Heritage Ottawa supports the position of scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada that shadows cast by Phase 2 of the currently proposed tower development at 780 Baseline Road will have a significant negative impact on the scientific research of the Central Experimental Farm — a National Historic Site of Canada whose designation is largely based on the importance its research. To date, a majority of councillors on the Planning and Housing Committee have taken the position that their pledge to build housing takes greater importance.
The Central Experimental Farm is where important environmental scientific experiments are conducted. For instance, the Farm conducts experiments on the impact of climate change on agriculture, and studies crop yields and soil biodiversity critical to Canada and the world's ability to grow food. Scientists and citizens will have one more chance to voice concerns at Ottawa's Planning and Housing Committee meeting this Wednesday, January 31. Contact chair Jeff.Leiper@ottawa.ca
Heritage Ottawa's letter to the Committee follows.
Heritage Ottawa to Planning & Housing Committee
31 January 2024
Re: File Number: ACS2024-PRE-PS-0041, Phase 2, 780 Baseline Road
Dear Councillors,
Heritage Ottawa reiterates its position that excessive impact to the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site constitutes an unacceptable impact to the research capacity of the CEF, the key reason for its designation as a national historic site. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada observes: “… that the shadowing created by the proposed towers, particularly Towers B and C in Phase 2 will have a significant detrimental effect on the ability to carry out their specific research on those plots of farmland in shadow.”
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada addresses the impacts of shadowing in their reports to the City. We implore you to believe the experts on the ground, and not a Michigan firm that uses Indonesia as their comparative example. Councillor Devine’s reservations concerning the validity of the Miller Report are spot-on.
Heritage Ottawa supports the staff recommendation on p. 15 and p. 21: “Although design considerations related to shadow impact were undertaken, Heritage Planning encourages the applicant to further evaluate different massing options at the site plan stage that may further limit shadowing on the CEF while maintaining the proposed density.” Your own staff is telling you the current iteration of the proposal is too impactful.
Heritage Ottawa recognizes and supports the need for more housing in Ottawa. But there are a lot of vacant and low-rise properties upon which tall structures can be built, including all of the rest of Baseline Road. Yes we need more housing. But in the climate change crisis that we now face, impacts to the viability of our agricultural sector by climate change, as studied here, must not be allowed. AAFC says, “The time for deferring climate change mitigation research to a future time is over, and the fields of the Central Experimental Farm are our laboratories for the varieties of the future that farmers and the nation will depend on.” AAFC’s request (“We request the City of Ottawa consider what site and building design elements (e.g., orientation, floorplate size) can be employed to limit shadowing on the Central Experimental Farm for this application and for future development along Baseline.”) is practical and reasonable. We urge this committee not to endorse this proposal in its current iteration. All Canadians need to eat.
Leslie Maitland & David Flemming
Advocacy Committee, Heritage Ottawa
Read the City Staff Report here.
TAKE ACTION!
We encourage all concerned citizens to submit their views to the Planning & Housing Committee before January 31 via Kelly Crozier, Committee Coordinator at Kelly.Crozier@ottawa.ca