Is it possible for a community to get out ahead of a major development — to advance realistic, game-changing options, and forge constructive relationships with a developer?
Sustainable Living Ottawa East, a committee of the Old Ottawa East Community Association, has laid some foundations for this different kind of approach.
One developer, the Regional Group, has a conditional offer on the Oblate lands north of Saint Paul University. Another, Domicile, is developing part of the university property and also has an interest in the Oblate lands.
From its beginnings, SLOE has focused on doing projects, rather than advocacy or policy. But an organization whose mandate is to make OOE more sustainable could not ignore the development of a 12-hectare site that could increase the community’s population by close to 50 percent.
When Carleton University offered to provide research support for a SLOE project, we chose to look at the environmental and social potential of development of the Oblate lands.
OOE already has an impressive record of influencing development debate. The community was at the table for the process that led to a demonstration plan for the Oblate lands. That plan was well received by the community when presented in March 2011.
The demonstration plan was not a fixed design for future development, simply a first step towards imagining how development could fit into our community. SLOE wants to go beyond this, to help ensure a development that actively benefits existing residents, future occupants, the environment and investors.
Since the fall of 2012, our eight-person steering committee has worked hard — with contributions from external experts, faculty and students — to articulate key options, carry out research, and harness support and partnerships in four theme areas:
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Community Amenities and Connectivity;
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Stormwater Management and Shoreline Restoration;
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Affordable and Seniors Housing; and
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Sustainable Energy.
On March 22, more than 100 participants joined us at Carleton University to put the interim results of our work to the test. Thirteen panelists offered views and insights on SLOE’s themes and options. These panelists, all respected experts in various aspects of property development and sustainability, voluntarily participated because they care about this important development. The quality of their contributions was outstanding.
The response to the forum was gratifying and encouraging. The Regional Group and Domicile, who helped sponsor the forum, were among the enthusiasts. They appreciated the panelists’ pragmatic focus communicating the business case for ‘deep green’ options.
The Regional Group will soon complete its due diligence process. Assuming it waives conditions on its offer, the pace of development is likely to get very brisk. An application for site-plan approval could conceivably be made in as few as six or eight months from the final property sale date. Since the Regional Group does not intend to develop the whole property itself, subdivision of the property for sale to a number of developers could take place.
SLOE and the OOECA would quickly need to:
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come to an understanding with the developer of their roles in the process;
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decide on specific initiatives deemed important and do-able;
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continue to research and develop these initiatives; and
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help harness community support and partnerships to implement them.
Inevitably there will be aspects of the developer’s plans that some people will find objectionable. OOECA’s monthly meetings are an important forum for expressing concerns and considering solutions. The city will also have its own public review process.
We hope many residents will join us in defining and supporting ‘deep green’ approaches and features that will benefit all stakeholders. We need your engagement to make this development a leading example of ‘deep green.’
To find out more about this initiative, please visit the SLOE website – sustainablelivingottawaeast.ca.
Please come to the OOECA’s June 10meeting at Church of the Ascension on Echo Drive. We will lay out the next steps for further community input and engagement.
