Ottawa airport authority tries to block 660 homes proposed under flight path

CBC

3 hours ago

The Ottawa International Airport Authority is opposing a large housing development under a busy flight path, warning that future residents will suffer from constant noise and might one day organize to restrict airport operations.
But council's planning and housing committee wasn't swayed. It voted in favour of the project on Wednesday, after the local community association welcomed the 660 housing units the development would bring to the corner of Riverside Drive and Hunt Club Road.
Joel Tkach, the airport authority's vice-president of business development and marketing, pleaded with councillors not to allow the development. He said the site is only 950 metres away from the end of the airport's longest runway where the largest planes take off. About 80 aircraft would fly over the development daily.
"We've seen fallout when homes encroach on airports. Montreal Trudeau, Toronto Pearson and Toronto Billy Bishop downtown have all endured waves of complaints, political pressures and resulting curfews and therefore lost air service," he told the committee.
"The consequences are real: fewer flights, reduced cargo capacity, diminished global connections and lost jobs."
The project would also sit under a circuit for general aviation and flight training for a different runway, Tkach added.
Airplane noise 'does not respect arbitrary lines'
The site is just outside the airport's operating influence zone where residential development is restricted due to noise impacts. It lies within the larger airport vicinity development zone, which allows residential development but imposes height limits.
But Tkach said the lines on the influence zone were curved to align with a bend in Riverside Drive.
The noise shakes walls, wakes babies, frays nerves. - Joel Tkach, Ottawa International Airport Authority
"Noise does not respect arbitrary lines on a map," he said, and went on to paint a picture of what might happen if the project goes forward.
"A family moves into their new home. The windows are open for fresh air. The children are in bed. Then a jet roars overhead, then another, then another," he said. "The noise shakes walls, wakes babies, frays nerves. The next day, flight training resumes, aircraft circling overhead all day with no reprieve."
Despite those concerns, city staff recommended that councillors approve the zoning changes the project needs to go forward.
The development, proposed by Taggart Realty, includes four apartment buildings with nine to 17 floors, as well as dozens of townhouses and single family homes.
Already zoned for housing
Paul Black of Fotenn Planning and Design, which is working with Taggart, said the site is already zoned to permit housing including apartment buildings. He said the project team is simply asking councillors to approve minor zoning changes, including to "refine" building heights.
Taggart development manager Kyle Kazda said the risk of airport noise will be clearly communicated to incoming residents through sale and lease agreements.
Audrey Belanger, president of the Hunt Club Community Association, also spoke out in favour of the project, saying housing is desperately needed in the area.
"When new housing goes up, even when it's market rent, that helps alleviate the housing crisis and prices within the surrounding area," she said.
"As a community association, we get emails on the regular from families looking for housing in our area, so there's definitely a need, and nobody's asking us about the planes."
The committee approved the needed zoning changes with eight votes for and three against. It will now go to council for a final decision.