780 Baseline Rd | 78/78/102m | 24/24/32f | U/C

[J.OT13]

This one kind of perplexes me," said Tierney. "We keep talking about building more homes and we don't seem to want to truly support it. So I'm a little confused."

You perplex me Tim. You're voting record is all over the place. Weren't you supposed to only serve two terms?

[Richard Eade]

My opinion: If the Federal Government wants to restrict the height of buildings surrounding the Experimental Farm, then the Federal Government must purchase a buffer around its farm and develop that as it wants. Since the surrounding land is still privately held, then the owners must be free to develop it as permitted by Municipal Zoning Regulations and Provincial Building Codes. Many people have found that there is no guaranty that a neighbour can't block the sun. It is no different for The Farm.

[J.OT13]

Yeah, it's a little hard to restrict what can be built in areas such as Carling and Baseline when we've so far made it clear to developers they can build ANYTHING they want, as long as it's 32 floors or under. Unless you're Claridge. Then your limit is 45 floors.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

So has this been limited to just the one tower at 24 floors?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

So has this been limited to just the one tower at 24 floors?

That is staff's recommendation, but I assume the City will approve the entire project anyway.

[Harley613]

Am I crazy, or would it not be better to ask developers for MORE height around the farm. Wouldn't a single 55 story point tower on a large midrise podium create significantly less 'farm-killing' shadows than three fat squat Ottawa Specials, while containing a similar unit count?

The developer says the project is not viable without the original unit count. Is this not the solution?!?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Am I crazy, or would it not be better to ask developers for MORE height around the farm. Wouldn't a single 55 story point tower on a large midrise podium create significantly less 'farm-killing' shadows than three fat squat Ottawa Specials, while containing a similar unit count?

The developer says the project is not viable without the original unit count. Is this not the solution?!?

You're entirely correct. But you know, box.

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

You're entirely correct. But you know, box.

But what about the Children!?!?

[RogueNacho]

What's wrong with just building missing middle housing here? Does every single new project proposed in Ottawa always have to be a 24-30 storey tower? What's so wrong with just a tight cluster of 4-9 storey buildings? They're more appealing from a human scale, a lighter burden on local infrastructure, easier to swallow for city staff and local NIMBY residents, and there would be no shadow concerns for the farm.

I don't believe for a second that the project can't be financially viable with anything less than the originally proposed unit count. Of course the developer is going to say that, since they clearly want to maximize their profits by cramming as many units on their land as they can get away with. If it were the case, then we'd never see anything less than 20 stories get built in this city.

[zzptichka]

I personally won't lose sleep over towers surrounded by empty fields and zero amenities, even if there is a BRT nearby that may or may never be built.

[Williamoforange]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

What's wrong with just building missing middle housing here? Does every single new project proposed in Ottawa always have to be a 24-30 storey tower? What's so wrong with just a tight cluster of 4-9 storey buildings? They're more appealing from a human scale, a lighter burden on local infrastructure, easier to swallow for city staff and local NIMBY residents, and there would be no shadow concerns for the farm.

I don't believe for a second that the project can't be financially viable with anything less than the originally proposed unit count. Of course the developer is going to say that, since they clearly want to maximize their profits by cramming as many units on their land as they can get away with. If it were the case, then we'd never see anything less than 20 stories get built in this city.

Simple, to meet the density requirements at that lower height you need more projects built and more more land open to the higher Heights.... None of which are even part of the conversation of lowering the allowed Heights at either this location or the one on Carling.

Feel free to talk to the local nimby councillors about opening up the low density land behind to mid-rise, Buti don't think that's going to go far.

Also lastly, the access to info data shows that most of the CEF claims for this are nothing but B.S, and that the CEF wouldn't accept density even in lower Heights.

[Ottawacurious]

Originally Posted by Harley613

And let's invest then in vertical farming research.
https://www.hausvoneden.com/urban-living/urban-gardening-vertical-farming-two-future-concepts/

[ponyboycurtis]

I mean.. there are what.. like 8-10 duplexes rebuilt between PoW and Merivale?

Not one of those properties could have been even made into a 3 or 4 floor walkup?

This entire cities noodle is cooked and ditto for everyone in it making decisions of any sort.

You could have added a hundred units without impinging on anyone's anything and yet here we were twidling our dingies.

Neither the city council or developers or residents have anyone's best interest in mind. This is all a massive pile of BS. Shadows... JFC.

I'm driving down Baseline road daily right now and I'll I see are a SEA of TOWERS.. MARCHING ... all around it. Just build the fucking towers and the BRT and move into the 21st century. How is this even up for discussion.

[user196]

This one got approved.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by user196

This one got approved.

The three towers, or just the one?

[Harley613]

Ohhh Noooo.. 137 years of precious experimental agricultural research is all going to grind to a screeching halt because of a few extra minutes of shade on sunny summer mornings!!! Get ready for mass starvation, Canada!

[user196]

My bad, they approved the zoning, but the site plan control is still active

[rocketphish]

Towers poised for approval despite concerns they'll spoil farm research
Development will have 'deleterious and irreparable effects' on the Central Experimental Farm, scientists argue

Elyse Skura · CBC
Posted: Jan 27, 2024 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago



Three high-rise buildings could soon tower over Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm after city planners decided the shadows they'll cast won't compromise the agricultural research conducted there.

In Novermber, city councillors approved one 24-storey tower to be built at 780 Baseline Rd., but they put off a decision on two others — at 24 and 32 storeys tall — to allow for more discussion with concerned scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

"It was a lot of work, a lot of efforts on behalf of our group and AgCanada," said Joey Theberge, owner of proponent Theberge Homes. "I think it's a good outcome that was a good compromise between both parties."

But a report by city staff shows a rift remains.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/to...ns-they-ll-spoil-farm-research-1.7096036

[Westbro]

Good! The federal government eithers needs to "shit or get off the pot" when it comes to trying to block towers near the central experimental farm.

In the open lay out what would be acceptable and where. I thought these were scientists for gods sake. If it is an existential threat to the farm then present where and what level of shadow impacts things.

Right now it sounds like they are just trying to wrap NIMBY arguments in a science blanket.

[Richard Eade]

I agree. There are several things that can be done by The Farm, if there is truly an issue with the added shadows.

• First one being BUY a buffer strip that completely surrounds the farm area, and manage what gets built within that buffer.
• Alternatively, switch the field allocation so that the affected fields get plants that either require a bit less direct sun, or are being tested to see how they grow in more urban environments.
• And, of course, the third option is to live with it.

I wonder if The Farm is also concerned about the tree height within the “Shelterbelt” that they requested. Apparently, many metres of the fields that border Baseline Road are not very good for growing, since there is a lot of salt-spray that happens during the winter. This is why The Farm was willing to transfer the band of land for the road’s widening to accommodate the BRT and complete street reconfiguration. However, The Farm also asked for an additional “Shelterbelt” of trees and shrubs to be added by the city, at the city’s expense. It is hoped that such a buffer will reduce salt contamination further into the fields.

However, it makes me wonder how much of the fields are actually going to be negatively affected by the building shadows. Since the plant growing happens in the spring, summer, and fall, when the sun is relatively high; and the shadows are shortest; and a large chunk of the most affected areas will be converted to road lanes, MUP, and treed areas.

As many-a-folk has been told, when they have tried to block projects because of shadows – The sun that reaches your garden today is not guarantied to be there tomorrow.