Ottawa councillor wants controversial Tewin development removed from Official Plan

Artist renderings show plans a mixed-use neighbourhood at the proposed Tewin development in Ottawa's southeast end. (Urban Strategies/release)

An Ottawa city councillor wants a controversial development to be scrapped from the city’s Official Plan and is calling for broader consultation with a focus on Indigenous communities.

The Tewin development would see about 15,000 homes be built on 445 acres of land near Carlsbad Springs, south of Leitrim Road and north of Thunder Road near Highway 417.

It would also have shops and services for an estimated 35,000 to 45,000 people.

“The entire package is too large, too far and too complicated and too expensive for the city,” said Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh. “$591 million is just a rough estimate of what the water and wastewater costs will be. We’re not even talking about transit and roads, et cetera, to go there. So, we have to think about this really hard. Is this the best thing for our city?”

Kavanagh presented a notice of motion to the city’s Planning and Housing Committee on Wednesday.

Among what’s included—the ask to have the project and all references to it removed from Ottawa’s Official Plan and for staff to look at where else in the city the planned development could go.

“We have so much else going on in terms of expansion,” Kavanagh said. “We have other lands that we can look at.”

The project is a partnership between Taggart Group and the Algonquins of Ontario.

“Rooted in Algonquin values and designed for the future, Tewin will be a once-in-a-generation community that sets a new standard for thoughtful, inclusive development,” they said in a statement. “As our country faces a housing crisis, we remain committed to providing our community much-needed homes. Guided by a phased master-planning process, Tewin is moving forward with community involvement, ensuring a future that reflects shared aspirations, sustainable growth, and housing solutions that address today’s and tomorrow’s needs.”

• RELATED: Here’s a first look at the proposed Tewin development in Ottawa’s southeast end

Community groups are also worried about the strain on the city’s finances.

“I think [the notice of motion] really hits a nail on the head with all the issues that come with the Tewin development…not only the consultation issues but just the problems that it’s going to exacerbate that we already have with the city’s financial crisis,” said Marko Miljusevic with Strong Towns Ottawa.

“Just maintaining our current existing infrastructure—not talking about new stuff they’re going to be adding, but just what we have right now—we have no money to continue adding to that. And so, I think a development like this is just going to exacerbate that.”

Kavanagh wants to see more consultation, something she and others said was lacking.

“We have to…look at what we should do to make sure that the proper consultation is done with the broader community but particularly with the First Nations.”

The motion is expected to be tabled at the Planning and Housing Committee in April. If approved, it would go to council for a vote.