BMW dealership parks plans to pave over neighbouring forest

After months of community pushback, an Ottawa car dealership has parked its planto expand into anearby forest.

Otto's BMWhad requested to extend its parking lot over approximately 1.57 hectares of the nearby forest at400 Hunt Club Rd. because the dealership was dealing with space issues, and needs more room to store and park cars.

The dealership has nowvoluntarily paused its zoning bylaw amendment application, which was set to go before Ottawa city council on Sept. 9, as it assesses other options.

Coun. Riley Brockington, whose ward includes the dealership and the neighbouring Hunt Club forest, says he's grateful the plan has been halted.

"I think you could have had a solution and not created this significant tension and conflict during a pandemic," said Brockington, who has been in talks withOtto's since their application was made public back in June.

'Struck at people's core'

Hesays other options have been on the table for a few months,andnow those are being seriously considered.

"When I met with them, I made it clear that there was city land in the vicinity. There's other private land in the vicinity that would meet their needs that would not in any way necessitate the removal of trees for that purpose," he said.

"I see public opposition all the time but this time was different. This really struck at people's core about how offensive this would have been had it proceeded."

People in the community organized protests, created online petitions and posted signs at the Hunt Club forest pleading to save the trees.

In an email, a spokesperson for the dealership says Otto's is committed to ensuring the appropriate measures in regards to community and environmental processes, and they are exploring all available options.