Mechanicsville diplomatic precinct [NCC] | Proposed

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by passwordisnt123

I'd be really curious to know what "encourage" means.

More specifically, that motion reads:

WHEREAS preserving the maximum amount of green space will help mitigate the climate and storm water effects of this development; and

WHEREAS the community is opposed to an above-ground parking structure that would have a negative effect on views;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that section 13 of the Official Plan Amendment, as found on page 30 of Document 2, be revised by deleting "Parking is encouraged to locate in building or underground" and substitute with the following wording "Parking is encouraged to be underground, sensitively screened, and is prohibited above ground floor."

The point seem to be eliminating any chance that an above ground parking structure be built.

NCC was at the meeting and approved of the embassy limit and parking motion, but not the relatively modest increase size of the parkland.

The NCC's representative said, responding to a Moffatt question, embassies want/need to control their own land, so shared parking (one underground garage or parking structure) would not be feasible. There was never much of a chance of an above ground parking structure being built, or more than 5 embassies, but Leiper wanted to "iron clad" the wording to give the community a guarantee.

[passwordisnt123]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

More specifically, that motion reads:

WHEREAS preserving the maximum amount of green space will help mitigate the climate and storm water effects of this development; and

WHEREAS the community is opposed to an above-ground parking structure that would have a negative effect on views;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that section 13 of the Official Plan Amendment, as found on page 30 of Document 2, be revised by deleting "Parking is encouraged to locate in building or underground" and substitute with the following wording "Parking is encouraged to be underground, sensitively screened, and is prohibited above ground floor."

The point seem to be eliminating any chance that an above ground parking structure be built.

NCC was at the meeting and approved of the embassy limit and parking motion, but not the relatively modest increase size of the parkland.

The NCC's representative said, responding to a Moffatt question, embassies want/need to control their own land, so shared parking (one underground garage or parking structure) would not be feasible. There was never much of a chance of an above ground parking structure being built, or more than 5 embassies, but Leiper wanted to "iron clad" the wording to give the community a guarantee.

Thanks for that info. I'm glad he's doing his best to try to avoid surface parking. I hope he's successful.

[rocketphish]

Planning committee votes 6-3 in support of NCC's five-embassy plan for Mechanicsville
The city received 176 comments about the NCC's plans, most of them expressing concern or opposition.

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Sep 23, 2021 • 14 hours ago • 2 minute read

Trapped between a municipal climate change emergency and a federal commitment to save land for diplomatic missions, the majority of the city’s planning committee was compelled to side with the feds on Thursday after considering a development plan for five new embassies in Mechanicsville.

City hall doesn’t have much power over the National Capital Commission’s plans for property redevelopment, the committee heard. The federal agency doesn’t have to follow provincial planning laws and only submitted its multi-embassy development plan as a courtesy to the municipal government.

The NCC’s grassy 9.14-acre property on the south side of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, near Bayview Yards, has been set aside for future embassies in the agency’s plans for the national capital region. The NCC doesn’t intend to keep that particular property as green space as it creates a massive riverfront park between Mud Lake and LeBreton Flats.

Andrew Sacret, the NCC’s chief of planning and design, told the planning committee that the federal government has the responsibility under the Vienna Convention to help accommodate foreign missions and that task falls to the NCC when it comes to reserving land for embassies.

Global Affairs Canada checks with the NCC about embassy sites when a foreign mission wants a new building or to relocate, Sacret said.

The countries that would move into the new embassies in Mechanicsville haven’t been identified.

The city’s planning department has has endorsed the NCC’s application for amendments to the official plan and zoning bylaw.

“Ottawa must fulfill both capital and local needs,” planner Allison Hamelin told councillors.

The committee voted 6-3 in favour for the NCC’s plan, even after hearing from Mechanicsville residents about the importance of protecting green space in their neighbourhood.

“It really feels like the NCC is putting the privilege of diplomats above the people who live in this community,” Jennifer Brûlé told councillors.

Leena Sarkar pointed out that council earlier this term declared a climate change emergency. Developments that remove trees and other natural features create “rage” and “despair” in communities, Sarkar said.

The city received 176 comments or questions about the NCC’s plans and most of the feedback expressed concerns or opposition to the proposal.

The NCC originally wanted six embassies on the land but cut it down to five embassies during the planning phase. The eastern section of the site would be an open-space zone and would allow a roughly 1.6-acre park.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper said he and the NCC are “irreconcilably on opposite sides” of the development plan, but he’s trying to soften the blow to the community.

Leiper sought assurances from the NCC that the agency wouldn’t allow an above-ground parking garage on the property.

Voting in favour of the NCC’s plan were councillors Glen Gower, Scott Moffatt, Laura Dudas, Tim Tierney, Jean Cloutier and Catherine Kitts, while Shawn Menard, Riley Brockington and Leiper voted in opposition.

Council will consider the committee’s recommendation on Oct. 13.

jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...mechanicsville

[J.OT13]

Tierney motion passes to defer decision until November 24th. Not discussion as to why.

https://twitter.com/JonathanWilling/...12548726644736

[J.OT13]

Cross-post with Roads and Bridges Projects.

This is news to me. The City is delaying this project in order to negotiate their preferred route to extend Brian Coburn. As much as I'm not a fan of this project, it's within zoning. This might fly with the NCC, but would not fly with a private developer (ex. owner of Somerset House who had an app rejected on Catherine, not going to go well).

Leiper's motions for a larger park than what was proposed is apparently not at risk. The area is quickly densifying but has a lack of usable green space. Cost of acquisition of any land in the area is exorbitantly expensive, so the City needs the NCC's collaboration. Still surprised the City hasn't brought-up the possibility of decking over the Scott Street trench.

Le projet d'ambassades à Mechanicsville retenu pour négocier avec la CCN

JULIEN PAQUETTE, 3 decembre 2021
Le Droit

Le projet d’allée d’ambassades dans le quartier Mechanicsville de la Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN) attend depuis plus de deux mois le feu vert du conseil municipal d’Ottawa. La Ville cherche à s’en servir comme levier dans des négociations afin prolonger le boulevard Brian-Coburn dans l’est de la capitale fédérale.

La semaine dernière, la décision du conseil municipal sur le projet d’ambassades a été reportée pour une deuxième fois. Le dossier reviendra à l’ordre du jour en février prochain.

En entrevue avec Le Droit, le conseiller de Beacon Hill-Cyrville, Tim Tierney, a confirmé que la Ville a entamé des discussions avec la CCN concernant d’autres terrains appartenant à société de la Couronne.

La CCN s’oppose depuis plusieurs années au prolongement du boulevard vers l’ouest, à travers la Ceinture de verdure.

Tim Tierney soutient que la Ville a soumis un document détaillant ses demandes, mais que la CCN n’a pas été en mesure de l’analyser avant que le projet des ambassades revienne devant le conseil municipal. C’est pourquoi la conseillère de Cumberland, Catherine Kitts, et lui ont demandé un autre report de la décision.

«Le personnel de la Ville et de la CCN va se rencontrer en janvier et, si tout se passe bien, on aura de bonnes nouvelles, lance le conseiller de Beacon Hill-Cyrville. Si ça ne fonctionne pas, on ramène le dossier devant le conseil en février et on passe au vote.»

«La Ville vient d’entamer des discussions avec la Commission de la capitale nationale et il est encore trop tôt pour parler des options. Un rapport sera présenté au Comité des transports au deuxième trimestre de 2022 afin de résumer les options et de présenter tout plan pour la suite du projet», affirme de son côté – sans confirmer quel projet fait partie des discussions – la directrice générale adjointe de la planification, de l’infrastructure et du développement économique à la Ville, Vivi Chi.

Controverses diplomatiques

La proposition de construire de nouvelles ambassades au sud de la promenade Sir-John-A.-Macdonald et à l’ouest des Cours Bayview suscite une opposition tenace des résidents du secteur.

Depuis plusieurs mois, l’Association communautaire de Mechanicsville (ACM) et le conseiller de Kitchissippi, Jeff Leiper, déplorent notamment l’élimination d’espaces verts dans ce quartier du centre-ville, au détriment de nouvelles ambassades.

«Le coût élevé pour l’acquisition de terrains rend très difficile l’achat d’une propriété pour créer de nouveaux parcs. C’est donc essentiel de préserver les espaces verts que nous avons déjà», affirmait M. Leiper au Droit en septembre dernier.

Le porte-parole de l’ACM dans ce dossier, Roy Atkinson, s’inquiète de voir la Ville utiliser ce projet comme pièce d’échange dans des négociations avec la CCN.

«Nous sommes devenus un simple pion sur un échiquier beaucoup plus grand», peste M. Atkinson.

Tim Tierney se veut toutefois rassurant. Il affirme que la Ville souhaite protéger les acquis obtenus par Jeff Leiper devant le Comité de l’urbanisme en septembre dernier, soit d’agrandir l’espace sur le site réservé pour la création d’un parc et de limiter à cinq le nombre d’ambassades construites à cet emplacement.

«L’allée des ambassades, je ne vois pas comment on pourrait finir avec moins d’espaces verts [que ce qui est sur la table actuellement]. Il pourrait y en avoir encore davantage. […] Jeff a travaillé très fort sur ce parc et on veut s’assurer que ça demeure dans le projet», lance M. Tierney.

«Si on peut s’en sortir avec encore plus d’espaces verts après avoir négocié sur plusieurs projets à travers la ville, nous serons heureux et je crois que la CCN aussi», ajoute le conseiller de Beacon Hill-Cyrville.

https://www.ledroit.com/2021/12/03/l...8bb4c974555d45

[Uhuniau]

Lack of useable green space?

[rocketphish]

NCC plan for 'embassy row' in Mechanicsville nixed by city council
NCC says city failed to follow planning rules, and it will consider all of its legal options

Joanne Chianello · CBC News
Posted: Feb 09, 2022 1:21 PM ET | Last Updated: 21 minutes ago

Ottawa city council overwhelmingly voted against the National Capital Commission plan to allow up to five embassies to be built in the Mechanicsville area, taking the rare step of overturning a previous decision at the planning committee.

The surprise was sparked by five planning committee members who changed their minds since their initial vote in September.

Although the National Capital Commission (NCC) owns the land, the city would have to rezone the property to allow buildings to be constructed there. The community and area councillor Jeff Leiper had opposed the project because the wooded lot is some of the only open space in the area.

"I am asking that we be sensitive to the climate crisis that we've declared and preserve this land as greenspace," Leiper told his council colleagues.

"Our official plan calls for us to provide greenspace for rapidly intensifying neighbourhoods like Mechanicsville. It would be inappropriate to allow this embassy row proposal to move forward."

The vast majority of council agreed with him, which was unexpected because council rarely overturns decisions at the committee level.

It appears the east-end councillors voted against the NCC's embassy approval due to frustration over a separate decision. As they wrote in an open letter published shortly before council began, councillors aren't happy the NCC has refused to approve the extension of Brian Coburn Boulevard.

That street extension would have included a rapid transit path for buses in the southern parts of Orléans and Cumberland through the nationally owned greenbelt.

"The NCC speaks out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to greenspace and protecting greenspace," said Coun. Matthew Luloff, who represents Orléans ward.

"I would also encourage my colleagues not to vote for this. It's time to send a strong message to the NCC that if they're going to be good partners with the city, they have to come down to the table and speak with us about things like this."

This rationale led five councillors who sit on planning and voted in favour — Luloff, Laura Dudas, Catherine Kitts, Jean Cloutier and planning co-chair Glen Gower — to flip their support for their proposal.

Planning committee co-chair, Coun. Scott Moffatt, did warn his colleagues against a tit-for-tat rationale when making planning decisions.

"If you want to vote against this because you want an infrastructure file somewhere else in the city, and you feel this is the way to get it, the Ontario Land Tribunal is going to disagree with you," said Moffatt, who did say he understood the frustration behind the vote.

"There is no such thing as that type of leverage, and I don't think that we want to start evaluating planning files based on other positions we have on the other files in the city."

Moffatt and Coun. Rick Chiarelli were the only two councillors to vote in favour of the NCC property rezoning.

The NCC is reacting to the unexpected council decision much as Moffatt predicted, and says by linking the two unrelated files city council has contravened planning principles.

"The NCC will now be considering all of its legal options," wrote NCC spokesperson Valérie Dufour in an email to CBC News.

Dufour also added context to the dispute over a proposed Cumberland transitway.

She said the NCC worked extensively with the city on the proposed bus transitway to the east end, and agreed on a route in 2013 next to the current Blackburn Hamlet bypass. The city then studied other routes instead, Dufour wrote, and selected one that travels through NCC lands — without its agreement.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...d-no-1.6344925

[J.OT13]

Childish politics. It's not about Leiper's arguments or the lack of usable greenspace, but a suburban road extension. Hoping the Ottawa Hospital doesn't piss off a suburban councillor before the new Civic is fully approved.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Childish politics. It's not about Leiper's arguments or the lack of usable greenspace, but a suburban road extension. Hoping the Ottawa Hospital doesn't piss off a suburban councillor before the new Civic is fully approved.

Not to be contrarian but I find Leiper's argument childish and the suburban response Realpolitik. Playing hardball is IMHO likely to be effective. Can Leiper say with a straight face this patch of grass needs to be preaerved because of the climate crisis?

[waterloowarrior]

I don't like either plan and think a new embassy should go along the Rockcliffe Parkway instead... Or use the money from selling the land for high density to buy some properties near existing embassies..

[RideauRat]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Can Leiper say with a straight face this patch of grass needs to be preaerved because of the climate crisis?

you're telling me the millions of soda cans and candy wrappers littered here doesn't help the climate? I thought this Leiper fella was on the something.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by RideauRat

you're telling me the millions of soda cans and candy wrappers littered here doesn't help the climate? I thought this Leiper fella was on the something.

Leiper is the biggest Nimby enabler! Thats too bad because otherwise he would be a really good councillor but every time something is in his ward he becomes the biggest hypocrite

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

I don't like either plan and think a new embassy should go along the Rockcliffe Parkway instead... Or use the money from selling the land for high density to buy some properties near existing embassies..

I guess once burned NCC is afraid of a Rockcliffe fight. Actually, in today's politics it's probably easier to screw the rich.

I doubt anyone wants high density and even if they sold and could is the cash what is for sale near current embassies? Houses in Sandy Hill? I assume this sight was meant for countries, most in this day in age, who want greater setbacks.

[rocketphish]

NCC appeals council veto of Mechanicsville embassy plan to Ontario Land Tribunal

Taylor Blewett, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Mar 12, 2022 • 10 minutes ago • 2 minute read

The National Capital Commission has appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal after the vast majority of city council members decided last month to go against staff and planning committee recommendations and rejected the Crown agency’s plan for five embassies on a parcel of Mechanicsville green space.

In a statement to this newspaper Saturday, NCC spokesperson Valérie Dufour contended that “the primary reason for city council’s rejection of the NCC’s applications flows from a disagreement over an unrelated matter –– NCC’s opposition to the City’s preferred alignment for the Brian Coburn Extension and Cumberland Transitway in Orléans — rather than from concerns over the planning rationale for the embassies.”

After city council voted 22-2 against the NCC plan on Feb. 9, the official reason provided was that it didn’t provide enough green space, failed to connect properly to the neighbourhood, minimized landscaping buffers and didn’t have good sidewalk and transportation infrastructure from the community into the embassy area.

However, the meeting had seen east-end councillors — three of whom also sit on planning committee and had previously voted in favour of the plan — take the NCC to task over its unwillingness to back a preferred route to extend Brian Coburn Boulevard, including bus priority lanes that would help area residents transit to the LRT system.

The NCC was accused of hypocrisy, pursuing its embassy plan at the expense of green space, while being unwilling to budge on the proposed east-end transportation project in the name of protecting natural space.

Planning committee co-chair Scott Moffatt, one of two votes for the embassy plan at council, had warned his colleagues that provincial law didn’t provide a way to play off a planning application against an infrastructure project and suggested that council’s decision was destined to fail at the Ontario Land Tribunal. Coun. Rick Chiarelli was the other vote for the plan.

Dufour said Saturday that the NCC had for years identified the subject lands — 9.14 acres on the south side of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway near Bayview Yards — as the site for a diplomatic precinct, consulted the public and worked collaboratively with city staff reviewing the planning applications.

“Moreover … Ottawa is Canada’s capital city. As such, its official plan and zoning by-law should allow for development of embassies through which we can welcome foreign nations seeking (to) deepen their ties with Canada,” Dufour said.

The NCC’s plan, which was revised from accommodating six embassies to five plus a 1.6-acre park, produced significant pushback in the surrounding community. Residents, backed by area councillor Jeff Leiper, stressed the importance of maintaining the green space.

“Definitely disappointed,” is how Mechanicsville Community Association President Lorrie Marlow described her reaction to news that the NCC had appealed council’s decision to the provincial tribunal responsible for adjudicating land-use planning matters.

“I had hoped maybe they would realize … our passionate campaign to save that property and keep it as green space, that they would recognize it and embrace it, and that maybe we could move forward with NCC and start working with them on preserving it together.”

With files from Jon Willing

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...-land-tribunal

[jt-mtl]

Has anyone driven around that area? On one side, it's snow dump, the other side is stone factory/warehouse to pick up interlock, the piece of land Leiper wants to protect is not used by citizens as it is swampy and a runoff for snow and rainwater. You have the Parkway greenspace for citizens, these NIMBYs like Leiper are ruining progress in the city

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by jt-mtl

Has anyone driven around that area? On one side, it's snow dump, the other side is stone factory/warehouse to pick up interlock, the piece of land Leiper wants to protect is not used by citizens as it is swampy and a runoff for snow and rainwater. You have the Parkway greenspace for citizens, these NIMBYs like Leiper are ruining progress in the city

I have to agree, the fenced off, football-field wide stretch of weeds would be perfect for a little low-rise infill here and there, especially embassies. Its easy access to downtown, would probably lift up property values in the neighbourhood, and is just a precursor to the more fulsome development of Merkley Yards and the snow dump elves serviced directly by Bayview Station.

[Harley613]

I think this would have been a great spot for 'embassy row', but if that's off the table I would really like to see some serious density here. This would be a great spot for a signature project with a couple of 60+ story towers.

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I think this would have been a great spot for 'embassy row', but if that's off the table I would really like to see some serious density here. This would be a great spot for a signature project with a couple of 60+ story towers.

lol. If a few large-perimeter style embassies in a landscaped, fenced yard is off the table, then a few 60+ story towers will definitely be off the table.

If only we could have threatened the NIMBY's with an either/or option, they might have come to the table.

[Urbanarchit]

GeoOttawa shows there used to be an extra block-and-a-half with houses here where there's currently greenspace. And Lazy Bay (didn't know it was called that) came much closer to Laroche). I'd be interested in them trying to reinstate these blocks and buildings lots of apartments. Have one or two highrises spaced from each other, but going with Missing Middle and mid-rise apartment buildings could be quite nice. We need lots more apartments.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by jt-mtl

Has anyone driven around that area? On one side, it's snow dump, the other side is stone factory/warehouse to pick up interlock, the piece of land Leiper wants to protect is not used by citizens as it is swampy and a runoff for snow and rainwater. You have the Parkway greenspace for citizens, these NIMBYs like Leiper are ruining progress in the city

I wouldn't say five car oriented embassies a stone's throw away from a major rapid transit hub could be called "progress". If this was a residential proposal with some affordable units, I'm sure we would still see a lot of push-back, but Leiper would probably be a little more supportive.