Lansdowne appeals go before municipal board

Three appeals before the Ontario Municipal Board over the rezoning of Lansdowne Park are set to be heard Monday, a month after the city reached a settlement with many of the opponents of the redevelopment of the sports and recreation site.

The OMB was originally set to hear from 13 groups over rezoning of Lansdowne, but in April the city and developers agreed to a mediated settlement with 10 of the groups.

The settlement will be presented to the OMB commissioner during Monday's hearing, said Roger Greenberg, a partner in Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, the developer behind the redesigned Lansdowne plan.

Greenberg says while three complaints remain to be heard, he is satisfied last month's settlement with the Glebe Community Association, Old Ottawa South Community Association and other groups will clear the way for the plan to move forward.

"Our view is that reaching a settlement with the three main organizations, that was a major hurdle overcome," said Greenberg.

The settlement removed mid-rise buildings from Holmwood Avenue, capped the heights of other buildings and capped residential development at 280 units, added some traffic restrictions and set aside park space at Bank Street and Holmwood Avenue.

But John Rive, one of three remaining private individuals expected to appear before the OMB on Monday, said his objections have little to do with the look of the project and more to do with how it was pushed through.

"OMB is not interested in what I think of the project the way it's proposed," said Rive. "They're interested in seeing if the city followed its own rules, and in this case shortcuts were taken that don't conform."

Rive said he hopes the OMB will agree with him that the city can't rezone without changing its official plan, which would mean a new round of public consultation.

The city voted last June to form a public-private partnership with OSEG to renovate Lansdowne Park. Under the deal, OSEG will oversee renovations of Frank Clair Stadium, and build a mix of condominium and retail space in the rest of the park.

A legal challenge by the group Friends of Lansdowne is also due to start in June.

The city maintains, however, that construction at Lansdowne is set to begin the same month.