April 17, 2008 -- The City of Ottawa advises:

Official Plan preliminary proposals ready for public review

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa will table a report of preliminary proposals resulting from the initial review of the Official Plan and the Infrastructure Master Plan at Planning and Environment Committee meeting on April 22.

The Official Plan must be reviewed every five years as mandated by the Ontario Planning Act.   The existing policies and strategic directions are revisited and, in consultation with Ottawa’s residents, revisions and updates can be made to reflect the city’s current growth challenges. 

Stage 1 of the Beyond Ottawa 2020 initiative began last May with an identification of issues. Using the White Paper approach, Stage 2 of the process invited residents to attend a series of discussion groups to engage in conversation with other residents on several topic areas.  Discussion and feedback opportunities were also provide through the online forum – OttawaTALKS.

“The public consultation sessions held throughout last fall provided valuable insights and perceptions which are reflected in these proposals.  The public’s participation in this review is an integral component and directly related to the smart growth and development of the City,” said Mayor Larry O’Brien.

Feedback received through the consultation sessions and online discussion has led to the preliminary proposals in this report.  Three issues have been identified that will require significant consideration:

• Urban Intensification: Setting of citywide intensification target and strategy for successful implementation.
• Urban Boundary:  Establishment of “performance-based” urban boundary and the identification of Future Urban Areas where development could occur following achievement of intensification targets and other requirements
• Amount of Rural Development:  Assess and build consensus on the amount and distribution of rural development.

“This review is an update of the plans and not a return to first principles.  Unlike the creation of the 2003 Official Plan, land-use designations are not changing to any great extent so few individuals properties are affected,” said Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Planning, Transit and the Environment.

Further consultation will take place throughout May and June with residents, community associations and stakeholder groups in both the urban and rural areas. 

City staff will review and evaluate all information received.  Outcomes from this consultation will be presented to the Planning and Environment Committee as a draft Official Plan amendment in November.  A final report will be forwarded to City Council for adoption in early 2009.

May 18, 2008 - Please note that the actual proposals are contained in two documents:

- a 98-page 1.34 MB pdf with the proposals and rationales:   http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2008/04-22/ACS2008-PTE-PLA-0098-Document%201%20Part%201.pdf  - a 33-page 305 KB pdf with the proposals in tabular form: http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2008/04-22/ACS2008-PTE-PLA-0098-Document%201%20Part%202.pdf .