1.9 Sandy Hill West

Conceptual Image: Sandy Hill West

1.9.1 Vision

Heritage Residential Neighbourhood

In the future, Sandy Hill West will remain an attractive, heritage residential predominantly low profile neighbourhood which integrates well with the Central Area east of the Canal and with the adjacent Sandy Hill neighbourhood. Residents of this neighbourhood will be attracted by, and enjoy he ambience of its heritage setting, as well as the benefits of its convenient location abutting Rideau Street and the Central Business District, and the nearby Rideau/Congress Centre and Lowertown (By Ward Village) areas.

Heritage Focus

The rich heritage fabric of Sandy Hill West will serve as the focus of this special neighbourhood, and will be protected and enhanced through its designation as a Heritage Conservation District. New infill development will be sensitive to the low profile character and unique features of nearby heritage buildings, protecting the ambience and livability of the area.

Transition

Along the north side of Besserer Street, medium to higher profile mixed use development will provide an appropriate transition between the heritage district to the south and the node of higher profile development along the east end of Rideau Street. This infill development will be sensitively designed and contain a mix of uses, including a theatre district on the north side of Besserer Street which connects the Ottawa Little Theatre with the Arts Court arts and cultural centre and visitor-oriented uses in the Rideau/Congress Centre area.

Pedestrian Environment

Pedestrians walking through Sandy Hill West will enjoy striking views of heritage buildings and churches along a pleasant system of enhanced pedestrian corridors, identified with attractive landscaping and streetscape elements which are sensitive to the architectural character of the area. Improved pedestrian links, including an enhanced urban experience along Cumberland Street with new streetscaping and traffic management improvements, and inviting, safe crossings of Waller Street and King Edward Avenue, will promote pedestrian movement between Sandy Hill West and surrounding areas such as the Rideau/Congress Centre Area, the University of Ottawa, and Sandy Hill east of King Edward Avenue. People will enjoy strolling along Daly Avenue; its fine streetscape of heritage buildings connecting with a similar heritage streetscapes in Sandy Hill. [Amendment 24, May 25, 2005]

Heritage Landmarks

The concentration of religious institutions will continue to be a focal point for Sandy Hill West, with the four striking heritage churches serving as visual landmarks and playing an important role in this small neighbourhood's exemplary provision of social services, such as drop-in centres.

Leisure Uses Spaces

A special emphasis will be placed on reforestation, by protecting and significantly adding to the area's street trees, while establishing new green open spaces and pedestrian amenity areas which are lacking in Sandy Hill West. The provision of small open spaces in association with new development particularly in the southeast part of the area, and along pedestrian corridors, will be considered a priority. The neighbourhood will also continue to rely upon the community centres, health clinics, parks and sportsfields of nearby neighbourhoods, as well as the open space amenity of the nearby Canal Area.

Improved Traffic Circulation

Improvements to traffic circulation in the Central Area east of the Canal, such as the opening of Rideau Street to accommodate automobiles, will reduce traffic impacts within Sandy Hill West and improve its livability. In particular, the removal of through truck traffic when appropriate alternative truck routes become available, will result in a quieter, safer environment.

Infill development on the south side of Stewart Street in the adjacent University of Ottawa area will recognize the special character of Sandy Hill West by providing street-oriented development that contributes to a better integration and an effective transition between the two areas. Sandy Hill West will continue to be a popular residential neighbourhood for primarily small households who appreciate its heritage ambience, its enhanced livability and its convenient location near the University of Ottawa, Rideau Street, and the Rideau/Congress Centre. [Amendment 24, May 25, 2005]

1.9.2 Objectives

Predominantly Heritage Residential Neighbourhood

    1. To strengthen and promote Sandy Hill West, as designated on Schedule B - Character Areas and Theme Streets, as a low profile, heritage residential neighbourhood.

Protect Heritage

    1. To protect and enhance the heritage residential character of Sandy Hill West and ensure that new development is sensitive to, and complements the heritage residential qualities of the area.

Improve Liability

    1. To improve and enhance the residential livability of Sandy Hill West, by providing leisure-serving open spaces and amenity areas and ensuring appropriate environmental improvements.

1.9.3 Policies

Residential Neighbourhood

    1. City Council shall permit and favour all types of residential uses in Sandy Hill West, including bed and breakfast facilities, in order to contribute to the vitality of the Central Area east of the Canal.

Limited Commercial

    1. City Council shall limit the extent of commercial uses in Sandy Hill West in accordance with the following criteria in order to maximize the area's residential function and to protect its residential character:
      1. on the north side of Besserer Street, commercial, residential and other appropriate uses which complement the Rideau Street Central Business District and provide a transition to the residential uses to the south; and
      2. on the south side of Besserer Street, predominantly residential uses shall be provided, with limited commercial uses, such as professional offices; and
      3. in the heritage commercial area at Daly and Waller Streets, limited commercial, and optional residential and public uses; and
      4. in the heritage commercial area on the north side of Laurier Avenue East between Cumberland Street and Ring Lane, limited commercial uses which serve the surrounding neighbourhood.

Theatre District

    1. City Council shall support the evolution of a theatre district and/or arts/cultural district along the north side of Besserer Street, which connects, and creates a transition between the Ottawa Little Theatre and Arts Court in the Rideau/Congress Centre area. In support of this concept, City Council shall respect the residential character of Sandy Hill West and the Central Business District uses of Rideau Street, while encouraging visitor-oriented uses at grade.

Protect Heritage

    1. City Council shall ensure the protection, enhancement and conservation of the heritage resources in Sandy Hill West, by ensuring that new development respects, and is sensitive to nearby heritage. City Council shall pursue the designation of buildings in Sandy Hill West as a Heritage Conservation District, and the adoption of design guidelines.

Profile of Development

    1. City Council shall ensure that development in Sandy Hill West respects its low profile heritage character, contributes to a sense of human scale, and provides an appropriate transition to individual heritage buildings and to surrounding areas. In particular, City Council shall:
      1. ensure predominantly low profile development which respects, creates a building profile transition, and is sensitive to, nearby heritage buildings;
      2. permit medium profile development on the south side of Besserer Street, which provides an appropriate building profile transition to the predominantly low profile heritage area to the south; and
      3. permit medium to high profile development on the north side of Besserer Street which provides transition to the node of high profile development permitted at the east end of Rideau Street.

Residential Livability

    1. City Council shall undertake to improve and ensure the residential livability of Sandy Hill West and shall, when reviewing plans for development, have regard to the design criteria in Ottawa Official Plan Sections 2.5.1 and 3.6.6. In particular, City Council shall take into account the following in the implementation of this policy:
      1. the creation of a human scale, and setting back the upper stories of high to medium profile buildings in accordance with Policy e) above;
      2. the provision of adequate privacy and sunlight for residential units;
      3. the provision of usable private and common outdoor and/or indoor amenity areas;
      4. the provision of a tree planting corridor/area; and
      5. the creation of an identifiable entrance, and a strong transition from the public right-of-way.

Leisure Resources

    1. City Council shall promote the retention and improvement of existing leisure resources. Wherever possible, the addition of pedestrian amenity areas and green open spaces shall be provided. In the fulfillment of this policy, City Council shall promote, and take into account the following:
      1. the promotion, negotiation and facilitation of a joint-use active recreation space on the southern portion of the St. Joseph's Elementary School site, and the St. Joseph's Church site located in the central portion of the block bounded by Wilbrod, Cumberland, Laurier, and King Edward Avenue, together with the Separate School Board and the appropriate Oblate officials;
      2. the enhancement of Ring Street with hard and soft landscaping as a pedestrian link to the above recreation space, while accommodating necessary vehicular movement; and
      3. the provision of small pedestrian amenity areas, through the site plan control approvals process, linking the area generally on a southeast/northwest diagonal and connecting with adjacent Character Areas and Theme Streets.

Pedestrian Environment

    1. City Council shall promote the enhancement of the pedestrian environment in Sandy Hill West, through such measures as:
      1. the designation and enhancement of pedestrian corridors with appropriate streetscaping treatment and elements which are sensitive to, and complement the heritage character and architectural context of the area; and
      2. the introduction of small pedestrian amenity areas and open spaces in accordance with Policy g), above.
      3. traffic calming focused around Laurier Avenue and Waller Street. [Amendment 24, May 25, 2005]

Views

    1. City Council shall protect and enhance significant views from public rights-of-way in Sandy Hill West, such as those of existing churches in the area, St. Brigid's Church in Lowertown (By Ward Village), and Arts Court in the Rideau/ Congress Centre area.

Through Truck Traffic

    1. City Council, in support of Policy f) above, shall ensure the eventual removal of through truck traffic as appropriate alternative routes become available, in order to achieve a quieter and safer living environment.

Short-term Parking

    1. City Council may permit, on the north side of Besserer Street west of Cumberland Street, sensitively designed short-term parking facilities integrated within mixed use development which may serve the adjacent Rideau Street and/or Rideau/Congress Centre areas. City Council shall ensure that traffic generated by such facilities does not exceed the capacity of connecting roadways, and shall also minimize potential vehicular impacts on nearby residential uses.

Targeted Strategies

    1. City Council shall consider undertaking the following targeted strategies (see Annex 10) to implement the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy:
      1. King Edward South Beautification - a streetscaping plan for King Edward Avenue adjacent to the Sandy Hill West Character Area (as part of a larger streetscaping plan extending from Rideau Street to Mann Avenue), including street tree planting, lighting, landscaping, sidewalk enhancement, public art, street furniture and landscaping;
      2. Cumberland Street Beautification - a streetscaping plan for Cumberland Street, including paving, lighting, street furniture, street tree planting, landscaping and a special intersection treatment at Laurier, in order to enhance the street’s role as the main pedestrian and cycling route to Rideau Street from the University;
      3. Urban Grid Reconstruction Area: Nicholas/Laurier/ MacKenzie/ Waller/Rideau - as part of a downtown transportation study, traffic calming and intersection treatments along the southeastern edge of the Character Area (including Nicholas/ Waller to improve the pedestrian environment and access through the area. [Amendment 24, May 25, 2005]
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