Also this week, Council approved Ottawa’s new Zoning By-law – a major update to the rules that guide what can be built across the city and how our communities grow. Council also adopted a wide package of accompanying changes, passing 20 of 21 motions that refined the final by-law through amendments and clear directions for follow-up work.

One of the motions that carried focuses on mineral aggregate and land-use compatibility: it directs staff to strengthen/clarify the terms of reference for technical studies for new or expanding aggregate operations near sensitive land uses, so studies explicitly demonstrate potential adverse effects are addressed in line with provincial guidance and within the appropriate “area of study/area of influence.”

In addition to the new zoning by-law, Council unanimously adopted a plan to eliminate or reduce the scope of 26 different studies that used to add time and cost to the housing process – I am committed to reducing red-tape and unnecessary work to help advance our housing goals.