Background
On April 13, 2022, Ottawa City Council approved an Official Plan amendment resulting in the new Manor Park North and South Secondary Plan, added to the Official Plan, to guide the proposed development by Manor Park Estates. Manor Park North, located mostly west of St. Laurent Boulevard and north of Hemlock Road, would be developed with low-rise and mid-rise buildings. Manor Park South, which mostly includes properties along Brittany Drive, would see more mid-rise and high-rise buildings. MPE plans to redevelop about 13 hectares of property over several decades, adding about 3,800 residential units, nearly 10,000 square metres of commercial space and more than 16,000 square metres of park space.
The Council approval includes a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the developer, Manor Park Estates Inc., comprising three main commitments:
- No displacement of current Manor Park residents
- Designation of a percentage of the housing as “secured affordable” housing
- Work with the Manor Park community, the Ward Councillor, and the Ottawa Community Benefits Network, on a voluntary basis, to advance a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) for “the lands it owns or manages within or nearby the plan area to be governed by the Manor Park North and South Secondary Plan or elsewhere within the City of Ottawa Ward 13 or in other communities near the Secondary plan area.”
The CBA Campaign
This is the first time in Ottawa’s history that Council approval of a development proposal has come with a specific CBA commitment. OCBN acknowledges the leadership of Ward 13 Councillor Rawlson King, Lalit Aggarwal- CEO, Manor Park Capital/Holdings/Management, and City staff for embracing the CBA approach to building communities.
OCBN has collaborated with Councillor King’s office to establish a CBA Working Group, largely comprised of Manor Park residents, to co-create with Mr. Aggarwal a CBA for the project. OCBN is facilitating this process and bringing subject matter experts into the discussions.