QTNca’s planning committee works to inform residents about issues that affect QTN and engages in City planning processes to advocate for QTN priorities and needs.
Click on the projects below for more information on the committee’s work.
You can contact the planning committee by sending a message to the Chair of the Planning Committee through the QTNCA e-mail account, qtncommunity@gmail.com.
- What makes up our community? Take a look at our infographic which is based on the 2016 Canadian Census.
- What are the community's priorities? Through community meetings, a description of what residents value and prioritize about QTN was developed.
In 2025 the City of Ottawa will adopt a new Zoning Bylaw. New proposed zones and their application to areas of QTN are based on the new Official Plan and changes in the provincial Planning Act and housing policies. QTN is in the Inner Urban Transect, an area for intensification. Areas close to proposed LRT stations are also subject to an Evolving Overlay, which permits additional density. These affect proposals for land use zones in the new Zoning Bylaw.
More information about the proposed new Zoning Bylaw is available at https://engage.ottawa.ca/zoning. A second draft of the new bylaw, expected early in 2025, will also include changes that result from the Lincoln Fields and Pinecrest/Queensview Secondary Plans, adopted by City Council near the end of 2024.
QTNca is working with other inner urban neighborhoods in Ward 7 and the Federation of Community Associations in Ottawa to strengthen the focus on healthy neighbourhoods and give residents a meaningful voice in development decisions. You can send suggestions or questions to City Planners at newzoning@ottawa.ca.
The future of QTN will be affected by redevelopment under two new secondary plans, adopted near the end of 2024. The LIncoln Fields Secondary Plan will guide major changes along Carling Avenue and on the north side of QTN. The Pinecrest-Queensview Plan will guide a major change from industrial to mixed use on Queensview Drive, significant changes along Pinecrest Avenue, and intensification within QTN. QTNca advocated for and achieved some improvements in these plans; but significant concerns remain about how they will implemented and impact the neighborhood.
Going forward, QTNca Planning Committee will focus on three aspects of these plans:
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- Raising community concerns about specific applications for redevelopment as they are filed;
- Monitoring implementation of the plans, including City action on improvements of public spaces
- Continuing advocacy for implementation of community priorities included in these plans, such as pedestrian safety, bike paths, parks, green spaces, and human services.
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- Safe and pedestrian-friendly Carling Avenue, including services and public spaces on ground floors, bike lanes and sidewalks that connect to places people want to go, and safe street crossings.
- Improved, practical connections to get to Lincoln Fields station and other services.
- The need for a traffic study to ensure that the proposed changes to the intersection between Carling Avenue and the Kichi Zibi Mikan are done with consideration for impacts on access to and exit from QTN.
- Add plans now for human services such as health clinics, schools, libraries, etc., in addition to park space, to serve the expected large increases in population, including deeply affordable housing.
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- a usable park on Queensview Drive, preservation of the Elmhurst forest, other green spaces, and tree policies.
- more and better connections to access desired services and LRT stations
- the requirements for public-facing shops and services on the ground floor of high rises along Queensview Drive, and plans for a complete street; and
- a future recreation center to replace the OC Transpo service facility.
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Continuing concerns for implementation of the Pinecrest/Queensview Plan include:
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- traffic on Pinecrest Street and intersections that provide entry and egress from QTN. Traffic impacts are under-estimated and traffic studies for individual proposals do not consider impacts of all the proposed developments and projected population increases.
- Full implementation of pedestrian paths and bike lanes so people can get to desired destinations safely.
- Noise wall and noise abatement along the 417; noise levels along the south side of QTN are already over limits that negatively affect health.
- Adequate services for the large number of additional residents projected for this area.
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QTNca encourages the City to pro-actively implement these plans, including the public investments that are necessary to encourage the transformation of Queensview Drive and Carling Avenue, and enhance services for the increased population. That includes a new community center in Frank Ryan Park. Further consultation with community stakeholders will be essential as individual development proposals are considered.
QTNca advocated for inclusion of noise mitigation measures in revised landscape plans along the LRT track on the edge of QTN. Implementation of those plans as soon as feasible is a current focus. Maximizing green space and tree replacement are high priorities.
A QTNca Noise Committee has also proposed additional measures to monitor and mitigate increased noise from both LRT operations and intensification. This brief, which names QTN concerns about the impacts of high noise levels in our area, is a matter of ongoing dialogue with City officials.
Update December 2024: Plans for a new community center in Frank Ryan Park are being finalized by the City. There will also be changes to the playground, including replacement of the play structure for small children. Next steps will be getting this project into the City budget or finding grant funding for it.
Plans for renewal of the tennis courts have been approved. Hopefully that project will move forward in 2025. Plans for repair and upgrading of the path that goes from Alpine Avenue to Stuart Kettles have been approved; hopefully that project will proceed soon.
QTNca continues to advocate for preservation and expansion of green spaces and the tree canopy. These are clear priorities for residents and make this neighborhood a desirable place to live. That includes plans for new green spaces in LRT Landscape Plans and the two Secondary Plans that affect this area. Advocacy is informed by a survey of use of parks that was done by QTNca and by on-going community consultation.
In Spring 2021 the planning committee conducted a survey to identify what QTN residents wanted to see and do in local parks. It also identified concerns of residents. The planning committee is following up on these issues with City officials and our City Councillor.