Councillors approve Orleans development despite parking concerns

The city of Ottawa's planning committee has approved a housing development in Orleans after it was delayed due to concerns about the number of parking spaces.

The city of Ottawa's planning committee has approved a housing development in Orléans after it was delayed due to concerns about the number of parking spaces.

The development at 360 Kennedy Lane East would include 81 residential units, many of which would be affordable housing. But it only has 61 parking spaces for residents and 15 for visitors.

It came before committee three weeks ago, but councillors sent the proposal back to staff to "work through outstanding traffic and parking concerns."

That decision touched a nerve, with affordable housing advocates decrying the delay and concerned neighbours countering that the proposal had major problems.

On Monday, the application was back, with the number of parking spaces unchanged. But this time it sailed through committee unanimously.

Carly Forrester, representing the applicant Kindred Works, told councillors that the company will be able to keep track of which tenants have cars because it's a rental property.

"Should there be a tenant with multiple cars that are causing external pressure on other places, we have that ability to have that conversation with those residents," she said.