19 Nov, 2009
Shaking things up and bringing some ugly to Westboro!*
Posted by andrea tomkins in: - Westboro
I am on the board of my local community association. One of the perks of being a board member is that we often get advance notice of new developments being proposed in our neighborhood. One of the disadvantages is that some of this crap drives me absolutely mental and it adds to my already skyrocketing stress levels. But I will get to that in just a sec.
First I would like to clarify my views on residential development:
Infill is necessary. Not just because Westboro is such an amazing place to live (and more people should have the opportunity to live here) but to prevent further urban sprawl, which is, frankly, a blight on Ottawa because no one seems to be doing it right. New infill should not dominate the streetscape or overwhelm the houses in the immediate vicinity. New infill should fit the neighborhood for which it is proposed in every way; in terms of lot size, design, and height.
Enter SKY BUNGLALOWS OF WESTBORO. Destined for two locations, including this one on Byron Avenue:
You might be wondering about this new real estate term: sky bungalow. I’ll tell you, it’s a stack of bungalows! In other words, a condo. But bungalows. In the sky. Going up.
Here’s the part that makes me bonkers because it doesn’t make sense (please read this next part carefully):
- In the old 1998 Zoning By-law, triplexes were allowed, but only in a limited kind of way. An existing house could be converted to have three units but you could not build a triplex outright.
- In the new Zoning by-law, what is permitted is now defined as a “three-unit dwelling.” No one noticed this change and it has a massive impact on residential development. A three-unit dwelling is defined as a “building originally constructed to contain three principal dwelling units divided horizontally.”
- Sky Bungalows are aptly named. This new by-law permits the building of a three-unit dwelling on a lot size similar to that of a single detached home but to a height of 11 metres. A single or semi-detached home has a height limit of 8 metres in our community.
But that’s not the worst thing about it. I’d love it if someone can prove me wrong, but as far as I’m aware THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, on any residential street. My next door neighbors could easily sell out to a developer who would tear down their ONE single family home and replace it with a towering SET OF SKY BUNGALOWS.
FYI, one unit in a SKY BUNGALOW retails for $689,900. (They even have an ad on Kijiji. Check it out if you’d like an advance look at what might be built next door or across the street from you. Wouldn’t you love to wake up to a wall of garages like that?)
My questions:
- Who is responsible for the rewording of the City of Ottawa zoning bylaw?
- Why is it that advantage often plays on the side of the developers instead of the residents?
- Why can’t something be done about bad design?
- Where does the Community Design Plan come into all of this? Why is no one guiding the long-term growth of this community!
I find this kind of hornswoggle extremely frustrating. Gah!
If you’re as peeved about this as I am – or just worried about what Westboro is going to look like in the next dozen years – I suggest you call or write an email to our Councillor.
* These views are entirely my own, and this post in no way reflects the views of the Westboro Community Association, of which I am a part.
