A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 19, at Old Town Hall to discuss a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 160 Lees. A City of Ottawa initiated application has been received for 160 Lees Avenue to permit a temporary parking lot for a period of three years. This is the section of land bounded by Lees Avenue, the apartment buildings, the Rideau River, and Springhurst Park.
During the construction of the light rail project, 230 parking spots at the University of Ottawa will be displaced and the city is proposing the construction of a temporary parking lot to accommodate 362 parking spots at 160 Lees Avenue. The university will be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the parking lot. The land will also be used as a staging area for the light rail construction.
For more details, see the site plan, a map of the proposed parking lot, and additional correspondence from city staff.
This is scheduled to be heard at the city’s Planning Committee on January 14, 2013.
The OECA understands that construction is inevitable as the light rail project moves ahead. However, we want to ensure that Old Ottawa East residents are informed of the zoning amendment and that city staff works with us and our city councillor to negotiate the best possible outcome. First and foremost, we would like to explore the viability of alternative locations for the parking lot and staging area. Information outlining alternative locations is available in the following report and map. If this is not possible, can the proposal be built in stages on an as-needs basis. For example, can we encourage the use of more public transportation to reduce the need for as many parking spots? Additional concerns include:
Please attend the public meeting on Wednesday, December 19, at Old Town Hall (61 Main Street) from 7-9 p.m. to have your questions answered and comments heard. The meeting will be attended by: