Manor Park Management group revises redevelopment plan

The group behind the redevelopment of Manor Park Estates and Manor Park Gardens has revised its plans and resubmitted their proposal for an extensive rebuild and expansion of residences there.

The changes were made in response to feedback from city planners—as well as clear and sustained reactions from local residents.

After signalling their intent to replace the ageing townhomes and buildings that exist there for some time, a proposed plan to do so was formally submitted to the City of Ottawa in early 2021.

What has been proposed in the official plan amendment submitted to the city would dramatically change the part of Manor Park along St. Laurent Blvd. down to Brittany Dr., adding multiple towers ranging from 12 to 30 storeys.

The taller and more-dense residential units would be mixed with commercial space as well as community space and two new parks.

Many residents were concerned by the height of the proposed new buildings and the general increase in density to the area.

In apparent response to these concerns, and presumably the feedback from the city’s planning department, Manor Park Group has revised its plans.

The group held an online presentation outlining the changes to its proposal October 18, which can still be viewed on its website at www.visionmanorpark.ca.

The heights of many proposed buildings have been scaled back, in part using a “45-degree angular plane”—a “tool” to help better determine an “appropriate” building height for an existing neighbourhood.

An imaginary 45-degree line is drawn from the maximum allowable building height of a current space and where it passes along adjacent properties is considered an appropriate heigh allowance.

The new plan reduces the maximum building heights at the Manor Park North end to six and nine-story buildings. Although buildings in the south end of the plan have also been scaled down, the proposal still contains high-rise buildings of 15, 18, 20, 25 and 30 storeys in height.

‘No sensitive transition’

Sean Schuck, who lives with his family near the corner of Apple Tree Lane and Riviera Dr.,

Seans says he’s happy that “there will no longer be 16-storey buildings along my back fence.”

However, he doesn’t think the amendments go far enough, particularly for the area south of Hemlock Rd.

“I feel that right now, there isn’t a sensitive transition in the Manor Park South plan.”

Rideau-Rockliffe Coun. Rawlson King says he’s evaluating the revised proposal but wants to ensure there’s community benefit and a “formal acknowledgement of no displacement of residents.”

He says that the plan remains just that—a proposal to construct buildings. Ultimately, he says, “Every building will have scrutiny.”

Councillor King also doesn’t want to see the development go forward without a formal, written agreement regarding not displacing current residents.

“He [Lalit Aggarwal, president of Manor Park Management] has made a verbal commitment but we’d rather see something on paper that’s permanent.”

Much of the frustration of residents over this proposed development has been amplified by the ongoing discussion and debate surrounding the city’s new official plan (which was expected to be finalized at a city council meeting October 27).

Sean says if the Manor Park Group wanted to better incorporate residential input into their plans, they would have approached the Manor Park Community Association to develop a secondary plan to guide development as a first step.

He feels the current system of development approvals leaves residents reacting to dramatic development proposals over which they feel they have no real input or control.

“My first concern is the way development is handled in Ottawa.”