Laura Osman 

Book lovers could one day find themselves reading with the fishes after the city's planning committee allowed for an aquarium next to the future central library.

The National Capital Commission asked councillors to consider rezoning its land at 584 and 587 Wellington Street to allow an aquarium.

According to city staff, the likelihood of anyone actually building an aquatic museum at the site wasn't discussed much beyond that.

But the idea to attract tourists works well with&nbsp;the city's plan for the area, committee heard.

The site is directly next to the site of the future $174.8 million central library near LeBreton, which was approved today.

Finance committee approves money for new central library

The city's finance and economic development committee voted in favour of a plan that would see the municipality pony up $104 million for its share of a new central library that will be completed in 2024.

A City of Ottawa development sign for the new central branch of the Ottawa Public Library is seen on Albert Street on Feb. 19, 2018.

ottawa central public library branch development sign albert street 2018

The city put up a redevelopment sign on the site of the new central library branch back in February, but the money for the project is just being approved this month.

City plans to sell old main library for $20M in no-bid contract

The City of Ottawa wants to sell its old downtown library branch for $20 million to the company that leases the office tower next door.

People walk by a library building on a busy street.

Pedestrians walk in front of the Ottawa Public Library's central branch.

ottawa public library central branch downtown brutalist brutalism

Pedestrians walk in front of the Ottawa Public Library's central branch at the corner of Laurier Avenue West and Metcalfe Street in the downtown core. The city wants to sell the building to a company that leases an officer tower next door.

The committee voted to allow major increases to the maximum building heights at the library site and surrounding lands.

If committee's decision is upheld, the library would be allowed to be as tall as 12 storeys. The building heights for the neighbouring land was originally capped at eight storeys, but may now be as tall as 25 storeys.

The idea is to encourage lots of mixed uses in the area, including residential and commercial units - and maybe a few fish tanks. No specific applications have been brought forward.

City council still needs to give final approval for&nbsp;the changes.&nbsp;

The National Capital Commission asked city council to allow an aquarium next to the location for the new central library. 

Aquarium could one day make a splash beside new library

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