Draft Official Plan Amendment

Centretown Secondary Plan

This study is available in English only and may be translated in whole or in part upon request. For more information, please contact Barbara Backland at 613 580 2424, extension 14953.

Schedule 1 - Land Use
Schedule 2 - Heritage Clusters
Schedule 3 - Maximum Building Heights
 

3.1 Location
 

This Chapter applies to the entire area bounded on the north by Gloucester Street and Lisgar Street, on the east by the Rideau Canal, on the south by the Queensway Freeway and on the west by Bronson Avenue. This area is known locally as Centretown.

3.2 Purpose

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a comprehensive Secondary Plan to guide future growth and change in Centretown. The Plan includes policies which relate to land use, zoning, building form and site development guidelines, heritage, transportation, community facilities, open space, and recreational and social services.

3.3 Goals and Objectives

3.3.1 Goals

a. To maintain and enhance the residential character of Centretown while allowing for a moderate increase in population.

b. To accommodate persons of all age groups, income levels, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles and household sizes wishing to live in Centretown with good quality, affordable housing.
c. To enhance Centretown as a diverse mixed-use neighbourhood that provides a range of employment, shopping, entertainment, community facilities as well as parks and open spaces to serve the residential community.
d. To achieve a better balance among walking, cycling, public transit and vehicular traffic modes while creating successful streets that act as shared public spaces.
e. To ensure new infill development is compatible with and minimizes impacts on the existing neighbourhood character.

3.3.2 Objectives

a. To protect, maintain and improve existing good quality housing.

b. To increase the amount of family housing throughout Centretown.
c. To provide housing that meets the needs of handicapped persons, senior citizens, single parent families and other groups with special needs.
d. To encourage innovative building and site development, which will contribute to the physical environment of the community and enhance the desirability of Centretown as a place to live.
e. To protect, preserve and encourage sensitive rehabilitation of buildings and areas of historical, architectural or cultural significance.
f. To protect residential areas from adverse effects of adjacent commercial development or major traffic routes.
g. To improve and revitalize the major commercial areas in Centretown.
h. To provide neighbourhood commercial facilities and services as well as employment opportunities for Centretown residents.
i. To maintain the small-shop character of neighbourhood commercial areas in Centretown.
j. To reduce the amount of through traffic in Centretown and minimize its effects on residential areas.
k. To allow for the improvement of the public transportation system and decrease reliance of the private automobile.
l. To develop a safe and attractive pedestrian and bicycle system between neighbourhoods.
m. To develop an environmentally acceptable and economic solution to residential and commercial parking problems.
n. To provide adequate utilities and municipal services to all land uses.
o. To provide adequate educational, recreational, social and cultural facilities and programming for all residents.
p. To provide adequate, accessible and innovative public open space to meet the needs of Centretown residents.
q. To protect and preserve existing trees and other desirable vegetation while undertaking new plantings where vegetative cover is insufficient.
r. To minimize and prevent air, water, noise and visual pollution in Centretown.
s. To provide a framework for the continuing involvement of the public in the planning process
 

3.3.3 Neighbourhood Concept and Future Population

It is intended that the residential character of Centretown be conserved and, wherever possible, improved. Where existing structures cannot be maintained or where demolitions have occurred, redevelopment will be encouraged in keeping with the Official Plan intensification and compatibility policies. Uses which are incompatible with the residential character will be restricted. Should redevelopment occur in accordance with the policies contained herein, the population of Centretown may increase by approximately 50%. This increase will support the residential character of the area and will benefit the employment, retail and other commercial uses within Centretown and the adjacent Central Area. An increase in population in Centretown will also benefit the City-wide distribution of population and result in a more efficient use of existing public services and facilities.

3.4 Policies

The policies contained within this Section are designed to achieve the goals and objectives defined in the previous Sections. The policies are of two types: those which control or restrict the use of land, the type and design of buildings and the arrangement of structures on sites, and those which permit or provide incentives to public and private investment. The former type is designed to prevent development which is incompatible with the goals and objectives for Centretown and to protect existing desirable structures, whereas the latter type is intended to encourage investment which enhances the residential character of the area.

Within Centretown there are several Character Areas (Northern, Central, Southern and Residential) as identified in the Centretown Community Design Plan. All neighbourhoods within these Character Areas will absorb some of the anticipated increase in population, though the Northern and Southern Character Area neighbourhoods are the most suitable for more significant intensification. All neighbourhoods will continue to accommodate both family and non-family households. Higher density/taller buildings will be directed to the Northern Character Area and along the Catherine Street corridor in the Southern Character Area. The low- to mid-rise Central Character Area (generally bounded by Kent Street on the west, Cooper/Maclaren Streets on the north, Elgin Street on the east and Argyle Avenue on the south) will exhibit slower and more incremental growth while the low–rise residential neighbourhoods generally east of Elgin Street and west of Kent Street will continue to be stable areas with limited change. Public services and amenities will be aimed at serving the needs of the residents who occupy the different neighbourhoods.
 

3.4.1 Land Use Policies

The policies of this Section relate to the regulation of certain uses within defined areas of Centretown. The effect of these policies is illustrated on Schedule H1- Centretown Land Use. Bronson Avenue has been excluded from the land use designations because it requires a separate study to address the entire length of its Traditional Mainstreet Official Plan designation from Gloucester Street to Carling Avenue.

Residential Areas
a) Residential Area shall include dwelling types ranging from detached houses, converted dwellings, retirement homes to high-rise apartment buildings in order to meet the housing needs of all ages, incomes and life circumstances. This category may also include community, minor retail and office uses which serve primarily the local area population but are not necessarily limited to only the geographic area of Centretown and existing uses which are an integral part of the area in which they are located.

The City of Ottawa recognizes the need for convenience stores located outside concentrated areas of commercial activity. Accordingly, the City will permit "corner stores" and "apartment tuck shops" provided that these stores do not detrimentally affect similar existing stores or a designated, but undeveloped commercial area, located within reasonable proximity.

Residential
b) The Residential designation includes stable areas where significant change is not expected. These areas are intended to include a variety of residential buildings, providing a range of housing for all lifestyles and family arrangements. Buildings or uses accessory to or compatible with these residential types will be considered. Infill may be considered if it is compatible in height, massing and scale with the surrounding built form .Maximum building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights.

Apartment Neighbourhood
c) Apartment Neighbourhood shall permit a variety of dwelling types, with the majority located in high-rise apartment buildings. Although dominated by residential uses, limited commercial uses in residential buildings are permitted. Non-residential uses are restricted to the first two floors and the basement and cannot occupy more than 50 % of the gross floor area. Buildings and uses accessory to or compatible with these residential types will be considered. Taller buildings must be built with podiums, step backs, minimum lot sizes, minimum tower separation distances and maximum tower floor plate sizes to avoid overshadowing and to integrate with the surrounding community. Transitions in maximum building heights will occur where the area borders low- and medium-rise residential areas. Maximum building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights.

Mixed Use
d) Mixed Use areas shall include a variety of commercial uses to serve both Centretown residents and residents of the Ottawa-Gatineau area as well as residential and institutional uses. Not all Mixed Use designations will support the same level of growth and mix of uses, with the highest level of growth along Catherine Street, moderate levels along Mainstreets, and less significant change in the Residential Mixed Use designation. Mix of uses will also range from predominantly commercial on the ground floors along Catherine and Traditional Mainstreets to predominantly residential in the Residential Mixed Use designation.

Residential Mixed Use
e) Residential Mixed Use areas include low and medium-rise residential, small-scale commercial (excluding restaurants) and institutional uses. Non-residential uses must be accommodated in a mixed-use building, with residential being the predominant use. Non-residential uses are restricted to the first two floors and the basement and cannot occupy more than 50 % of the gross floor area. Maximum building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights.

Traditional Mainstreet
f) Traditional Mainstreets shall include retail and other commercial uses that will appeal to both the local and regional markets. Pedestrian oriented commercial activity will present a continuous facade along street frontages. Office and residential uses willl be permitted above or in the rear portion of a building at the ground level. Mainstreets are linear in form and restricted to both sides of Bank Street, Elgin Street generally north of Gladstone Avenue and portions of Somerset Street. These designations recognize existing land use. Maximum building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights.
g) On Elgin Street a mix of commercial, institutional and residential uses will enhance the surrounding community by providing goods and services for the adjacent residents, downtown workers and tourists, the greater Centretown area and the city as a whole. Small-scale, street-oriented commercial establishments will contribute to a highly animated and attractive commercial street with a strong pedestrian presence. Also, an appropriate balance and mix of uses will be achieved and will capitalize on the city’s yearly festivals and special events, while not undermining the adjacent community. Community uses and churches along Elgin Street, such as the Jack Purcell Recreation Complex, Elgin Street Public School, and Minto Park, will complement the overall mix of uses and serve to enhance the street’s vitality by making it the focus of community activity. The area’s housing stock will be augmented with upper-floor residential units in an attempt to increase local resident activity on the street. Building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum

Building Heights.
h) The following policies apply to all development and redevelopment within the Elgin Street Traditional Mainstreet identified on Schedule "H":
i. Council shall identify and participate in the implementation of strategic intervention opportunities such as redevelopment opportunities through joint venture or development for the area, or potential financial or other incentives that can encourage or support the establishment of the desired uses. This might include exploration of parking opportunities and streetscape improvements.
ii. Council shall achieve a highly animated and attractive physical environment within the Elgin Street Commercial Area, consistent with the recommendations of the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy 2020, through streetscape improvements that would enhance the pedestrian environment and the street’s existing character and charm, and integrate this commercial area with the Central Area. Consideration will be given to the creation of building façade design guidelines to give direction and encouragement to owners to improve building facades.
iii. An Official Plan requirement for a road widening on each side of Elgin Street could result in a 2.5 metre right-of-way widening being requested at the time of redevelopment. This may not be entirely appropriate because Elgin Street is located in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District, and its buildings generally present a uniform continuity of façades. Also, there are numerous property owners, making it difficult to obtain the desired right-of-way. A streetscape plan to be prepared at a future date will identify potential locations where the road widening may be required to accommodate wider sidewalks, trees, street furniture, bus shelters and bicycle parking.

Secondary Mainstreet
i) Secondary Mainstreets shall include retail and other commercial uses which primarily serve the needs of the immediately surrounding local population as well as accommodating a variety of residential uses. Secondary Mainstreets are linear in form and are restricted to both sides of Gladstone Avenue west of Bank Street and portions of Somerset Street as shown on Schedule H1- Centretown Land Use. Retail uses are encouraged but not required at-grade. Maximum building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights.

Catherine Street Mixed Use Area
j) This area includes a variety of uses that may require a larger format/floor plate, including residential, large format office, retail, hotels, bulk good outlets, wholesale operations and other commercial operations which serve the needs of travellers, commuters and Centretown residents. Development will be encouraged to create a buffer between the Queensway to the south and the residential areas to the north through the use of a continuous podium. Maximum building heights will be limited as set out on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights and appropriate transition to lower-rise residential areas is essential. The streetscape along Catherine Street shall be improved.

Public/ Institutional Area
k) These areas shall include a wide variety of community uses including schools, parks, public utility installations, municipal facilities, community resource and health facilities and places of worship.

Open Space
l) This area includes two designations: Open Space–existing and Open Space-proposed. Open Space-existing includes the landscaped lands adjacent to the Rideau Canal owned by the National Capital Commission. This area shall provide open space and may include recreational facilities to meet the needs of both the residents of Centretown and the National Capital Region. Open Space – proposed includes new parks and open spaces proposed in Section 5.2 of the Centretown Community Design Plan.
 

3.4.2 Maximum Building Heights

Schedule H3 - Centretown Maximum Building Heights shows the maximum building heights that the City will consider appropriate for different areas of Centretown in order to ensure compatible development and to provide a transition in maximum permissible heights between different height zones. Where the existing maximum building heights in the Zoning By-law are lower than those shown on Schedule H3, any increase in height and/or density deemed suitable by the City through a rezoning process will be subject to Section 37 of the Planning Act.
 

3.4.3 Housing Policies

The following policies will be considered in the rehabilitation, development, and redevelopment of housing in Centretown.

Affordable Housing
a) In addition to the existing Official Plan affordable housing policies, the City shall include the provision of affordable housing units and conservation and replacement of rental housing, as possible Section 37 community benefits. A Centretown affordable housing fund shall be created and funded from Section 37 and Development Charges Reserve Fund contributions;
b) The City shall work with private developers to introduce home ownership programs to create affordable condominium units.

Protection of Rental Housing
c) The City shall undertake a review of the Demolition Control By-law to examine existing policies for replacement of rental units, focusing on affordability, tenure, rent controls and administration.
d) The City shall include heritage buildings designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and Category 1 and 2 buildings designated under Part V of the Act, as part of the rental conversion policy.

Assisted Housing
e) In recognition of the affordability problem encountered by many individuals and families in securing adequate housing, the City of Ottawa shall encourage and shall determine specific means to provide for a significant percentage of publicly assisted housing for persons and families of low to moderate income in new residential developments. The City of Ottawa may also purchase existing housing or assemble land for housing construction, as circumstances demand, in order to further the objectives of the Plan. Assisted housing will be made available to both renters and potential owners and will not be limited to any particular residential area.

Conservation, Rehabilitation and Redevelopment
f) The City of Ottawa shall study the impact of requiring the replacement of rental units that are demolished and shall encourage the retention and improvement of existing structures.
 

3.4.4 Heritage Policies

The City of Ottawa recognizes the value of heritage as a neighbourhood planning concern. The retention and revitalization of heritage buildings, structures, sites and environments within Centretown will:

• preserve irreplaceable architectural styles which provide character and variety essential to a vital urban environment;
• extend the economic life of existing buildings and reinforce the residential character of Centretown;
• strengthen the "sense of community" within Centretown.
• ensure that heritage structures are restored, reused and/or integrated into new development.

Heritage Areas
The City of Ottawa shall identify and designate areas of architectural, historical or cultural significance as Heritage Conservation Districts. These areas shall be protected from intrusion by incompatible land uses and undesirable traffic. The City of Ottawa shall prevent unnecessary demolition or insensitive alteration of individual buildings within these areas through such means as are available to the municipality and shall encourage rehabilitation wherever appropriate. Wherever redevelopment occurs, Council shall ensure that the design and landscaping of new buildings complement the character of the area. The City shall undertake an update of the Centretown Heritage Conservation District study to strengthen its use as a planning tool to better protect Centretown’s quality heritage resources.
The following policies address the heritage cluster areas shown on Schedule H2 – Centretown Heritage Clusters and are addition to the policies pertaining to H1 –Centretown Land Use

Heritage Commercial Areas
a) These areas shall include retail shops and a limited variety of other commercial uses suitable for buildings of heritage character and may include community or residential uses which complement or contribute to the commercial activity. Buildings included within these areas shall be considered to be of heritage value or as significant elements in the formation of Heritage Commercial Areas. Development and redevelopment of properties within these areas will be permitted. New development will be considered in terms of its form, scale and design to ensure that it complements and contributes to the heritage character of the area. Maximum building heights will be limited as shown on Schedule H3- Centretown Maximum Building Heights.

Heritage Residential Areas
b) These areas shall include a variety of residential buildings which are considered to be of heritage value and shall provide accommodation for family and non-family households. Heritage Residential Areas may include buildings or uses accessory to or compatible with these residential types. Development and redevelopment of properties within these areas will be permitted. New development will be considered in terms of its form, scale and design to ensure that it complements and contributes to the heritage character of the area. Maximum building heights will be limited.

Heritage Public/ Institutional Areas
c) These areas shall include places of worship and public institutional buildings and sites which are considered to have heritage value. Existing buildings should be retained and wherever possible, rehabilitated to more closely reflect their exterior heritage character.
 

3.4.5 Site Development Policies

The policies of this Section are designed to ensure that all development will enhance the physical environment of Centretown and will be compatible with adjacent existing uses. In addition to the following site development policies, the Centretown Community Design Plan building form guidelines shall apply to new development.

a) Development shall only be permitted where municipal and public utilities and services are available and where the development will not adversely affect the level of service available to existing development;
b) The scale, form, proportion and spatial arrangement of new development and redevelopment shall minimize visual intrusion on existing development and, wherever possible, shall contribute to the overall physical environment of Centretown;
c) Wherever redevelopment occurs the City shall encourage and determine specific means to ensure that the design of new buildings will be compatible with existing adjacent structures and that the landscaping will complement and contribute to the character of the residential areas.
d) All development will be landscaped to the satisfaction of the City of Ottawa. Generally, this landscaping will extend beyond the property line to the road, and wherever necessary, will serve as a buffer between non-compatible land uses. Existing landscape features including desirable trees and shrubs should be retained and incorporated into a landscape design which enhances both the new development and the surrounding environment;
e) All parking and loading areas shall be appropriately landscaped and screened from adjacent properties and roadways;
f) Development shall provide for pedestrian movement through or along the site as required by the City of Ottawa;
g) In general, new development shall minimize impacts on natural light, view and air circulation of existing adjacent development..
h) Minimum face-to-face separation distance between towers above 6 storeys shall be 18-20 metres. A small reduction in separation distances can be considered when towers on the same site are offset or an existing tower or tall slab building is located less than 9 metres from the property line. In this latter situation a minimum 9 metre setback from the adjacent property shall apply.
i) The design of facades and signs of buildings in concentrated commercial areas shall be designed to complement one another and shall provide a positive contribution to the overall physical environment of the area. Isolated commercial buildings in residential areas shall be designed to harmonize with the character of the areas within which they are built.
j) Public parking and loading areas shall be designed to minimize conflict with adjacent land use. Vehicular entrances and exits to parking lots and garages shall be designed to minimize the disruption of traffic flow on access roads and pedestrian circulation. Shared driveways and parking between adjacent lots/developments should be considered.
k) On Traditional Mainstreets and the Catherine Street Mixed Use Area, the minimum ground floor height shall be a minimum of 4.5m to encourage flexible retail uses and good visibility to the street.
 

3.4.6 Transportation Policies

Public Transportation

a) The City supports the increased use of public transit and will encourage improvements to the public transportation system such as appropriate transit priority measures and enhanced transit stops in an effort to decrease through traffic in Centretown, which will increase use of the public system and decrease reliance on the private automobile.

Road, Pedestrian and Cycling Networks
b) The City of Ottawa supports the concept of decreasing the volume and speed of through traffic in all neighbourhoods through “Road Diets” (reducing the amount and width of travel lanes dedicated to through traffic), traffic calming measures. Improvements will focus on increasing pedestrian safety, improving the quality of the pedestrian and cycling experiences through reallocating space for dedicated cycling lanes, wider sidewalks, broad planted boulevards and greening Centretown streets to create a more pleasant streetscape and public realm through such measures as:
• Applying the Official Plan right-of-way protection policies as set out in Section 4.2.2 of the Centretown Community Design Plan;
• Expanding the Centretown cycling network and undertaking of other cycling strategy initiatives as set out in the Ottawa Cycling Plan and the Centretown Community Design Plan;
• Establishing pedestrian priority streets, identified in the Community Design Plan, as priorities for pedestrian improvements and safer pedestrian crossings;
• Eliminating surface parking encroachments onto the public rights-of-way; and
• Undertaking a program of streetscape improvements for selected streets identified in the Community Design Plan.

Role of Metcalfe Street
c) The City of Ottawa shall redefine Metcalfe Street as a major civic boulevard and capital gateway that links the civic realm with the capital realm.
Parking
d) To encourage the development of strategically located public parking lots and garages adjacent to the Bank Street Traditional Mainstreet, developers of residential and commercial buildings may be permitted to develop more floor space than would normally be permitted where they provide public parking in excess of their requirements.
City Council shall:
• Review on-street parking rates to ensure appropriate balance between encouraging non-automobile travel while continuing to attract visitor and retail patrons who arrive by car.
• Undertake an inventory of existing parking spaces and current utilization.

Two - Way Street Conversions
e) Two-way Conversions - As part of a transportation network analysis, the City of Ottawa will review the effects of converting one-way north-south streets to two-way traffic. This analysis will consider the impacts on the existing Queensway ramping system and changes to the Queensway corridor proposed by the Ministry of Transportation as well as the priorities identified by the National Capital Commission Core Area Master Plan. The first priority street to be considered for conversion is Metcalfe Street, with later phases to consider Lyon as a second priority and O’Connor and Kent Streets as third priorities.
 

3.4.7 Open Space and Community Facility Policies

Streetscape Improvements

a) The City shall undertake streetscape, landscape and public realm improvements on Elgin, Catherine, Metcalfe, O’Connor and Somerset Streets, Gladstone Avenue, and on Cartier Street between Lisgar and Somerset as part of the capital budget for any road and infrastructure renewal program for these streets. Treatment shall also be required on the streets surrounding the Canadian Museum of Nature as proposed in the Targeted Strategy for the Metcalfe Gateway and Canadian Museum of Nature Block Restoration below.

Utilities
b) Hydroelectricity, natural gas, telephone and other utility systems will be extended wherever necessary to serve new development. In the interest of enhancing the physical environment of the inner city, the City will require all utilities to be installed underground and will support the burying of existing overhead wiring where feasible.

Schools
c) The City supports retaining existing Centretown schools as educational institutions. School buildings and the open space surrounding them are important facilities within the community and shall be used more intensively for recreation, social and cultural activities.

Open Space
d) The City recognizes the deficiency of useable open space areas in Centretown and the difficulty of obtaining additional open space in the community due to high land assembly costs. In the interests of increasing the amount and type of open space in Centretown, the City of Ottawa may create linear street parks utilizing portions of existing rights-of-ways. In addition, new parks and open spaces should be acquired by the City as proposed in the Centretown Community Design Plan, through parkland dedication and/or using various funding sources such as cash-in-lieu of parkland and Section 37 contributions. Existing parks shall be upgraded, with Jack Purcell Park as a priority, followed by the other parks in the neighbourhood.

The City of Ottawa shall encourage the National Capital Commission to develop the open space area adjacent to the Rideau Canal for both active and passive recreation in order to increase recreational opportunities for the residents of Centretown.

Open Space areas within and surrounding churches, schools, offices and other buildings should be utilized to their full open potential. Accordingly, the City, shall wherever desirable, enter into agreements with these public and private authorities with the objective of developing additional and compatible uses of existing open space lands.

Also in the interests of increasing useable open space in Centretown, the City of Ottawa shall prohibit vacant lands from being used for surface parking and shall require that vacant lands be appropriately landscaped for the interim period between demolition and redevelopment. Wherever desirable, the City of Ottawa shall lease vacant public or private land for park purposes. The City shall determine a protocol for reclaiming public rights-of-way when encroached on by surface parking lots.

Recreational and Community Health and Resource Services
e) The City supports the concentration of a number of recreation and meeting facilities in Community Centres. These centres may also include such community health and resource services as health and dental clinics, personal counselling services, legal aid, daycare, information and referral services and any other service which is best delivered at a neighbourhood level. The delivery of recreational and social services within Centretown shall be closely co-ordinated in order to avoid inefficiency and duplication.

The two existing Community Centres, McNabb and Jack Purcell, shall be maintained and complemented with additional facilities as required. A third Community Centre will be established in the northern part of Centretown to meet the needs of the existing and future population of the high-rise area. Also required are additional community meeting spaces, and outdoor recreation spaces (skateboard courts, basketball courts, etc.), as well as youth and seniors centres.
 

3.4.8 Targeted Strategies

City Council shall consider undertaking the following targeted strategies (see Annex 9) to implement the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy and the Centretown Community Design Plan:
 

Civic Street Beautification and Streetscaping
Elgin Street
a) A streetscaping plan for Elgin Street with enhancements that mirror the quality of Confederation Boulevard and improve the visual and pedestrian environment as first priority, with Catherine Street as the next priority for streetscape enhancements

O’Connor Street
b) A streetscaping plan for O’Connor Street tied to converting the street to two-way traffic

Somerset Street
c) A streetscaping plan for Somerset Street that complements and builds on the existing character of the street, including the Somerset Village BIA area.
Metcalfe Gateway and Canadian Museum of Nature Block Restoration
d) In collaboration with the National Capital Commission, a restoration plan for the Metcalfe Gateway and the Canadian Museum of Nature block, including:
i. Elimination of the Metcalfe Street continuation between McLeod Street and Argyle Avenue to create a single expanded park space;
ii. Re-landscaping the park to a significantly higher standard as per the 2003 Public Works-Government Services Canada study;
iii. Special streetscape treatment for the Metcalfe/McLeod intersection to create a public gathering space at the front entrance to the museum;
iv. Reconstruction of Metcalfe Street as a civic boulevard, including street trees, special paving, lighting, co-ordinated street furniture and traffic calming measures (as determined by a downtown transportation study), at key intersections; and,
v. In collaboration with the National Capital Commission, consideration of an improved alternative scenic access system from the Queensway and Elgin Street to the Queen Elizabeth Driveway.

Open Space Program
e) An acquisition program for small open spaces, including working with property owners to provide open space accessible to the community in accordance with Policy 3.4.8f) above. Priority sites are corner locations along Metcalfe Street at Somerset and Lisgar, along O’Connor Street at Gilmour, Lisgar and Nepean, corner lots along Kent Street, and along Bank Street, particularly at the intersection of Bank and McLeod Streets.
Two-Way Conversion Pilot Study
f) Undertake a pilot study to examine the conversion of Metcalfe Street to two-way traffic.

3.5 Section 37 and Community Benefits

In addition to the Section 37 community benefits listed in Section 5.2.11 of the Official Plan, in Centretown the following additional benefits will be considered in return for increases in height and/or density.

• Physical and program improvements to parks and open space
• Upgrades to community centre exterior and interior recreational facilities
• Streetscape improvements
• Transportation improvements limited to transit, cycling and pedestrian supportive infrastructure
• Other benefits as identified that qualify as Section 37 community benefits.
 

3.6 Citizen Involvement

The City recognizes the role of citizens and citizens groups in implementing many aspects of the Plan and supports their continued involvement in the planning process. In particular, the City supports the efforts of the Centretown Citizens' (Ottawa) Corporation in providing affordable housing in the community.
 

3.7 Interpretation

This Chapter establishes broad principles to guide future development in Centretown. Schedule H1 - Centretown Land Use is intended to illustrate certain aspects of the Plan and shall be considered as approximate rather than absolute. The boundaries between the various classes of land use are general only and are not intended to define the exact limits of a land use area.