Convent development ire extends planning meeting

A public meeting will spill over to Wednesday because so many people requested to speak out about a controversial Westboro development.

The city is deciding whether to re-zone the land surrounding the former Sisters of the Visitation convent on Richmond Road, near Island Park Drive, something many in the audience argued would violate its Official Plan.

On Tuesday Ottawa's planning committee listened to a list of 48 people who signed up to speak about the proposed development — mostly against it.

There's so much concern over landowner Ashcroft Homes' redevelopment proposal that the meeting is now set to continue Wednesday at 1 p.m.

"It seems to be that your role as a committee is to uphold that document … to protect the traditional main street and to protect the park space," said speaker Margaret Thomson.

"If you don't, what that confirms to the community is that that plan is meaningless," Charles Fichner told the committee.

"We might as well just give up entirely in participating on any of the shams that develop official plans, secondary plans, community development plans, zoning bylaws and guidelines, because they don't matter a damn if they're not upheld," Fichner said.

City planner Doug James's statement that increased traffic from the proposed development would "not be discernible to those users of those roads" was met with scornful laugher.  

Ashcroft Homes purchased the land in 2009, and wants to renovate the 135-year-old building, surround it with a courtyard and build several new buildings including two condominium towers and a residence for seniors. The plan would create more than 600 residences, as well as retail and commercial space on the site.

Westboro residents say the company's plans are too tall, too dense, and too busy for the neighbourhood.

A representative from Ashcroft Homes will be the meeting's final speaker.

The planning committee's eight members are believed to be split on the re-zoning decision. If the vote ties the matter goes to city council and if unresolved there it would likely go before the Ontario Municipal Board.