The City of Ottawa’s Planning and Housing Committee approved an application to build two high-rise towers adjacent to the Central Experimental Farm, despite the clear message from Agriculture Canada that it will cause irreparable harm to the CEF. But it is not over yet.
The issue will go to full Council for final approval on Wednesday September 27.
We are organizing a letter writing campaign ahead of the meeting. See below proposed texts for a letter to Minister MacAulay (lawrence.macaulay@parl.gc.ca), and another one to Mayor Sutcliffe (Mark.Sutcliffe@ottawa.ca). Please join us in filling their inboxes and showing that many, many people care deeply about this.
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Dear Minister MacAulay,
As you surely know by now, the City of Ottawa’s Planning and Housing Committee has approved the construction of two high-rise towers adjacent to the Central Experimental Farm, this despite the clear and convincing information provided in person by your Deputy Minister at Committee, ably supported by other senior officials, on the significant, costly and enduring impact that this would have on the CEF. Our view is that approving this application, the first of many similar ones already in process, puts the long term survival of the Farm in jeopardy.
This is not the final word on the matter however. This file will be before full Council for final approval on September 27. We implore you to take every measure available to the Federal Government, administratively, legally and politically, to protect the Farm.
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Dear Mayor Sutcliffe,
A recommendation from Planning and Housing Committee on a Zoning Bylaw amendment for the construction of two high-rise towers adjacent to the Central Experimental Farm is scheduled to be considered by Council this coming Wednesday, September 27. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, the most senior departmental official at AAFC, stated at Committee that approving this application would have a “significant, costly and enduring impact” on the CEF. Our view is that approving this application, the first of many already in process, would put the long term survival of the Farm in jeopardy.
The Deputy Minister, in answer to questions from Committee members, indicated that they are ready to enter immediately into discussions on the building heights that would be workable from their perspective. However, rather that taking them up on this offer, members pressed for the number of floors that would be acceptable right there and then in committee, an unfair request outside the scope of this delegation’s expertise. As stated by the Deputy Minister, they can make statements on the solar irradiance they need, it is up to City or proponent architects to translate this into building form.
Given the magnitude of the impacts of this decision, and the reality that the interests of the main adjacent landowner have not been taken into account, we urge you to defer the decision until these discussions, which all parties agree are required, have taken place.
The Official Plan calls for the long term survival of the Central Experimental Farm because it is of inestimable value not only to the City and its residents, but also to Canada as a whole. Please don’t rush this through.