A recent proposal by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association advocating for unlimited building heights within 800 meters of transit stations and other zoning changes is met with caution by Ottawa city officials. The proposal, aimed at boosting housing construction, faces skepticism from top planning officials who assert that existing plans do not support entirely abandoning height limits.
David Wise, acting director of economic development and long-range planning, emphasized that such a drastic policy shift is not currently under consideration. While the city is working on a new zoning bylaw, the likelihood of blanket upzoning to four storeys across all neighborhoods is minimal. Jeff Leiper, chair of the planning and housing committee, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that any significant increase in height limits would require developers to seek permission on a case-by-case basis.
While the proposal also suggests relaxing parking regulations, particularly front-yard parking requirements, and eliminating mandatory parking space provisions for developers, the city is expected to maintain minimum parking rules, albeit with potential loosening.
However, there is support for a policy allowing up to four residential units on every lot with city services, a move driven partly by provincial mandates and potential funding incentives. Despite legal opinions suggesting flexibility in adopting this policy, Leiper emphasized the importance of considering the potential loss of funding if the city fails to meet targets related to housing unit issuance.
Additionally, discussions arise regarding the allocation of housing accelerator funds, with suggestions to allocate 90% of the funds to projects in the affordable housing pipeline. While some councillors express discomfort over delegating authority to staff to distribute funds without annual council approval, others argue for maintaining distance to prevent politicizing the selection process for housing providers.
In summary, while the proposal for unlimited tower heights faces resistance, there’s ongoing debate over housing policy and funding allocation in Ottawa.