Coun. Shad Qadri, who was accused of trying to block the project last summer, said the settlement involves adding more parking spaces and requiring the developer to submit a rezoning application, rather than relying on minor variances approved by the city’s committee of adjustment.
Dharma Developments first proposed Orville Station more than two and a half years ago. The project called for 36 residential units in three stacked townhouses with underground parking near the corner of Stittsville Main Street and Orville Street.
Two adjacent mixed-use buildings would contain 2,700 square feet of ground-level commercial space and five apartments. The development would be constructed to a LEED-Silver environmental standard.
Despite meeting with the village association and ward councillor, as well as voluntarily reducing the height and density of the project, the developer still ran into resistance over parking and traffic concerns.
With the support of city planning staff, Dharma Developments president Akash Sinha brought a minor variance application, dealing with the number of parking spaces and building setbacks, to Ottawa’s committee of adjustment. It was approved despite the opposition of Coun. Qadri, who questioned whether it was viable to have shared parking spaces for shoppers and visitors to the residential units.
He also argued the developer was requesting too many minor variances and should apply to have the property rezoned.
In an interview, the councillor confirmed he asked the city’s legal department to review the application. In September, city council voted to appeal the committee of adjustment’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.
However, the two sides reached a settlement before the appeal was heard.
Dharma’s Mr. Sinha declined comment on the settlement, but said construction could begin as early as this spring if the rezoning is approved and he receives the necessary permits.
The rezoning application is scheduled to be tabled at a Feb. 23 committee meeting and sent to full council the next day. Coun. Qadri cautioned that there was no guarantee the application would be approved by his council colleagues or accepted by the community.
Despite its high-profile hurdles, Mr. Sinha said interest in the development remained strong. Forty per cent of phase one is already sold, and potential customers were still approaching Dharma Developments even as the project risked being delayed by the prospect of a prolonged OMB appeal.
Mr. Sinha said this shows homebuyers in areas such as Stittsville are interested in more than just single-family, suburban-type dwellings.
"It is really indicative of how Ottawa's landscape is changing."
See also:
Developer accuses Stittsville councillor of political interference
Listen to community, Stittsville councillor tells developer
