Over two years ago, our community embarked on a long, frustrating, and complex path for a development application that blatantly ignored legal agreements and showed total disregard for the planning principles on which our community was built. Throughout this time, we have seen our community come together and work with me to oppose this development. You’ve shown up and made your voices heard. You attended multiple townhalls, went door knocking with me, and rallied friends and neighbours to oppose the proposed development. Today, my Council colleagues unanimously rejected this application.
While this does not mark the end of the journey on this issue, it certainly demonstrates what our community has known since day one. Aside from legal issues, there are serious complex planning, engineering, and environmental problems with this application. I am very pleased that my Council colleagues have unanimously supported our efforts and agreed that this development should not proceed.
As shared in my previous update, the recommendations in the staff report include:
- That Planning Committee recommend Council endorse the position that the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal not approve the Draft Plan of Subdivision for 7000 Campeau Drive as it is premature, inclusive of all matters as set out in this report.
- That Planning Committee recommend Council refuse an amendment to the Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 7000 Campeau Drive to permit a residential subdivision that includes a mix of housing types, parks, stormwater management ponds, open spaces and roadways in Kanata North.
- That Planning Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral 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 December 9, 2020,” subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
The body of the report outlines the many ways that the draft plan of subdivision is not consistent with the Official Plan policies, including:
- Lot pattern and scale are not in character with the surrounding community and are thus inappropriate.
- Proposed setbacks are not adequate.
- The proposed right of way widths and cross sections are inappropriate.
- Grading plans are not consistent with lot patterns.
- Open space and mid-block connections are not acceptable.
- Tree protection measures are not consistent with proposed infrastructure.
- Park frontages are not in keeping with the Park Development Manual.
- There is no agreement as to the future status of the site’s legal stormwater outlet.
- The appropriate number, location, and function of stormwater ponds have not been determined.
- There are inconsistencies and missing information in transportation, geotechnical, environmental and servicing plans and studies provided.
In terms of next steps, our community can expect a hearing at the Local Planning Tribunal in January 2022, and we continue to anxiously await the ruling from the Courts on the Forty Percent Agreement.
Thank you to everyone who has been invested and involved in this process. Your support has been tremendous. It has been such an honour to lead this fight on your behalf.