Ottawa city council has rejected a planning committee recommendation that could, at least in the short term, spare a Vanier street from a proposed infill development that some residents don’t like.
Lindenlea Apartments Inc. wants to tear down two homes at 67 and 71 Marquette Ave., and replace them with a 20-unit apartment building with underground parking.
But to do that, the builder needed a zoning amendment to permit a dramatic increase in the number of units from four to 20, reduce setbacks to accommodate the parking area — which is partially above grade, and reduce the width of the driveway and number of visitor parking spaces required.
The initial application was for 22 units, included no visitor parking and had the entrance on the side of the building (the current application relocates that entrance to the front).
City planners said the project, as modified, was consistent with the official plan, and also noted the height proposed is 10.6 metres, which is less than the maximum of 11 metres allowed by the current zoning.
The planning committee narrowly approved the plan at its Nov. 25 meeting, but it was defeated Wednesday by a 14-10 council vote.
Adverse impacts due to parking and an inappropriate amount of intensity are the official reasons the council gave for its decision, which, if appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board, could cost the city up to $30,000, according to city staff.
Mayor Jim Watson and a pair of councillors who approved the project when it was debated at committee, Jan Harder and Stephen Blais, were among those who voted in favour of the proposal.
Coun. Mathieu Fleury, in whose Rideau-Vanier ward the proposed development would be located, led the charge against it, winning the support of five rookie councillors.
The owner of the property, Mistahi Courkill, said he will be taking some time to digest council’s decision before deciding on his next move.
“We’ll go back and discuss what we’re going to do,” he said.
Courkill said he’s been working with Fleury’s office on the project for more than a year and has already shown good faith by reducing the proposed number of units.
The building would have had a mix of unit types — two-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, one-bedroom and bachelor — that would range in size from 400 to 850 square feet.
Courkill says he bought the two houses with the intention of building something new and “now we’re being blocked.”
