It's been a long road but we've finally completed our Response to the City of Ottawa's Draft Official Plan. Hours and hours were spent combing through the dense document, while hours and hours more were spent sharing ideas, collaborating with, and receiving input from many engaged residents, stakeholder groups, members from community associations, environmental and housing advocates, and development industry members.
Although we're at a stopping point with our document, our collaborative work of understanding the challenges of regeneration and walkability is ongoing.
We are very grateful for the valuable input we received from members of the Federation of Citizen's Associations of Ottawa, members of the Urban Infill Council of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association, as well as members of Ecology Ottawa, the People's Official Plan, and others.
Our 32 page response paper acts both as feedback to the city on the Draft Official Plan with proposed revisions, in addition to being our comprehensive roadmap to regenerating neighborhoods to become walkable and complete.
These are the 9 key proposed revisions included in our Response to the Draft Official Plan.
1. For development in existing built up areas, a shift and clarity of focus; “Neighbourhood Regeneration” and “Redevelopment of Hubs into complete walkable communities”
2. A clear vision for regenerating and complete neighbourhoods, and the steps necessary to
get us there.
3. Neighbourhoods understood as evolving ecosystem with inter-dependencies and
transitional needs.
4. Intensification where it's needed for regeneration, to minimize emissions and
revitalize neighbourhoods.
We look forward with hopeful expectation to a time when our city truly fosters regeneration to make our neighbourhoods happier, healthier, safer, smarter, and greener.
5. Housing diversity on neighbourhood streets.
6. Clear statements of intent for new form based zoning; to regulate shapes, sizes and
spacing of multi-unit infill buildings to fit existing built patterns, and to have street facades animated with people spaces, doors, windows and architectural features. (Actual zoning language does not belong in an OP.)
7. Prohibition of new car-centric commercial, office space and educational facilities.
8. Modeling and Mapping to assist decision making and understand impacts and inform
decisions. Monitoring to measure success.
9. Collaborative approach to engage neighbourhoods in decision making.
Although we're at a stopping point with our document, our collaborative work of understanding the challenges of regeneration and walkability is ongoing. We continue to welcome input and insights. We look forward with hopeful expectation to a time when our city truly fosters regeneration to make our neighbourhoods happier, healthier, safer, smarter, and greener.