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The city’s planning committee has approved a car-free development in the ByWard Market.

Textbook Student Suites wants to build two, 26-storey towers at 256 Rideau St. and 211 Besserer St., to be joined by a three-storey podium, to create 275 units intended for students. There would also be a 529-square metre retail space on the ground floor.

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The proposed development required a zoning bylaw in order to give the company permission to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 164 to 14, all of which would be designated as visitor spaces.

Speaking in favour of the company’s application, the city’s planning department said the proposal is in keeping with guidelines to encourage development around transit hubs. The buildings would be about 400 metres from the entrance to the future Rideau LRT station.

“If you’re not going to do it here, where are you going to do (it)?,” asked planning committee chairwoman Jan Harder.