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There is no consensus in the community on the development’s potential to help build on the existing momentum in Vanier, which is slowly seeing renewal.

Resident Suzanne Lepine decried the “wall of towers” that would jam up the gateway intersection.

Dave Fraser, another resident, came to the meeting with a slide presentation titled “Vanier: The next Hintonburg?” and criticized the design of the proposed DCR Phoenix complex compared to what he sees in the community west of downtown.

“We don’t need a building. We need a vision,” businessman Paul Drouin said.

But the larger business community is smitten with the development plan.

“This is exactly the type of development prospective business owners are looking for,” according to Jamie Kwong, executive director of the Quartier Vanier BIA.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury is concerned about the integration of the southern and western edges of the development into the surrounding community. He wants a gradual transition to the multi-level buildings and is asking the developer to consider townhouses on part of the property.

The committee approved the blueprint, with only Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper voting against it. He was skeptical about the developer’s transportation forecasts.

Nearly all of the focus of the planning committee meeting was on Vanier.

The committee also approved an application to transform a former church in north Vanier into a food store surrounded by eight storeys of residential units.