New Zoning By-law

Motions

Three motions and three directions were approved at the Joint Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees meeting on March 31. Two motions and two directions were approved at the Council meeting on April 16.

These items include direction to staff to review and consider various topics while preparing Draft 3 of the new Zoning By-law. As directed by the Joint Committee and Council, staff will be:

• Performing a review of Neighbourhood zoning in Stittsville to explore converting properties zoned N1E to N1D
• Considering the outcome of the Heritage Conservation District Feasibility Assessment in the Beaverbrook neighbourhood when preparing Draft 3.
• Examining the feasibility of a requirement for permeable surface materials for all new front yard parking and communal parking areas.
• Considering parking solutions for new development in Villages, such as communal parking or a parking permit system.
• Evaluating the impact of introducing a minimum parking rate higher than one space per dwelling unit in new ground-oriented subdivision developments in Villages.
• On Issue 1: Minimum Parking Rates for Villages, implementing Option 3 to introduce parking minimums in Village Residential Zones 1-3 in Draft 3, to be released in September.

Staff will also consult on various items during the upcoming engagement events this spring on several new options for the key issues identified in Document 3 of the Draft 2 staff report.

• On Issue 2: Maximum Building Height in N1 and N2 – Neighbourhood Zones, an additional Option 4 will be developed to permit 11 metre heights in N1 and N2 zones and delete height suffixes for heights lower than 11 metres, except where specified in a Secondary Plan.
• On Issue 3: Conversion of the R4 zone to N4 zone in the draft Zoning By-law, an additional Option 3 will be developed by modifying Option 2 to remove the first bullet which maintains a maximum height of 11 metres for buildings that are currently zoned R4 with this height limit.
• On Issue 4: Building Height Transition Framework, Option 4 will be developed to introduce limits on as-of-right maximum building heights based on distance from rapid transit stations in the suburban Transect. These limits would be below the 90 metres, or 27 storeys, proposed by staff.
• On Issue 4: Building Height Transition Framework, Option 5 will introduce an as-of-right maximum building height of 30 storeys plus investigation on lowering the transition area below the 30 metres proposed by staff.
• On Issue 5: Communal Parking Lot Permissions in Neighbourhood (N1-N6) Zones, staff will be consulting on a transect-based approach for communal parking permissions.

These additional options on the key issues presented in Document 3 will be consulted on during the in-person and virtual consultation this spring, and a survey to be released in the coming months.

The New Zoning By-law – Draft 2 staff report and supporting documents are now available on the City’s meeting agenda page. The report will be considered at a Joint Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting on Monday, March 31. Members of the public can provide written comments or register to speak at Joint Committee by contacting the Committee Coordinator, listed on the committee agenda.

Draft 1 of the new Zoning By-law was presented in April 2024, followed by virtual and in-person consultation events through the summer and fall of 2024. This feedback informed the updated Zoning By-law provisions presented in the Draft 2 report and the revised zoning map.

If you have any questions or comments on Draft 2, please contact the new Zoning By-law project team via NewZoning@ottawa.ca. Public engagement on Draft 2 will occur this spring, including virtual and in-person consultation events. Stay tuned for more information on these opportunities!

The final version of the new Zoning By-law, Draft 3, will be presented later this year for Council approval.

New Zoning By-law – Draft 1

Explore the New Zoning By-law:

• The Story Behind the Review - Ottawa is Ready for a New Zoning By-law: Learn about the draft Zoning By-law and the new Neighbourhood Zone replacing Residential Zones

• DRAFT 1 - NEW ZONING BY-LAW TEXT

  • Draft 1 of the proposed New Zoning By-law was released to the public on April 29, 2024. To read or download the draft Zoning By-law click here.

Maps:

• 3D Digital Twin Map: Visualize and interact with the proposed zoning in your neighborhood in a 3D built environment.
  • Video Tutorial of the Interactive Zoning Tool and Neighbourhood Zones Overview: Watch the instruction video to learn how to use the map and understand Neighbourhood Zones.
• Consultation on Draft 1 of the new Zoning By-law:
  • As-We-Heard-It report – June Open House
  • As-We-Heard-It report– July to September Correspondence
  • City-Wide Open House Presentation
  • Ward-Specific Virtual Open House Presentations

The staff report to Council on the first draft of the zoning can be found here. Included attachments:

• Land Use and Density Strategy Map
• Height Strategy Map
• Primary Zones Map
• Statement of Ottawa Public Health
• On-Site Stormwater Management for Infill Development
• Review of Parking Rate Ratios
• Neighbourhood zones
• Engagement Strategy
• 2023 As We Heard It Report

Comments on the proposed Draft 1 Zoning By-law can be made directly using the public comment form, or by emailing the project email address newzoning@ottawa.ca.

Resources for Schools:

• Classroom activities proposal
• Classroom activities proposal summary
• Empathy Mapping and Role-playing Session Plan
• Reflection Activity
• Future Neighbourhood Plan Session Plan
• Guided Walking Tour Session Plan
• Residential Lot Pressures Activity
• Visioning Exercise Session Plan

The City of Ottawa new Zoning By-law project team is pleased to announce that there will be a Joint Committee meeting of the Planning and Housing Committee and the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee on March 31, 2025. This meeting represents a significant step in developing our new zoning by-law, which aims to shape our city's future growth and development.

The staff report and the second draft of the proposed new zoning by-law will be made available to the public on the City of Ottawa’s committee and Council eScribe on March 20, 2025. We encourage all residents, stakeholders, and interested parties to review these documents in preparation for the upcoming discussions.

The new Zoning By-law review project is submitting an IPD to the December 04, 2024 Planning and Housing Committee. The IPD provides updates on key issues identified during public consultations on the draft Zoning By-law and presents options to address them. Staff have developed several options that could help resolve each key issue identified. Further details concerning the issues and associated options will be formally presented to Council as part of the release of the second draft of the new Zoning By-law in March 2025. The six key issues identified to-date include concerns about:

• removing minimum parking rates in villages
• carrying forward maximum driveway width provisions in the rural transect
• setting an 8.5-metre building height in all N1 and N2 zones in all transects
• converting the R4 zone to N4 zone and the potential for unanticipated density increases
• determining proposed zoning based on existing zoning without enough consideration for Official Plan policies
• achieving appropriate building-height transitions

The memo also summarizes comments received during the virtual open houses conducted in August and September, as well as outlines next steps for the project.

Fall In-Person New Zoning By-law Workshops Continue

The new Zoning By-law project continues to host in-person workshops on the new zoning by-law. Following the summer virtual information sessions, the fall workshops provide an opportunity to discuss the Zoning By-law review with members of the zoning team.

There are three workshops remaining, each starting at 6:30 pm and continuing until 8:00 pm. The upcoming workshops will be held at:

• October 15 – Fred Barrett Arena
• October 22 – City Hall
• November 5 – Confederation Education Centre

What to Expect:

• Display Board Exhibition – Dive into the basics of zoning and key concepts of the proposed By-law. This is your chance to ask questions and get informed.
• Roundtable Discussions – Engage in intensive discussions on various topics with planners and fellow residents.
• No Registration Required – Simply show up and participate.

New 3D Digital Twin Map

We are thrilled to introduce a groundbreaking tool as part of the new Zoning By-law review: the 3D Digital Twin Map. This innovative map is designed to transform how residents and planners visualize zoning changes across Ottawa. With the 3D Digital Twin Map, users can view both the proposed new Zoning By-law zoning and the current (2008-250) Zoning By-law zoning. This dual-view feature ensures that you can easily compare and understand the proposed changes.

This map is the first release from the City’s Digital Twin Project, with future iterations to be integrated into the upcoming new Zoning By-law.

What is a 3D Digital Twin?

A 3D digital twin is a highly detailed, interactive digital replica of physical assets—in this case, the buildings and infrastructure of Ottawa. This technology allows users to explore the city in a virtual environment, providing a comprehensive view of current and proposed zoning regulations. For more information on the Digital Twin Project, refer to the January 21, 2024, Meeting of Planning and Housing Committee Minutes and the accompanying media release.

Other Visualization Tools

In addition to the new 3D Digital Twin Map, you can still view a side-by-side comparison of existing and proposed zoning using our sliding interactive zoning map. You can also view the proposed zoning as a layer on the City’s GeoOttawa webpage.

Fall In-Person Workshops!

This fall, join us for a series of in-person workshops to discuss Ottawa’s New Zoning By-Law. These workshops are designed to engage the community, gather valuable feedback, and ensure that our new Zoning By-law reflects the Official Plan and the needs and aspirations of all residents. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of our city!

Here’s what you can expect:

• Display Board Exhibition – dive into the basics of zoning and key concepts of the proposed By-law. This is your chance to ask questions and get informed.
• Roundtable Discussions – engage in intensive discussions on various topics with planners and fellow residents.

Five opportunities to participate:

All in-person workshops will start at 6:30 pm.

1. October 1 – Ray Friel Recreation Complex
2. October 8 – John G Mlacak Community Centre
3. October 15 – Fred Barrett Arena
4. October 22 – City Hall
5. November 5 – Confederation Education Centre

The Planning and Housing Committee received an Information Previously Distributed (IPD) report on September 11, 2024, providing an update on the New Zoning By-law Review Project. This IPD report is part of the Project’s ongoing efforts to keep the public and Council members informed about the project’s progress and the various options being considered as staff prepare the next draft of the Zoning By-law, which is set to be released in Q1 2025.

Key Points:

• Public Feedback and Key Issues: The report includes public feedback received up to July 30, 2024, and identifies some of the key issues that have emerged during the consultation process. These issues will be addressed in the second draft of the Zoning By-law, scheduled for release in March 2025.
• Commitment to Flexibility: The new Zoning By-law Review project is in the first Draft. Staff are actively seeking comments and feedback from the public on the draft zoning provisions and zoning map. The goal is to remain flexible and responsive to public input.
• Opportunities for Participation: The draft provisions for Draft 1 were released at the end of May 2024. Two more drafts will be released next year, in March and December, providing ample opportunities for public participation and feedback.
• As-We-Heard-It Reports: The IPD report included As-We-Heard-It reports for the June 20, 2024 city-wide virtual information session and for comments received up-to July 3. Additional reports, including the ward specific virtual, will be included in the Q4 status update IPD.

Residents are encouraged to share their comments on the new Zoning By-law. Comments can be sent to newzoning@ottawa.ca or residents can sign up for project updates at https://engage.ottawa.ca/zoning.