Zoning & Development Application
Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control Proposal
Otto’s BMW submitted 2 applications to the City of Ottawa for development of a parking lot. Over 1.57 hectares of trees are to be removed, to expand their employee parking and vehicle storage. In order to accommodate the proposed development, the proposed zoning by-law amendment will rezone the site from T1A, to an Air Transportation Facility Subzone A Urban Exception Zone which adds “storage yard” to the list of permitted uses.
NOTE: This file is currently waiting on Otto’s BMW to reassess options.
» Full details: (D02-02-21-0040) & (D07-02-21-0061)
» Application Summary [PDF]
» Environmental Report [PDF]
» Otto’s BMW Website
Government & Officials
The Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA)
the OIAA operates the land in accordance with our Ground Lease with Transport Canada. These members make decisions on how the land will be used, and make the deals with potential commercial developments.
» Mark Laroche, President & Chief Executive Officer
» Krista Kealey, Senior Vice President, Communications
David McGuinty, MP for Ottawa South
Federal: David McGuinty represents Ottawa South as a member of Parliament.
Minister of Transportation, Canada
Transport Canada is the federal body that owns the parcel of land.
» The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport
» Michael Keenan, Deputy Minister
John Fraser, MPP Ottawa South
John Fraser is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa South, and Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Ottawa Mayor & City Councillors
Applications for zoning and development are discussed by Ottawa’s Mayor, the Planning Committee, and then remaining city council.
[Sept, 2021. Otto’s pulled their item from the meeting agenda.]
» Planning Committee Members (2018 – 2022)
Plans, Policies and By-Law
City of Ottawa Zoning & Tree Protection By-Laws
Information regarding the City of Ottawa Zoning By-laws
» T1A Air Transportation Facility Zone
» EP-Environmental Protection Zone
» Tree Protection By-Law
Ottawa’s Urban Forest Management Plan
The UFMP is intended to provide the strategic and technical guidance required to achieve urban forest sustainability in Ottawa over the coming decades.
NOTE: The forest is on Federal owned land, and may not apply.
» Urban Forest Management Plan 2018-2037
Ottawa’s New Official Plan
The City of Ottawa Official Plan provides a vision for the future growth of the city and a policy framework to guide the city’s physical development to the year 2031.
“Green spaces will be valued and protected for their environmental, cultural heritage, recreational, educational and aesthetic qualities.”
» Urban Significant Woodlands defined as 60 years or more
» Significant Woodlands: Guidelines for Identification, Evaluation, and Impact Assessment. [Draft PDF]
Airport Master Plan
Updates to the Airport’s Master Plan are undertaken in accordance with their Ground Lease with Transport Canada.
» YOW 2018-2038 Master Plan, Executive Summary [PDF]
Airport Transfer Act
The legislation behind the transfer of federally owned and operated airports to Local Airport Authorities (LAA)
Greenbelt Master Plan
The Greenbelt and its role at a national and a regional level. It outlines the values that should inform any decisions made pertaining to the Greenbelt. The forest to the south of the pines are currently maintained within the Greenbelt.
» The Greenbelt Master Plan [PDF]
» NCC Tree Canopy & Greenbelt Map Tool
Tree Canopy Assessment – 2019
The tree canopy assessment protocols were developed to help
communities develop a better understanding of their
green infrastructure through tree canopy mapping and
data analytics.
City of Ottawa GeoMap
An interactive map to help indicate wards, zoning, transit, parks, city facilities and more. This also includes Aerial Photos of the city.
Trees & Ecology
Urban Forests: The Value of Trees in the City of Toronto
The cost savings produced by our urban forests make it clear that keeping the green on our streets, keeps the green in our wallets.
—TD Economics, 2014
Red Pine (Pinus_resinosa)
Red pine is a coniferous evergreen tree characterized by tall, straight growth in a variety of habitats. It usually ranges from 20–35 m (66–115 ft) in height and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in trunk diameter, exceptionally reaching 43.77 m (143 ft 7 in) tall.
—Wikipedia
Diana Beresford-Kroeger: Botanist and Biochemist [Interview]
Diana Beresford-Kroeger, botanist, medical biochemist, and one of the world’s leading experts on trees, discusses the benefits to human life of a healthy ecosystem and the importance of preserving the heritage of old growth trees.
Tiny Forest [Documentary Video]
A Tiny Forests® is a densely packed native forests, that fits into the size of a tennis court. The forest is not just a pleasant spot for butterflies, birds, bees and small mammals; it is a great place for people too.
Pine Tree Diseases and How to Treat Them
Ten diseases in pine trees to help identify ailing issues. Some infections are more severe than others and affect different pine tree types. Keep in mind that a professional arborist should make any diagnosis.
NOTE: Because the pines in our forest are planted densely, lack of sunlight has caused lower branches to shed needles. However, the tops are green and indicate good health
Pine Plantation Conversion
Overview on methods to improve the health of plantation type forests, in order to create a long-term, resilient and productive ecosystem. Something that can be achieved in the Hunt Club Forest instead of destroying for asphalt.
Afforestation: From Plantation to Forest [Video]
In this video, Elizabeth Celanowicz (Director of Operations with Forests Ontario) and Fraser Smith (Registered Professional Forester) discuss afforestation – the process of planting trees in an area which has not been previously forested. They visit a 35-year-old pine plantation that was recently thinned. Here they explain on how proper forest management is used to open up the canopy and allow for more sunlight in to encourage natural regeneration of plant species in the understory.
Hunt Club Creek
History of Hunt Club Creek
A detailed report that explains the history of the creek and outlines the sections that flow from the military housing down to the Rideau River.
—By John Sankey, HCCA Website
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) conducts monitoring of Hunt Club Creek as part of their City Stream Watch Program.
» Hunt Club Creek Catchment Report 2019
Rideau Reimagined: The ‘stream watcher’ of Hunt Club Creek
There’s beauty at the outlet of Hunt Club Creek, and inklings of a functioning, resilient little ecosystem amid the litter, sirens and other trappings of urban life.
—Ottawa Citizen: July 12, 2021, Watch on YouTube
Climate Change
Examining the Viability of Planting Trees to Help Mitigate Climate Change
A recent study published in the journal Science sought to provide answers by estimating the global potential of restoring forested lands as a possible strategy for mitigating climate change.
—NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory: November 7, 2019
Planting trees doesn’t always help with climate change
Deforestation is actually one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide, because when trees are cut down much of the carbon stored within them escapes into the air – especially if the wood is burned.
Earth’s energy imbalance removes almost all doubt from human-made climate change
Researchers studying Earth’s absorption of the sun’s energy found a less than 1 percent probability that the recent changes occurred naturally.