OttawaThe Ottawa International Airport Authority is taking the city to the Ontario Land Tribunal to challenge approval of 660 homes near its longest runway.Case goes to Ontario Land Tribunal after airport warns noise will infuriate future residents Listen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.An Air Canada flight approaches the runway at the Ottawa International Airport on June 18. (Michel Aspirot/CBC)The Ottawa International Airport Authority is appealing the city’s decision to approve a development that would put hundreds of homes under a busy flight path. City councillors voted in June to approve zoning changes in support of Taggart Realty’s plan to build 660 homes near the corner of Riverside Drive and Hunt Club Road, only 950 metres from the end of the airport’s longest runway. Before the decision, an airport executive warned councillors that the constant noise would provoke complaints from future residents, who might one day organize and demand limits to flight operations.The airport authority is now taking the city to the Ontario Land Tribunal, a provincial body that hears appeals of municipal planning decisions.The site at 3930 and 3960 Riverside Dr. as it appeared in June. (Michel Aspirot/CBC)The tribunal has scheduled a case management conference on the matter for Tuesday. Case management conferences typically try to narrow the issues in dispute, pin down facts the two sides agree upon and discuss possible settlements to the case.”It’s the Airport Authority’s position that residential development this close to the airport is not in the best interest of potential residents or airport stakeholders,” airport authority spokesperson Krista Kealey told CBC in an emailed statement. “The Authority has been clear and consistent in its position. And while it’s unfortunate that the file has progressed to this stage, we will continue to follow due process.”In a notice of appeal, the airport’s lawyer argued that the zoning changes council approved are not consistent with provincial policy that protects airport operations from incompatible land uses.The airport says noise levels over part of the site would exceed the threshold set by Transport Canada, beyond which residential development should not proceed.Its notice further argues that the approved building heights would violate the airport’s federal zoning regulations. It says that could lead to “serious potential aviation safety concerns.”The project foresees construction of four towers between nine and 17 storeys, as well as townhouses and single-family homes. Towers were already allowed on the site under existing zoning rules, but the changes council passed in June were required for the lowrise portions of the development.The proposed development at 3930 and 3960 Riverside Dr. involves four towers, as well as townhouses and single-family homes. (CSW Landscape/City of Ottawa)When the approval came to council’s planning and housing committee, city lawyer Tim Marc told councillors that there would be “a heavy onus” on the airport if they tried to challenge the decision.The Taggart development site lies just outside the airport’s operating influence zone where residential development is restricted due to noise. It lies within the larger airport vicinity development zone, which allows residential development but imposes height limits.The project is in River ward, represented by Coun. Riley Brockington, who told CBC on Monday that he and the local community association have supported the development.”The airport has the right to appeal,” he said. “They have their right to argue their case at the tribunal, as will the city, and ultimately the provincial tribunal will make a decision. But we have neighbourhoods that abut the airport north, south, east and west, that have coexisted for some time.”We want to see more housing built in the city,” Brockington said.ABOUT THE AUTHORArthur White-Crummey is a reporter at CBC Ottawa. He has previously worked as a reporter in Saskatchewan covering the courts, city hall and the provincial legislature. You can reach him at arthur.white-crummey@cbc.ca.
Ottawa airport appeals city approval of homes under flight path
