Proposed Kanata condo development returns to planning committee
Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: June 10, 2014, Last Updated: June 10, 2014 8:26 PM EDT
A proposed nine-storey building in Kanata got the seal of approval Tuesday from the planning committee, which rejected Kanata founder Bill Teron’s unsolicited plan for the land.
The decision comes two weeks after the committee deferred a rezoning application in order to give Teron some time to draw up an alternative to what developer Phillip Bottriell is proposing.
Bottriell wants to build a stepped, mid-rise building at 1131 Teron Rd. that transitions from three to nine storeys, and a three-storey apartment building, on two parcels of land wedged between Teron and March roads.
The smaller piece of land is currently occupied by a single detached home; the other is undeveloped.
Bottriell initially wanted to build a 15-storey apartment building and six townhouses but altered his plan after city staff and residents alike gave it the thumbs-down.
Teron, who has called the Bottriell’s latest proposal an “eyesore,” instead proposed three- and four-storey buildings on essentially the same footprint, with a maximum of 90 units; Bottriell’s plan calls for 120 units.
His main argument against the developer’s plan stemmed from his belief that Bottriell’s building won’t sell well due to unit size, the quality of intensification and the high cost of building with concrete.
“If you want intensification on this site, you will not get it from this builder,” Teron said.
A former head of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Teron also said it’s unlikely CMHC would insure building after completing some market analysis.
But Coun. Rainer Bloess reminded Teron that he doesn’t own the land and that it’s up to Bottriell to build what he think he can sell, so long as the builder has secured the necessary zoning.
Bottriell agreed, telling the committee that although he was sticking with his plan instead of Teron’s proposal, there were still a lot of details to pin down at the site plan stage.
He also agreed to increase the setback between his smaller building and neighbouring townhouses to 4.5 metres, which is less than the six metres required in the zoning rules but more than the 2.5 metres city staff were prepared to allow.
The Kanata Beaverbrook Community Association and a number of residents spoke against Bottriell’s plan. Many were concerned that the proposal doesn’t fit with Beaverbrook’s garden city character, which emphasizes trees and nature.
“All one has to do is take a walk in this community to see that this is so,” said resident Alan Coldham.
John Mlacak, former reeve of March Township, urged the committee to reject the application because, according to him, planning staff misinterpreted the rules.
“Your planners got it wrong; it’s up to you to get it right,” he said.
Council will decide on the matter on Wednesday.
mpearson@ottawacitizen.com
mpearson78
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-...ning-committee
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