City committee OKs convent development

City planners approved re-zoning the land around a Westboro convent for development Thursday, but said Ottawa will try to buy back a piece of land from the developer to preserve park space.

Ashcroft Homes wants to renovate the 135-year-old Sisters of the Visitation convent on Richmond Road, near Island Park Drive, and build several new buildings including two condominium towers and a residence for seniors — an estimated 600 residences in total — along with several commercial shops.

But after three days of public consultation, the motion from Ottawa's planning committee puts a hold on the development. City council now has until March 31 to figure out how, and how much, it will pay for the land.

"What we really need to do is negotiate an agreement of purchase and sale in a professional manner based on professional appraisals," said Coun. Peter Hume (Alta Vista-Canterbury-Riverview), one of the planning committee's eight members.

Hume said a fund of $1.3 million is available to the Kitchissippi Ward to buy the land, but the land is expected to cost more than that.

The re-zoning got a frosty reception from many Westboro residents who had spoken out against the development's height and density during the consultation. The motion to buy back a section of land to preserve green space in the area was the biggest win for residents and the biggest compromise for Ashcroft.

"We would have liked to have had our design go forward as conceived, obviously," said Paul Rothwell of Ashcroft Homes. "But we're happy about some of the things that happened here today."

Rothwell said he is "wary" of the city's plan to buy back land near the south end of the development to create green space.

"If that happens it's going to mean a major re-think of the balance of the project," he said.

Ottawa city council will now discuss how to proceed with the development.