174 Forward Ave Development - Revised Plans

You may recall in February, we held an Open House to discuss a proposed development at 174 Forward Ave. At the time, the applicant initially proposed an eight-storey residential building containing 24 units and six parking spaces.  Concerns were raised by the local residents and the Mechanicsville Community Association (MCA) with regard to the proposed height, locations of the parking garage and the waste collection room, and the reduced corner side yard. The applicant collected the feedback from the open house, and has since revised their plans. The applicant agreed to revise the project to a four-storey building with an additional residential below-ground floor containing 18 units. The proposed building is 13.1 metres tall, which is below the maximum permitted height of 14.5 metres in the existing R4S zoning. The parking garage was removed and relief from having to provide the one required visitor parking space is now being sought. Garbage collection will be accessed from the existing laneway adjacent to the rear of the property.

The proposed Zoning By-law amendment now seeks to:

• Reduce the corner side yard setback to 1.5 metres from the required minimum of three metres.
• Reduce the rear yard setback to zero metres from the required minimum of 1.2 metres.
• Reduce the number of visitor parking spaces to zero from the required minimum of one space.

• Permit a landscaped communal rooftop amenity space, whereas the by-law requires the communal amenity area to be located at grade in the rear yard and consist of 80 per cent soft landscaping.
• To increase the maximum area for a roof top access from 10.5 square metres to 40 square metres.
• To increase the maximum height for a roof top access to 3.1 metres.
• To increase the maximum height for the portion of a roof-top access containing an elevator to 4.5 metres.

The revised drawings are attached and will be available on DevApps.

It is anticipated that the Zoning By-Law Amendment application for this development will proceed to Planning Committee on October 9. Following that will be the Site Plan Control Application process. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our office, or to the lead Planner Steve Gauthier (Steve.Gauthier@Ottawa.ca) with any feedback. 

Thank you.

FM