 4 of this report, was approved as of 16 August 2007 upon conditions of draft plan approval as set out in a letter dated 20 December 2007 from the City’s Planning Branch to WCD.

 

As a result of the draft plan approval process, a number of changes to the WCD’s Land Use Plan were required as shown on the revised December 2007 Land Use Plan attached as  Document 6 of this report.

                    

As set out in Document 3, the Option to Purchase and Development Agreement has been amended many times, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, since March 2005 to allow WCD to complete the planning approval process and then revise its Business Plan for the developing the airport. The most recent amendment to the Agreement was dated 31 December 2009 which amended the operative dates in the Agreement. Specifically, the option to purchase period was extended to 31 May 2010. Additionally, this amending Agreement also included a clause by which the WCD acknowledged and agreed that any further requests for an extension to the option period may, at the City’s discretion, be subject to Council approval.

 

Since the last Council approval with respect to the Option to Purchase and Development Agreement in March 2005,   the City and WCD have acted cooperatively, under the provisions of the option and airport management agreements between the parties, to achieve a number of accomplishments at the Carp Airport including the following:

 

  • The Airport is now essentially at break-even instead of a large annual deficit that previously existed;
  • New investment of approximately $5,500,000  has been brought to the field including the Roly Armitage Airport Terminal and a new Helicopter Transport Services facility;
  • The construction of Roly Armitage Airport Terminal provides services for pilots such as washrooms and a cafeteria which has significantly raised the profile and interest in the airport and ensured retention of tenants who may otherwise have gone elsewhere;
  • The construction of a new 6,000 sq. ft. aircraft hangar attached to the Airport Terminal provides services for itinerant aircraft;
  • The signing of existing tenants to long-term leases and significant  additional leasing of Core Airport Area lands;
  • The removal of all underground fuel storage tanks and the provision of a new 24/7 credit card-based AvGas fuel facility with added Jet-A fuelling capability via a “bowser” truck;
  • Extensive environmental monitoring and remediation of the brownfield in the Core Airport Area;
  • The airport’s  certification is now tied to a Transport Canada approved Airport Operator’s Manual (AOM);
  • The secondary runway, Runway 4-22, has now been certified by Transport Canada and officially opened to provide additional landing and takeoff facilities for recreational aircraft beyond the main Runway 10-28  facilities;
  • The former Carp Flying Academy trailer has been moved to a location near the Borden Building for use by the Huntley Historical Society; and
  • Video surveillance has been provided in selected areas and appropriate signs have been posted.

 

As more fully described in Document 2, on 28 May 2010 WCD purported to exercise its option to purchase the Carp Airport under the Agreement and subsequently tendered to close on 25 June 2010.  However, the City’s legal counsel refused to accept this tender because the tender documents were, in the City’s opinion, deficient.  As such, the City returned the original tender documentation to WCD’s legal counsel and also returned the original deposit cheque along with the original option exercise.

 

Amongst a number of issues, the following were of specific concern to City staff:

 

  • WCD had not submitted a modified business plan prior to submitting a document to exercise the purchase option;
  • The modified business plan was a prerequisite to preparing an MCFA which in turn was a prerequisite for closing the transaction;
  • The option documents provided were not accompanied by an Agreement of Purchase of Sale, in keeping with Schedule “E” of the Agreement that provided for the City to have an option to repurchase;
  • WCD did not indicate prior to tendering to close the transaction that it had accepted the conditions precedent in the Agreement; and
  • The documentation submitted by WCD in tendering to close the transaction did not include the required MCFA, a financial commitment for Phase I of the development, development or option to repurchase agreements.

 

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Since 24 June 2010, REPDO staff and WCD representatives have met on a number of occasions, on a “without prejudice” basis to seek common ground to allow WCD to acquire the Carp Airport property and move forward with its proposed draft plan approved development.  These discussions have been based on a proposed settlement between the parties that is not only in keeping with the intent of the original agreements but also take into account:

 

·       Current economic and development considerations; and

·       The significant improvements at the Carp Airport that have been achieved since 2005 by the parties, as described in the Background section of this report under the Agreement and the Airport Management Agreement. 

 

As a result of negotiations between REPDO staff and WCD representatives, REPDO put forward “Basic Principles” for settling this matter, as set out in Document 1 of this report. that address the City’s concerns regarding the documents submitted by WCD with respect to exercising the option and closing the transaction. On 28 September 2010, WCD agreed to these “Basic Principles” as shown in Document 1.

 

Staff is now recommending that CSEDC recommend that Council authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Settlement Agreement with West Capital Developments (WCD) for the purchase and development of the Carp Airport as set out in Recommendation 1 of this report.

Upon execution of the Settlement Agreement it is also recommended, as set out in Recommendation 2, that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate and execute an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with WCD based, not only on the provisions as set out for the proposed Settlement Agreement, but also in accordance with provisions similar to those Council approved provisions included in the previous Option to Purchase and Development Agreement. These provisions are still relevant with respect to the City’s requirements for a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement and Development/Option to Repurchase agreements.

In this regard, the Purchase Price for the airport is to be based on the fair market value for the Aerospace Business Park and Airport Accessory Residential Community portions of the Carp Airport, “as determined by mutual agreement of the Vendor and Purchaser using the Vendor’s existing appraisal dated the 17th day of November, 2003, updated to the 14th day of May, 2004, and at least one new independent fee appraisal, prepared by accredited member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada, and which appraisals will be carried out on the basis of the valuation date being the 14th day of May, 2004 and the areas of the lands being as shown on a Reference Plan that is to be prepared  by the Vendor.

The City obtained two independent appraisals and on 2 May 2005 REPDO staff advised WCD that the highest of the two appraisals in the amount or $1,300,000 would be the basis of establishing fair market value for the proposed transaction. On 25 May 2005, WCD advised that “West Capital Developments does accept the value of $1,300,000 and will not be obtaining a third appraisal”.

The Agreement also provides for WCD to receive a credit of $75,000 on closing for payments made by WCD with respect to the operational costs at the airport during the option period. As a result, the Purchase Price on closing, subject to the usual adjustments, will be $1,225,000.

It is further recommended, as set out in Recommendation 3, that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate and execute a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement upon terms and conditions that are also similar to those approved by Council with respect to the previous Option to Purchase and Development Agreement.  These are still relevant with respect to the City’s requirements and are consistent with the conditions of Draft Plan approval set out by the City on 20 December 2007.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The natural environment considerations for this project have been accounted for in the draft plan of subdivision and condominium approval process. WCD has accepted the results of the City’s monitoring and remediation measures with respect to the City’s Environmental Site Assessment investigations at the airport.  As such, WCD is expecting to close the airport transaction on the basis of accepting the existing environmental condition of the airport property as set out in the “Basic Principles” for settlement described in Document 1 of this report.

 

CONSULTATION

 

The recommendations in this report are based on the results of negotiations and discussion with the West Capital Developments (WCD).

 

The Ward Councillor has been briefed on the status of these matters and the legal positions of the City and West Capital Developments. The Councillor has indicated his support for a settlement between the parties that is in keeping with the intent of the original agreements.  In addition, the councillor also takes into account the current economic and development considerations as well as the significant improvements at the Carp Airport that have been achieved since 2005 under the Option to Purchase and Development Agreement and the Airport Management Agreement between the City and WCD.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The recommendations in this report are based on ensuring that any proposed development supports the relevant Official Plan policies for the rural area and the objectives of the rural community, including protecting and adding to the employment base in this location, and is compatible with, and supports the Community Design Plans for the Village of Carp and the Carp Road Corridor.

 

 HOUSING FIRST POLICY

 

This Official Plan policy directs that the City makes land available for affordable housing and give priority for the sale or lease of surplus City-owned property for this purpose. 

 

The Housing First Policy, approved by Council on 13 July 2005, establishes priority consideration to the Affordable Housing Services Division in the identification of potentially surplus City-owned property, to be used in achieving the City’s affordable housing program targets.  The policy also requires that the Official Plan target of 25% affordable housing be met on any City-owned property sold for residential development.  Where viable, residential properties are disposed of without a condition requiring an affordable housing component and that 25% of the proceeds from the sale are to be credited to a housing fund, to be used for the development of affordable housing elsewhere in the City.

 

The subject property is zoned for airport and airport accessory uses and therefore the provision of the Housing First Policy are not applicable in this case.

 

 

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR

 

See Consultation section.

 

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

 

Should Council approve the report prepared by Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office, then the City will finalize and execute a settlement agreement with West Capital Developments (WCD) for the purchase and development of the Carp Airport and further negotiate and execute an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with WCD on the provisions as set out in the settlement agreement and negotiate and execute a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement.

 

 

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

 

The provisions of the proposed agreements with WCD support the City’s Official Plan objectives to maintain and enhance a Transport Canada certified general aviation facility to support economic development in Ottawa as a financially self-sustaining municipal airport facility with experienced airport management. 

 

 

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no technical implications to implementing the recommendations in this report.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

This transaction represents revenue of $1,225,000 to the Corporation and will be credited to the City’s Sale of Surplus Land Account.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1:   Basic Principles for Settlement

Document 2:   Carp Airport Option to Purchase and Development Agreement - Background to     Legal Positions

Document 3:   Carp Airport Option to Purchase and Development Agreement Chronology

Document 4:   Carp Airport - Draft Approved Plan of Subdivision (Sheets 1 & 2)

Document 5:   Carp Airport - Land Use Plan - March 2005

Document 6:   Carp Airport - Land Use Plan - December 2007

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

Subject to Committee and Council approval, staff will implement the recommendations as outlined in the report.


DOCUMENT 1

BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SETTLEMENT

 

 

 

Basic Principles for Settlement

 

  • Prior to entering into an agreement of purchase and sale for the Carp Airport, WCD shall confirm in writing receipt of the environmental reports delivered to it by the City and that WCD is satisfied with the environmental condition of the Carp Airport. Upon completion of the purchase transaction, WCD shall be responsible for the environmental condition of the Carp Airport created from and after the closing date.  WCD shall indemnify and hold harmless the City against any third party claims relating to or arising from the environmental condition of the Carp Airport created from and after the closing date. This responsibility and indemnification shall not merge with but shall survive the closing of the purchase transaction.

 

  • Prior to entering into an agreement of purchase and sale for the Carp Airport, WCD shall confirm in writing that it is satisfied that Transport Canada has issued an Operating Certificate for the Carp Airport and also that WCD is satisfied with the status of the Operating Certificate and that there are no outstanding deficiencies with respect to maintaining the Operating Certificate. WCD shall be responsible for maintaining the Operating Certificate and for remedying any associated deficiencies identified by Transport Canada from and after the Closing Date. WCD shall indemnify and hold harmless the City against any third party claims relating to or arising from the status of the Operating Certificate and/or any deficiencies related thereto from and after the Closing Date. This responsibility and indemnification shall not merge with but shall survive the closing of this transaction.

 

  • Prior to entering into an agreement of purchase and sale for the Carp Airport, WCD shall confirm in writing that WCD is aware of, and understands the provisions of, Aviation and Services Facilities Agreement (ASFA) in effect for the Carp Airport and that WCD will be responsible for obtaining all necessary consents and approvals from NavCanada as are required under the ASFA or such amendments to the ASFA as are necessary to permit WCD’s proposed development of the Carp Airport. WCD shall indemnify and hold harmless the City against any third party claims relating to or arising from the status of, or conditions under, the ASFA from and after the Closing Date. This responsibility and indemnification shall not merge with but shall survive the closing of this transaction.

 

  • WCD acknowledges that the City is and shall remain an independent planning authority with all requisite powers and discretion provided under applicable laws (such as the Planning Act (Ontario) and the Municipal Act, 2001 (Ontario)) and nothing herein or the agreement of purchase and sale will derogate from the obligations of WCD to obtain all requisite consents, permits and approvals or the City’s discretion, obligations and liabilities with respect thereto.

 

  • WCD acknowledges and confirms that any Council approval to these basic principles does not include approval in respect of the water consent agreement, engineering review and confirmation of water allocation. The City agrees that it will grant a license of occupation for the long service water connection required along Carp Road to WCD at nominal consideration, however, the license of occupation and the water consent agreement are, as set out above, subject to the approval authority of the Planning and Infrastructure Approvals in the normal manner of exercising its legislative authority or administrative function.

 

  • The parties shall enter into a MCFA as a prerequisite to the closing under the agreement of purchase and sale, scheduled to close on or before 15 December 2010 or such other date as may be mutually agreed to between the City and WCD.

 

  • WCD will not be required to extend the Core Airport Area to compensate for the parkland shown on Block 332 of the Approved Draft Plan.

 

  • The Purchase Price for the Airport Property will be $1,300,000 (subject to agreed adjustments) based on nominal consideration ($1) for the Core Airport Area and $2,173 per acre for the remaining lands (average per 2004 appraised value)

 

  • Subject to WCD agreeing that it will not pre-service any part of the Carp Airport lands prior to registering the associated plan of subdivision and also agreeing that WCD will accept the option to repurchase conditions set out below, the City will not require WCD to provide a financial commitment for Phase 1 of its proposed development as a condition of closing the transaction.

 

  • The sale of the airport property will be subject to the City retaining an irrevocable option to repurchase the whole property if: a) WCD has not  registered, within 3 years of the closing date, a plan of subdivision for at least a portion of the airport property that includes Park Block 332, Aerospace Business Park Blocks 300, 301, 306, 320, 321 & 322, and for the installation of the initial phase of the communal water and waste water disposal systems for developing the Airport Accessory Residential Lots and Blocks set out on the approved Draft Plan of Subdivision; and b)  WCD has not commenced construction of the servicing (e.g. roads and taxiway) related to  the Aerospace Business Park Blocks, as described above, within the same 3 year period (collectively the “Three Year Option to Repurchase”).

 

  • Upon WCD registering  the plan of subdivision and commencing construction of servicing for the Aerospace Business Parks as described above, the City will release its option to repurchase the whole airport property but shall retain irrevocable options to repurchase: a) the Core Airport Area, as defined by Parts 2, 3, & 4 shown on Reference Plan 4R-40588, to be exercised only with respect to a lack of performance by WCD under the ongoing requirements set out in the proposed MCFA for the Municipal Airport Facility ; b) Vacant Land Block 293 to be exercised only if WCD has not received a further draft plan approval for the subdivision of this block and has then not registered the resulting plan of subdivision for this block  within 10 years of the closing date; and c) Aerospace Business Park Blocks 297, 302, 305 and 319 to be exercised only  if WCD has not registered a plan of subdivision for these blocks and has not commenced servicing (e.g. access road) as required by the associated  Subdivision Agreement within 10 years of the closing date. (collectively the “Ten Year Option to Repurchase”).

 

·         No later than three (3) months prior to the expiry of the Ten Year Option to Repurchase, the WDC may request, and the City may, in its discretion, grant, an extension of the time frame for obtaining the development approvals required to be obtained prior to the crystallization of the City’s rights under the Ten Year Option to Repurchase.

 

  • The Core Airport Area shall not be encumbered without the consent of the City which consent may be unreasonably withheld and any encumbrances of any other part of the Carp Airport property may only be registered subsequent in priority to the City’s registration of its option to repurchase and any potential encumbrances of any part of the Carp Airport Property must agree in writing to discharge any encumbrance upon exercise of the City’s option to repurchase at the repurchase price for those respective lands as described above. Notwithstanding the above, the City agrees that licenses of occupation may be granted over the airport property, including the Core Airport Area, to permit WCD’s proposed WCD development to be serviced in accordance with the conditions of registered subdivision agreements (e.g. wastewater system tile bed in Block 307) and subject to the City approving the conditions of the license in each case.

 

 


DOCUMENT 2

 

CARP AIRPORT

OPTION TO PURCHASE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

BACKGROUND TO LEGAL POSITIONS

 

On 27 May 2010, West Capital Developments (WCD) purported to exercise its option to purchase the Carp Airport under the Option to Purchase and Development Agreement dated 18 March 2005, as amended to date, by sending a letter from its legal counsel enclosing a signed option exercise dated 27 May 2010, together with a deposit cheque in the amount of $100,000 dollars made payable to the City of Ottawa.

 

By letter dated 23 June 2010 addressed to WCD’s legal counsel, the Real Estate and Partnerships Office (REPDO) confirmed that the terms of the Agreement had not been complied with nor satisfied in order to allow WCD to exercise its option to purchase the Carp Airport. REPDO also advised that the City would be returning the deposit cheque in the amount of $100,000 and that the City, on a without prejudice basis would meet with WCD and its legal counsel on 24 June 2010.

 

The REPDO letter outlined the following specific items as deficiencies which barred WCD from exercising its option to purchase under the Agreement:

 

  • Section 5.5 of the Agreement states that prior to exercising its option to purchase the Carp Airport, the Purchaser will prepare a modified business plan and submit same to us for review and confirmation that the form and content of the modified business plan satisfies the provisions of the Agreement;

 

  • Section 5.6 of the Agreement states that the Modified Business Plan will be a prerequisite to the Vendor and the Purchaser entering into a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement “MCFA”) and sets out the terms and conditions which the Purchaser must comply with to the satisfaction of the Vendor; and

 

  • Section 2.3 of the Agreement contains conditions which the Purchaser must satisfy in order to exercise the option, including without limitation, submitting an agreement of purchase and sale that includes the terms set forth in Schedule “E” of the Agreement, which Schedule includes an option in favour of the City to repurchase.

 

On 24 June 2010, REPDO staff and WCD representatives along with their respective legal counsel met to determine whether, and on what basis, this matter could move forward. During this meeting, WCD put forward its position that it believed it had exercised its option to purchase the Carp Airport in accordance with the Agreement and stated that it would be tendering upon the City in order to preserve its rights under the Agreement. The City reiterated its position that the terms of the Agreement had not been complied with nor satisfied in order to allow WCD to exercise its option to purchase the Carp Airport and as such the option to purchase had expired under the terms of this agreement. The City further stated that if WCD was going to pursue litigation, the City would then turn this matter over to its legal counsel. WCD confirmed that it would be tendering in order to preserve its rights under the Agreement, but that WCD would not pursue obtaining a certificate of pending litigation and confirmed by e-mail dated 30 June 2010, that “there is no intent to litigate while the parties are negotiating in good faith towards closing the transaction”. The parties then worked on a road map as to what each party could do to move the matter forward.

 

REPDO staff advised WCD that there would be a need to take this matter back to Council from the City’s perspective and legal position for the following reasons:

 

  • The terms and conditions of the Agreement were based on Council authorities of 12 May 2004 and subsequent approval on 9 March 2005 as noted in Document 2 of this report;
  • While staff was delegated to finalize and execute the Agreement and subsequent amendments, the provisions for a financial commitment for Phase 1 and for a repurchase option in favour of the City are substantive Council approved conditions for which WCD has yet not demonstrated compliance nor a willingness to comply;
  • WCD has also not complied with the conditions for exercising the option set out in the Agreement that was finalized and executed under delegated authority;
  • The option to purchase has expired and the Agreement is no longer valid; and
  • Staff cannot now unilaterally amend the Agreement conditions approved by Council without further Council authority.

 

On 25 June 2010, WCD tendered to close the transaction and the City’s legal counsel refused to accept this tender because the tender documents were, in the City’s opinion, deficient and returned the original tender documentation to WCD’s legal counsel and also returned the original deposit cheque along with the original option exercise.

 


DOCUMENT 3

 

CARP AIRPORT

OPTION TO PURCHASE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

 

CHRONOLOGY

 

March 14, 1997 - Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton (RMOC) acquired the Carp Airport from Transport Canada under a series of agreements that obliged RMOC to maintain an operational airport until, at least, March 14, 2007;      

 

January 1, 2001 -  RMOC dissolved when local municipalities were amalgamated by the Province in 2001 and new City of Ottawa assumed ownership of the Carp Airport and RMOC interests in, obligations under, the Transport Canada Agreements;

 

July 11, 2001 - City Council provided authority to staff for initiating an expression of interest process for the planning, development, management, operation, and future ownership of the Carp Airport;

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2001/07-11/csed/ACS2001-DEV-BUS-0002.htm

 

July 2002 to October 2002 - Request for expressions of interest process undertaken;

 

October 11, 2002 - West Capital Developments (WCD) submitted an expression of interest document (1 of 4 received) for an aviation community with approx. 150 residential lots and an aviation business park including the airport facility with development to be served by communal water and wastewater systems ;        

 

May 14, 2003 - City Council authorized an agreement with WCD for the preparation, by WCD, of a Business Plan, by November 1, 2003, for the planning, development, management, operation and future ownership of the Carp Airport;

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2003/05-14/csedc/ACS2003-CRS-RPR-0039.htm

 

 

October 31, 2003 - WCD submitted a business plan and further documentation dated November 2003, all under confidential cover, to the City for consideration by City Council at a meeting before the end of February, 2004; Plan provided for development of 750 residential lots, 181 acre aerospace business park based on ground leases and on 120 acres being developed in first 9 years (approx. 500,000 to 800,000 sq. ft. total building floor area), and an expanded airport runway of 6000 ft. (ILS controlled) with the development to be served by full municipal services extended form the Village of Carp.

 

 

 

 

 

February 25, 2004 - City Council did not approve the business plan as submitted by WCD and instead directed staff to finalize negotiations with WCD to conclude an option to purchase agreement including conditions for the planning, redevelopment, expansion, future management, operation and ownership of the Carp Airport based on modifications to WCD’s Business Plan;

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2004/02-25/csedc/ACS2004-CRS-RPR-0020.htm

 

May 12, 2004 – City Council approved terms and conditions for an Option to Purchase Agreement for the Carp Airport between the City and WCD;

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2004/05-12/csedc/ACS2004-CRS-RPR-0016.htm

 

May 31, 2004 - The City and WCD, based on the City Council authority of May 12, 2004, entered into an Option to Purchase Agreement for the Carp Airport dated May 31, 2004 (Option Period June 1, 2004 to May 31, 2005);

 

December 10, 2004 - WCD submitted a request to the City for an extension of the Option Period to February 28, 2006 and for amendments to the terms and conditions of the Option to Purchase Agreement dated May 31, 2004 based on modifications to the WCD’s Business Plan as set out in a Business Plan Summary dated, December 10, 2004 that provided for 280 residential units, a 187 acre aerospace business park (approx. 800,00 sq. ft. total building floor area), maintaining the existing 4000 ft. runway and construction of  a new airport terminal building and FBO with the development being served by private water and wastewater services.

 

March 9, 2005 - City Council approved the amendments to the Option to Purchase and Development Agreement and, Council also approved conveying 0.3m reserves outside, and abutting, the Core Airport area to the Carp Airport Authority (CAA) with the reserves to be held in trust by the CAA in order to establish separate parcels for the Core Airport Area, Airport Accessory Residential Community, and Aerospace Business Park parts of the property,;

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2005/03-09/csedc/ACS2005-CRS-RPR-0010.htm

 

March 18, 2005 - The City and WCD, based on the City Council authority of March 9, 2005, entered into an amended Option to Purchase and Development Agreement for the Carp Airport (Option period extended to Feb 28, 2006);

September 20, 2005 - Plan showing 0.3m reserves around Core Airport Area deposited in Registry Office as Plan 4R-20588 based on a Survey completed on September 14, 2005;

 

September 29, 2005 - Trust agreement executed with Carp Airport Authority (CAA) transferring 0.3m reserves from City to CAA;

 

December 23, 2005 - WCD submitted applications, on the 23rd day of December 2005, to the City for planning and infrastructure approvals for WCD’s proposed development, and WCD also provided a letter to the City requesting a further extension of the Option Period until March 31, 2007;

(Note:  The Option Agreement, as approved by City Council, provides for an extension of the Option Period if WCD makes a written request to the City no later than sixty (60) days before the Option Period expires subject to the mutual agreement of the City and WCD with respect to the terms and conditions of any resulting extension);

 

December 31, 2005 - Option Agreement amended by City and WCD extending the Option period to the 31 day of December 2006 and providing for the City to grant to WCD a further extension of the Option Period until March 31, 2007 subject to the City and WCD establishing an operating budget for the Carp Airport for the period from January 1, 2007 until December 31,

 

2007 (the “2007 Airport Operating Budget”) in accordance with the provisions of the Management and Option Agreements and WCD agreeing to provide, and providing by December 31, 2006, to the City a further payment in an amount equal to the City’s net costs, if

 

any, as established by the 2007 Airport Operating Budget for the period from January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2007;

August 24, 2006 - Public consultation meeting held to outline subdivision plan and identify servicing options under integrated subdivision / class environmental assessment approvals process;

December 22, 2006 - Airport operating budget established for 2007 and no net City cost identified for period from January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2007 and Option Agreement then amended by City and WCD to extend the Option until March 31, 2007;

February 6, 2007 - Community information and consultation session held to outline refinements to development plan and identify preferred servicing option plan (329 residential units, 1,600,000 sq. ft. aerospace business park building floorspace with the residential units and 800,000 sq. f. of business park floorspace being developed on communal water and wastewater services and 800,000 sq. ft, of business park floorspace on private water and wastewater services

March 28, 2007 - Option Agreement then amended by City and WCD to extend the Option Period from March 31, 2007 to June 30, 2007 on the basis that the planning approvals process for the proposed development was nearing completion but might not be completed before the 30th day of June 2007;

March to May 2007 - Draft Plan of Subdivision and Common Elements Condominium approval conditions drafted by City’s Planning Branch based on preferred servicing option plan.;

June 27, 2007 - City Council approves Zoning amendments for Carp Airport based on draft plan and common elements conditions for WCD proposed development;

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2007/06-27/arac/ACS2007-PTE-APR-0127.htm

 

June 29, 2007 – WCD notified the City that as a result of appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board (the “OMB”) being filed by abutting property owners with respect to the planning approvals granted by the City for the WCD’s proposed development, WCD was electing to unilaterally extend the Option Period until the OMB rendered a decision as provided for in the Option Agreement;

 

July 31, 2007- December 20, 2007 - WCD advised the City that it had entered into an agreement with the appellants to withdraw the appeals to the OMB and the that the appeal matter would likely be settled by the OMB on, or before, 31st day of August 2007 (Note: formal notification received from OMB on August 27, 2007 that appeals withdrawn as of August 16, 2007 and, as a result, Draft Plan of Subdivision and Common Elements Condominium approvals/conditions were then in effect as of August 16, 2007) and approval letter issued by City on December 20, 2007.

 

August 15, 2007 to May 2010 - WCD and the City agreed that, before exercising its Option, WCD must incorporate all requirements resulting from the planning approvals process and related appeal resolution process for the WCD’s proposed development into a Modified Business Plan as required by the Option Agreement and the City and WCD then executed a series of further amendments to allow WCD to complete draft plan approvals process (up to November 2007) and then to obtain feedback from MOE on C of A requirements (to August 2009 first because of the involvement of Corix 2008 and then iDM in 2009 regarding communal wastewater system) and subsequently for due diligence to obtain financial commitment (to end of May 2010 - Slokker/Ballantry).


DOCUMENT 4

 

APPROVED DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION (Sheet 1)

 

 


 

APPROVED DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION (Sheet 2)

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENT 5

 

CARP AIRPORT - LAND USE PLAN March 2005 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENT 6

 

CARP AIRPORT - LAND USE PLAN – December 2007