Ottawa council to debate city's urban boundary

Councillors in Ottawa will debate Wednesday whether the city should expand its boundary to allow developers to build beyond the existing suburbs.

City staff has recommended Ottawa add 850 more hectares to its urban areas, which means much of the councillors' debate is expected to be about the proposed expansion.

But the type of housing that's in demand in the Ottawa area will also be part of the discussion.

Orleans Coun. Bob Monette said the city needs more space to build single-family homes.

"In my ward alone, you see a high multicultural community that's moving into Orleans — and they'll bring their whole family into the home," he said.

"So they need a large, single type of home."

Intensification needed, planner says

But according to Phil Brown, a professional planner and partner at Jackson-Brown Associates, the city already has an 18-year supply of land on which it can build large detached homes.

And he said not all homeowners in need of more space require new single-family homes.

"There will always be a substantial amount of homes available for resale that will be available for people who need that single family home," he said.

What the city does need a greater supply of, he said, are condos, townhouses and semi-detached homes.

Many homeowners are more concerned about affordability than space, he said.

"The new single family homes are priced out of the reach of most home buyers," said Brown. "The buyers that are in the market now are looking for something more affordable."

Brown said the city should concentrate less on expanding its boundaries and more on the intensification of its existing urban area.

The city's joint agriculture and rural affairs committee and planning and environment committee votes on whether to accept city staff's recommendations on Wednesday.