Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited Planning Urban Design Planning Rationale Application for Subdivision Application and Zoning By-law Amendment Cardinal Creek Village City of Ottawa Prepared for Tamarack (Queen Street) Corporation October 2013 13.587 PLANNING RATIONALE October 2013 Cardinal Creek Village TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Purpose .................................................... 1 2. Site Description and Location .................. 1 3. Proposed Plan of Subdivision .................. 3 4. Planning Framework ................................ 4 5. Design Guidelines .................................... 5 6. Supporting Studies ................................. 12 7. Conclusions ............................................ 20 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 - Subject Site PLANNING RATIONALE October 2013 Cardinal Creek Village | Subdivision Application 1. Purpose Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited was retained by Tamarack (Queen Street) Corporation to prepare a Planning Rationale in support of a Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for Cardinal Creek Village. The Planning Rationale Report is required support applications for draft approval of subdivision and re-zoning, and in this regard this report will provide background information that the applications are consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (‘PPS’); conform with the City of Ottawa Official Plan; and are consistent with the Cardinal Creek Village Concept Plan. 2. Site Description and Location The lands subject to the development applications (i.e. the subject site) are located within the Cardinal Creek Village community and area are generally defined by Ottawa Road 174 and the Ottawa River to the north; Cardinal Creek to the west; Frank Kenny Road/Ted Kelly Lane to the east; and, Old Montreal Road to the south. The subject site consists of approximately 121 hectares. A block located on the south side of Old Montreal Road is also included in the applications to allow for the continued operation of the existing commercial nursery garden. The larger Cardinal Creek Village community consists of approximately 208 hectares and is located in the east end of the City of Ottawa, east of the Orléans urban community. The boundaries of the area are generally defined by Ottawa Road 174 and the Ottawa River to the north; Cardinal Creek to the west; Frank Kenny Road/Ted Kelly Lane to the east; and, Urban area limits to the south. Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited 1 PLANNING RATIONALE October 2013 Cardinal Creek Village | Subdivision Application Current uses of the lands north of Old Montreal Road are diverse and include large lot rural residential, institutional, and nursery and landscape supply uses. The property consists of a series of four plateaus rising north to south beginning near the Ottawa River in the north at an elevation of approximately 50m ASL and stepping up towards the highest elevation at 94m along the southern boundary. The topographic character of the area has also significant influence on the physical character of the area with respect to the effect of grades on the location of roads, servicing infrastructure and lands uses requiring level site areas (e.g. parks). However, this topographic character also provides opportunities for views and vistas from within the community toward the Ottawa River and Gatineau Hills and can add character to the overall community. Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited 2 PLANNING RATIONALE October 2013 Cardinal Creek Village | Subdivision Application 3. Proposed Plan of Subdivision The proposed plan of subdivision for the subject site comprises approximately 121 hectares and, as previously noted, is located between Ottawa Road 174 and Old Montreal Road; east of the Cardinal Creek 1. Generally described, the plan of subdivision includes the following structural component: • A major collector (north-south) road between Ottawa Road 174 and Old Montreal Road; • A minor collector road running internal to the subject site and connecting to Old Montreal Road in two locations; • Natural heritage areas identified for preservation including areas along the Cardinal Creek Valley and the escarpment ridge; • Two elementary school sites (acquisition to be determined by the relevant School Boards); • A Community Park to be located on the east side of the major collector road; and, • Two Neighbourhood Parks to be located so as to serve the residential areas situated to the west and east of the major collector road. The proposed subdivision layout is consistent with the framework established by the Cardinal Creek Concept Plan (June 2013) with minor variations. Those minor variations have arisen out of the desire for the existing commercial nursery garden operation to remain functional during the initial stages of development. Accordingly, the minor collector road located north of Old Montreal Road has been adjusted to create an interim parcel around the existing operation. This road adjustment has resulted in concomitant effects on the park, school and residential blocks/lots. In addition, a block of land situated south of Old Montreal Road has been included in the draft plan in order to allow for the re-location of the commercial nursery garden operation as phased development proceeds to the north of Old Montreal Road. 1 The Draft Plan of Subdivision is not provided within this report. A full size copy of the Draft Plan of Subdivision has been provided with the application submission. Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited 3 PLANNING RATIONALE October 2013 Cardinal Creek Village | Subdivision Application 4. Planning Framework The following provides a brief summary of the City planning policy framework that underpins the Cardinal Creek Village Concept Plan. CITY OF OTTAWA OFFICIAL PLAN The City of Ottawa most recent comprehensive five year Official Plan Review (Official Plan Amendment (‘OPA’) No. 76) was adopted by the Council of Ottawa on June 24, 2009 and was approved with the modifications by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on December 24, 2009 and appeals were finally resolved by the Ontario Municipal Board in June 2012. OPA 76 established a number of expansions to the Urban Area including the Cardinal Creek Village lands. Accordingly, the Cardinal Creek Village lands were designated by OPA 76 as ‘Urban Expansion Study Area’ and are subject to a policy framework (Section 3.11) that requires a number of comprehensive studies to evaluate the area’s land use potential (including, among other matters, natural heritage, servicing and transportation) and determine a detailed land use concept for the lands. A Concept Plan for the Cardinal Creek Village lands was approved and the implementing Official Plan Amendment (No.123) adopted by Ottawa Council on July 17, 2013 (and came into force and effect on August 16, 2013) CITY OF OTTAWA ZONING BY-LAW The lands subject to this application are currently zoned ‘RU – Rural” and a concurrent application to amend the Zoning By-law is being submitted. The proposed zoning is as follows: • For the residential lots – R3; Residential Third Density Zone • For the neighbourhood and community park blocks – OS1: Parks and Open Space Zone • For the elementary school blocks – I1: Minor Institutional Zone and R3; Residential Third Density Zone (to allow residential development should no school board acquire the school blocks) • For the natural heritage blocks – EP: Environmental Protection Zone • For the mixed use block at the northwest corner of Old Montreal Road/Major Collector Road – R4: Fourth Residential Density Zone • For the mixed use block on either side of the Major Collector Road (at the base of the escarpment) – R4: Fourth Residential Density Zone • For the mixed use blocks abutting Ottawa Road 174 – retain their existing zoning until such time as the detailed design concept/guidelines required by Council resolution is completed. • Other open space blocks - OS1: Parks and Open Space Zone Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited 4 PLANNING RATIONALE October 2013 Cardinal Creek Village | Subdivision Application 5. Design Guidelines The Cardinal Creek Village Concept Plan (June 2013) contains a comprehensive set of community design guidelines the relevant portions of which are reflected in the structure and design of the subdivision plan as follows: COMMUNITY EDGES • Along major collector roads, residential dwellings should face the street, and window streets (service roads) or laneways should be used, as appropriate. The plan of subdivision provides for a number of window streets along Old Montreal Road and the major collector road to allow for residential dwellings to face the street. • Window streets should be designed with a landscape edge with low fencing and soft landscaping along the major collector roads. The plan of subdivision provides for a number of window streets along the major collector road and Old Montreal Road that will be designed to provide a combination of landscape elements and planting to create an attractive appearance. • Where appropriate, landscaped pedestrian access points should be provided to the neighbourhood from the major collector roads. The plan of subdivision provides for a safe, walkable local street pattern and the walkway blocks are illustrated on the subdivision plan. • Where possible, reverse lot frontages should be avoided on collector roads. The plan of subdivision does not include reverse lot frontages along the minor and major collector roads, or along Old Montreal Road. • Buildings