Article content continued

Under the current concept plan, the NCC land northwest of Empress Avenue would have two buildings, both with five-storey podiums that would have two storeys of retail and three storeys of commercial or institutional tenants. The western-most building could extend into Pimisi station, but the city would have to consider how it wants to distribute the development air rights above the station. A total of three towers are contemplated in the preliminary concept plan.

OTTwp

The plan also considers three additional mixed-use, six-storey buildings around the library.

Underground parking would be shared among multiple buildings in the district.

According to the planning rationale, the layout of the buildings was created to minimize the shadow impact on the neighbouring residential community.

The plan would allow a total of 818 new residential units on the properties, 12,340 square metres of retail space, 17,012 square metres of commercial space, plus the 19,970 square metres for the library.

The re-zoning application in the development plan seeks to add an “amusement park” to the long list of permitted uses allowed under the current zoning regulations.

Planning committee could consider the application in May.

The city is still waiting to hear if the federal government will allow Library and Archives Canada to build a $168-million shared facility with the Ottawa Public Library.

jwilling@postmedia.com

twitter.com/JonathanWilling