City council votes against demolition of Rockcliffe Park building by slim margin

Upholding the conservation plan was crucial, heritage committee chair says

We stood up for the community. We stood up for the heritage district that we all voted for unanimously a year ago.

The year-old plan that protects Rockcliffe Park’s heritage buildings passed its first test on Wednesday when city council rejected an application to demolish a home to make way for a new one.

The house at 270 Buchan Rd. is one of roughly 800 buildings in the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District. Designed by the architectural firm Hazelgrove and Mills, it was included on Rockcliffe’s pre-amalgamation inventory of heritage resources in the former village. It was also assessed as a Grade 1 building within the heritage conservation district plan council unanimously approved in March 2016.

Demolition of such buildings, the plan says, will only be permitted in extraordinary circumstances, such as fire, flooding or some other disaster.

Council’s built-heritage committee upheld the staff position that Richcraft Homes’ application for demolition should be refused. That was subsequently overturned at an April 25 planning committee meeting.

But on Wednesday, council said “no” to demolition and voted to uphold the initial staff recommendation to reject Richcraft’s application by a vote of 13-10.

Upholding the plan was crucial, said Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum, who chairs the heritage committee. “Had council allowed the demolition, we would have been sending the wrong message about the city and council’s commitment to heritage,” he said.

Mayor Jim Watson’s agreed. “I think we stood up for the community,” he said. “We stood up for the heritage district that we all voted for unanimously a year ago.”

Richcraft is appealing both the demolition application and the Rockcliffe Park heritage conservation district plan to the Ontario Municipal Board. A hearing is scheduled for September.

Senior company officials attended Wednesday’s council meeting, but Kevin Yemm, vice-president of land development, declined to comment on council’s decision.

According to the city’s lobbyist registry, Yemm met with a dozen city councillors between March 27 and April 24, including all but one member of the planning committee. Richcraft and individuals closely associated with the company also donated thousands of dollars to municipal candidates in the 2014 election.

CASH FOR POTHOLES

The city will spend an additional $2.9 million this year to fix up roads left pockmarked by potholes following one of the worst winters in recent memory.

The funds will be added to the road services operating budget to fill potholes and complete even more road resurfacing projects than the department initially planned. Council suspended the rules of procedure to vote on the motion immediately so crews can get as much work as possible done before Ottawa’s short construction season ends.

Coun. Keith Egli, who chairs the transportation committee, said crews have already filled 148,000 potholes this season.

DON’T PUMP UP THE BASS

Council approved recommended changes to the city’s noise bylaw when it comes to throbbing bass music, private garbage collection, car alarms and construction noise, but early morning construction on Saturdays will still be allowed.

City staff, however, were asked to look into installing “broadband backup alarms” on appropriate city vehicles. The technology makes sure the safety signals are only heard in a focused area.

TAX BREAK

Council has agreed to defer property taxes for residents with flooded properties. The final property tax bill payment for those affected by the flood will be due on Dec. 7, instead of June 15, with no penalties for the later payment.

Residents eligible for the tax deferral will be notified by letter.

THERE’S SMOKE AND FURY

The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group wants to deploy smoke devices at Ottawa Fury games. Council agreed to let OSEG use the devices for five games at TD Place this season, though they are normally prohibited. Fire officials were consulted and were satisfied the devices can be used safely.