Vars
Village Review Public Workshop Summary
Drive-Through Project
Fall 2011 Meeting
was held September 28, 2011.
For further details, please contact
Robin van de Lande
at 613-580-2424, ext. 43011.
Vision Statement
Introduction
The Village Plan Review project will evaluate and update the existing Official Plan policies, which guide development for all villages including the Village of Vars. A Village Plan analysis and Village Profile has been completed for Vars to evaluate the existing policy and development situation in the village.
Village Plan Analysis
The City of Ottawa Village Secondary Plan policies for Vars were extracted from the former City of Cumberland Official Plan that existed prior to amalgamation. These policies were originally approved in the 1990s and need to be updated. It is recommended that the policies which apply to Vars be consolidated with the other six sets of village Township policies to create a consistent set of City of Ottawa policies which would apply equally to all villages without an independent plan. This recommended approach will eliminate the need for six separate Township policies and create a policy structure which is similar to what currently exists in Volume 1 of the Official Plan. This approach will alleviate overlap between the existing Township policy documents and create a consistent and easy to read set of Secondary Plan policies to guide future growth in the villages.
In addition to the Official Plan policy structure which applies to Vars, the village has also completed a Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI). The NPI is an integrated planning process that links land use, community services and infrastructure planning to improve the overall quality of life for residents today and in the future. The NPI establishes a number of implementation measures which are related to land use planning. These land use measures will be evaluated as part of the review of village Secondary Plan policies.
Link to the Existing Plan
Former City of Cumberland Official Plan
Village Profile
Vars has a population of 1,074 and there are 76.3 ha of vacant land with a potential for approximately 241 additional homes.
Population and Dwelling Units (2010)
Population 1074
Dwelling Units 364
* Source: Planning and Growth Management Department
Employment (2006)
Major Sector |
Total Employment |
|---|---|
Construction |
3 |
Retail |
10 |
Transportation and Warehousing |
7 |
Information and Cultural |
1 |
Real Estate and Rental Leasing |
6 |
Business, Building Support Services |
2 |
Professional and Scientific Services |
2 |
Education |
15 |
Health and Social Services |
26 |
Accommodation and Food |
11 |
Other Services |
5 |
Total |
88 |
* Source: Employment Survey 2006
New Units Built
2001 - 2005 |
2006 - 2010 |
2001 - 2010 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single |
Row |
Apt |
Total |
Single |
Row |
Apt |
Total |
|
56 |
0 |
0 |
56 |
37 |
0 |
3 |
40 |
96 |
* Source: Building Permits
Development Potential (2010)
Vacant land = 76.3 ha
Potential for 241 dwelling units
*Source: Rural Residential Land Survey 2007-2008 updated with 2009/2010 building permit data and average lot size
Servicing
The village of Vars is serviced by a communal well and private individual septic systems.
Land Use (2010)
*Source: Land Use Survey 2010
The information on Official Plan Rural Review project maps forms only a part of an overall 2010 City of Ottawa land use map. Updated information for both rural and urban areas will be released in the summer of 2011.
Community Characterization
Facilities |
Events |
|---|---|
Vars Community Centre/Alcide Trudeau Park |
Vars Canada Day |
St. Guillaume Catholic Church |
Vars Winter Carnival |
Fire Station |
|
St. Andrews Anglican Church |
|
St. Guillaume Elementary Catholic School |
Proposed Changes
Consolidate the existing six sets of Township Official Plan policy – which applies to 20 villages – into one consistent set of City of Ottawa, Secondary Plan policy to apply equally to all villages without an independent plan.
The spring 2011 public consultation session will help to inform the new consolidated Secondary Plan for villages. This session will:
- Discuss the NPI vision statement for the village
- Discuss identified land use recommendations from the NPI which need to be addressed in specific policy in the Secondary Plan document
- Comment on an updated Land Use Schedule for the village.
Next Steps
Staff anticipate going back to the public in the fall of 2011 with the results of the spring public consultation sessions and to present the recommended Official Plan amendment to adopt new consolidated and improved village Secondary Plan policies and schedules.
Following the fall public consultation, Staff anticipate taking a report to Committee and Council in late 2011 to report public consultation concerns and present recommend updates to the Official Plan – Volume 2C (Village Plans).
Need More Information?
Frequently Asked Questions
- How did the Village Review planning initiative get started?
- Where are the City’s Village Plans found?
- What is the Village Review planning initiative?
- What Villages are part of the Villages Review?
- What processes have already occurred as part of the Village Review?
- How is the project connected to the Drive Thru project?
- How can the community get involved in the Village Review?