New updated content: 2026-04-15 15:31:41

As part of the approval of the new Zoning By-law, the City passed a motion to establish a more transparent process for the identification of potential housing development sites on NCC lands. Staff were to return to the Joint Committee on March 25 with a report identifying these parcels and proposing methods of streamlining the approval process to expedite their development. We have learned that conversations with the NCC have taken more time than expected and that the report on the form and content of a City-NCC accord will be delayed. However, a meeting of the Joint Committee will be held on April 10, at which time a similar accord with Build Canada Homes is expected to be tabled.

In the absence of the Framework Agreement’s list of NCC lands identified for development, a local resident has compiled a list from various public sources of NCC – Lands for Homes, which has been shared with members of the informal coalition opposing the development of the McCarthy Woods corridor.

New updated content: 2026-06-10 15:18:29

City/NCC Framework agreement

Following the controversy regarding the re-zoning proposed by the NCC of two greenspace parcels to Development Reserve, eventually turned down by Council, the City and the NCC have agreed to establish a framework agreement for the future consideration of development proposals on NCC land. A motion backed by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was introduced by Councillor Glen Gower to accelerate housing development on other NCC lands, highlighting an ongoing tension between protecting specific greenspaces and the city’s overall goal of increasing housing supply.   An amendment from Councillor Riley Brockington calling for clear criteria for the selection of suitable lands and public engagement in the process was approved by full Council on February 11. A direction to staff was given to provide a report on the subject by March 25.