Orville Station approved by council
Posted Mar 5, 2010 By Sarah Kelford
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Tweet ThisEMC News - Council approved the Orville Station development in Stittsville at its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
The development, by Dharma Developments, will be built at the intersection of Stittsville Main Street and Orville Street. It will consist of 36 townhomes and two commercial buildings, with five apartments above the ground floor.
"We would like to thank our customers, friends and colleagues for their ongoing support. Their voices have had an impact," said Akash Sinha, president of Dharma Developments, in a press release.
Ward 6 Stittsville-Kanata West councillor Shad Qadri noted at the council meeting that he still had some concerns with the project.
"These (concerns) are just for this project, but they are becoming more common in other areas where the city intensifies the number of dwelling units in infill projects in small areas," he said. "The condition concerning the lack of snow storage space resulting in increased noise and costs for snow removal. The condition concerning the construction of fences and associated landscaping with higher quality fences being required to provide separation between new and old style developments. And finally, a condition warning purchasers of the potential risk of flooding garage storage areas because of the design of the storm water management systems as a result of the tight site conditions."
At the council meeting, Qadri thanked his colleagues for their support "in bringing this project back to the table by supporting the OMB appeal at council."
"The number and nature of the variances demanded that this project receive a full and complete rezoning hearing before committee and council," he said. "This is what allowed the community's concerns to be properly addressed, and the developer has made changes to the project that will enhance it and provide a better project for the residents of the city."
In addition to the city's concerns, the Stittsville Village Association opposed the development, stating it would like future Main Street development to be put on hold until the city studies the effect of new traffic on the village.
"Both the City of Ottawa and the Stittsville Village Association had originally filed appeals to the OMB against the decisions of the Committee of Adjustment in accepting some 15 minor variances on the Orville Station development," explained David Jenkins on behalf of the SVA. "We have never been opposed to development on this site, although we have always taken the position that any development must be suitable and appropriate for the location for which it is planned."
The SVA made a presentation to the Planning and Environment Committee restating its concerns about the development.
"We also fully understand the city's intensification policies and recognize the necessity, and even the appropriateness, of higher density development under certain circumstances," Jenkins stated. "However intensification does not mean squeezing the largest number of units into the smallest possible space, and in that respect, even though the zoning has long been in place, the SVA believes that the proposed scale of this development is not appropriate for this particular location."
Traffic concern
Jenkins explained that the SVA's big concern regards traffic.
"The area of Stittsville Main Street at Orville Street and immediately north and south of the Abbott Street intersection is, even with today's traffic volume, and particularly during peak hours, a serious bottleneck," Jenkins explained. "This is an old section of Stittsville, and an old section of Main Street which is only wide enough for two vehicles to pass."
Council did approve the development, which Dharma Developments said it was pleased to announce. In a press release, Dharma Developments stated that it appreciated the input from all parties including the local councillor and community association.
"With the Orville Station development now approved, we feel it is now time for everyone to move on, and we just hope that Dharma Developments take the concerns of the community into account as they now proceed with finalizing their plans, designs and construction," said Jenkins.
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