Drive-through Facilities Study

A drive-through facility is defined as a premises used to provide products or services through an attendant, window or an automated machine to persons remaining in vehicles in a queuing space.

Background

Currently, the Official Plan and Zoning By-law permit drive-through facilities in commercial zones which are typically located on the edge of villages. They do not generally permit drive-through facilities in village core areas or mainstreets.

On March 24, 2010, City Council approved Official Plan amendment No. 84 (staff report).This amendment provided new policies for the Central Area and Village designations stating that drive-through facilities will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances through a site-specific zoning by-law amendment. A commitment was made to develop new policies to guide the evaluation of these site-specific zoning amendments.

Study Objectives

In order to develop these new policies, the Official Plan has directed that a study be done. The study will consider the following factors:

1. Reinforcing historical character of the village
2. Encouraging pedestrian-friendly streetscape
3. Compatibility of development’s size and scale
4. Identification of the most suitable village areas
5. Meeting objectives in the Official Plan’s Urban Design and Compatibility guidelines – Section 2.5.1 and Section 4.11.

Study Process

Staff will visit and evaluate the core area of each of the villages in the early spring of 2011. Consideration will be given to the above principles and to the particular context in each village core.

Next Steps

Draft policies have been made available for review during the spring and summer of 2011. Following this consultation process, the new policies will be added to the Official Plan through the Official Plan amendment process. The Official Plan amendment report is expected to go to City Council in the second quarter of 2012.

Until the study is completed, the policies regarding drive-through facilities for traditional mainstreets apply with the necessary village modifications. If the study is not completed and implemented through an Official Plan Amendment by March 24, 2013, drive-through facilities will become a permitted use in village cores and mainstreets.

Contact:

For further information regarding this issue contact:

Carol Ruddy
Planner
Planning and Growth Management
Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
613-580-2424, ext. 28457
E-mail: carol.ruddy@ottawa.ca