Council approves 22-storey tower for former Trailhead site

Ottawa city council has approved a new 22-storey building at 1960 Scott St., the site of the old Trailheadstore near the Westborotransit station.

A developer wants to build atower with retail on the ground floor, offices on floors two through six, and residential units on the top 16 floors.

That's despite existing zoning for the location that callsfor a maximum of sixstoreys. Duringpublic consultations, the city received two comments from people in favour of it and 57 opposed.

"It just strengthens the cynicism people feel about the integrity of our planning process," said Kitchissippi councillor Jeff Leiper. "It's great to develop these plans but people question, 'Is there really any intention on the part of council to defend those?'"

Seven councillorsreject project

Leiperappealed to his council colleagues Wednesday to reject the project, but only six others joined him:DavidChernushenko, RileyBrockington, CatherineMcKenney,TobiNussbaum, MathieuFleuryand Diane Deans.

Mayor Jim Watson said he was disappointed that councillors who tend to advocate for a city that is friendly to pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders would dissent on a project that is right across the street from the future light rail station.

The city has been clear about its philosophy, Watson said.

It's the wild west. (Intensification) is being accomplished in ad-hoc, one-off fashion. That's not good planning- Coun. Jeff Leiper

"I have no hesitation,and I think you saw a fairly large number of councillors say, 'If we're not going to have density around a transit station, good luck to us trying to get density around any of the transit stations,'" said Watson.

Leipersaidmost residents recognized the need for buildingheights above the existingsix-storeylimit, but arguedthe proposed22-storeybuilding did not provide a reasonabletransitionto the adjacent residential neighbourhood.

He's looking for an updated,long-term planning blueprint for Westboro, otherwise he fears more towers will transform its streets.

Intensification should be thoughtful, said Leiper.

"Right now what we're seeing is not thoughtful. It's the wild west. It's being accomplished in ad-hoc, one-off fashion. That's not good planning," Leiper told CBC News.