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.
- 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.
Ottawa’s new Official Plan will have major impacts for QTN, as a transition neighbourhood between two LRT stations. QTN is asking for amendments to the revised plan to ensure that intensification enhances rather than erodes strong neighborhoods, like QTN. Read QTN Submission for formal hearings on revised plan.
Earlier QTN Planning Committee made a submission in response to the Draft Official Plan. 2021-02 QTNca and the New Official Plan. Some of our suggestions were incorporated into the revised version of the draft plan.
QTN IN THE PINECREST/QUEENSVIEW STATION SECONDARY PLAN
Update Summer 2022: In June, draft ideas for future development in QTN and on the south side of QTN were presented in a public, on-line forum. Below are some of main ideas and links to more information. A second public meeting will be held late this fall, and then the plan will go to the City Planning Committee and City Council for approval in early 2023.- New mixed residential and commercial buildings on Queensview Drive will be allowed to be up to 40 stories high on the south side, lower on the north side, to transition to lower buildings in QTN. Sites closest to the LRT stations will have the most density.
- Ikea, Pinecrest Mall, and areas such as the former Ottawa Citizen building on the south side of the 417 will also be allowed to redevelop as mixed use mid- and- high rise towers, with specific heights to be determined.
- Queensview Drive will include bike lanes, sidewalks, and small green spaces. QTNca is working for sidewalks on both sides and other improvements to make this street attractive for pedestrians and bikers.
- Connection between QTN and Queensview is a QTN priority. The City has purchased a property on Severn and is working to complete a path to the Queensview Station in the area of Severn school, in addition to the path from Connaught Avenue.
- A new pedestrian bridge across the Queensway is part of the LRT project. Under the new plan, it would connect with improved multi-use paths and sidewalks on the south side to allow better access to services in Pinecrest mall. Road access, flow of traffic on Iris and Baxter, and interchanges along Pinecrest will be improved.
- Changes on Pinecrest Road could include bike lanes, improved interchanges with the Queensway, and more safe pedestrian crossings. QTNca has flagged a number of issues for access and safety along Pinecrest.
- Permission for in-fill housing up to 4 stories is being considered for parts of QTN close to LRT stations. The new Official Plan already allows up to 3 stories for larger lots in QTN. The reason given for 4 stories is greater diversity of multi-unit housing types, including affordable options for families.
- Public lands in the area may be repurposed. A new recreation center and housing may replace the bus barns in the future, something QTNca has advocated. The baseball diamond on Pinecrest Road may also be repurposed. Better use of public lands could add much needed public services and enhance the whole plan.
Map of Pinecrest and Queensview Stations Secondary Plan study area showing preliminary recommendations for maximum building heights and public realm and connectivity improvements
Guidelines for future residential development in QTN will be part of the Pinecrest/Queensview Station Secondary Plan. QTN’s planning committee advocated for the inclusion of QTN to help ensure that new developments enhance the quality of life in our neighbourhood. QTN residents will have opportunities for input when the official secondary plan process starts. This is an opportunity to address issues such as: parking, walking and biking paths, public spaces, preserving trees and green spaces, building heights, etc.
In advance of the secondary plan process, QTN planning committee presented a discussion paper with priorities and key issues. Queensview Drive and QTN – Good Neighbors – Considerations for Official Plan.docx.
QTN, LINCOLN FIELDS MALL, LINCOLN FIELDS SECONDARY PLAN
Update Summer 2022: The Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan is still in early stages. Now is a good time to identify QTN priorities because big changes are coming. Redevelopment in the Lincoln Fields area on the north side of QTN will add the equivalent of a new community. Over 20 years, estimates are that between 5,000 and 7,000 additional people will live in this area. This plan will include revised plans by Rio Can for the mall, other privately owned, mixed residential/commercial developments, and changes in the public spaces between Carling and Richmond Road north to the intersection with Pinecrest Road. Below are some preliminary ideas under consideration.- Hub policies in the new Official Plan will allow development of mixed use, mid and high rise towers close to the Lincoln Fields LRT station. New plans being developed by Rio Can for the mall will integrate residential and commercial uses in towers of varying heights, new parkland, new streets to connect users and adjacent neighborhoods east-west and north-south by car, bike, and walking. The revised plan responds to some of the concerns raised by QTNca in previous rounds.
- Proposals to improve Carling Avenue include biking lanes and safer crossings. Discussions with the National Capital Commission (NCC) may lead to changes in the access points to the parkway, to improve walking along Carling to the LRT station. Improving connections in the area and safe crossings have been and continue to be a high priority for QTNca.
- Public land near the intersection of Pinecrest, Carling, and Richmond Road is being reviewed to consider possible improvements for accessibility and use by pedestrians and bikers, but there are no plans to realign the major streets themselves.
- Better use of vacant lots in QTN along Carling, e.g. 808 Dundee and 2630 Carling, is being considered, on an interim basis. Some ideas include rest spots, community or pollinator gardens, or mini-parks.
Newsletter story on transportation options for Lincoln Fields Area.
A connectivity study, done by Alta Consultants, recommends a number of changes that could improve the flow of traffic, access for pedestrians and bikers, and safer crossings of Carling Avenue. Proposed changes are described in this presentation – go to slides near end of it.
QTNca representatives are also advocating for attention to the Connaught-Carling Intersection, safe crossings at other points along Carling, and early implementation of proposed improvements, which are not included or funded in the Transportation Master Plan.
Earlier Posts re: Lincoln FieldsThe planning committee is working with other neighbourhood associations to address a number of issues related to the future of Lincoln Fields mall and the area around it. Advocacy for development of an integrated plan for the area continues. The City of Ottawa recently postponed development of this plan. QTN continues to advocate for an early start on that plan.
- Letter on Lincoln Field Secondary Plan to City Planning Department January 13, 2021
- QTN Submission for Hearing on Lincoln Fields Site Plan
Updates on the Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan will be posted in newsletter.
NOISE AND VISUAL MITIGATION IN LANDSCAPE PLANS FOR CONNAUGHT PARK
- UPDATE February, 2022: Revised Noise Report for LRT in the area of QTN was received. QTN appreciates additional noise walls to mitigate noise impacts along the track through the Connaught Park area. Concerns remain about noise in the fly-over area. High noise levels on the south side of QTN are caused by a variety of sources. QTN is advocating for greater attention to noise mitigation in the Queensview/Pinecrest Secondary Plan.
- UPDATE October 31, 2021: On October 22, 2021 a memo was received with updated plans for noise mitigation in Connaught Park. Read memo here. The PAC group is gathering feedback from the community. If you have questions/comments, please send to qtncommunity@gmail.com.
- Noise Study, LRT Phase 2, Connaught Park: Excerpt of Noise Study done by City of Ottawa for LRT Phase 2 through Connaught Park. This is a DRAFT for consultation purposes. In addition, the Public Advisory Committee received a copy of an assessment of the effectiveness of rail dampers, one of the noise mitigation measures proposed for Connaught Park. Draft report for consultation purposes.
- Tree Plans for Connaught Park: QTN received the attached information about tree plans. Community members are invited to provide feed-back and suggestions. Please send suggestions to qtncommunity@gmail.com. Your suggestions will be shared with the landscape planners
QTNca has continued its advocacy for improvements in the LRT plans through Connaught Park, including paths and measures to reduce noise and visual impacts. Residents have an opportunity to provide feed-back on a revised landscape plan now and a revised plan for connectivity is coming later this year. See report from first PAC meeting.
In spring 2020, the QTN community was engaged in the consideration of berms proposed by KEV as a way to reduce noise and visual impacts for QTN residents (Letter to KEV regarding berms). Then OC Transpo announced that a noise study would be done; later we learned that it would include the whole LRT Phase II project, which took more than a year to complete. For Connaught Park, Councillor Kavanaugh and OC Transpo, in cooperation with QTNca, formed a public advisory committee (PAC) to facilitate community discussion about the plans to mitigate noise and visual impacts for this section of the LRT line.
The PAC met for the first time on September 21st . Report of meeting available here. Presentation made by OC Transpo available here.
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.