hurch Hill is the small slope behind St. Margaret Mary's Church. It fronts on Sunnyside just east of Fairbairn Street. The upper half of the hill was owned by St. Margaret Mary Church but has recently been sold to a small developer. The lower half of the hill and the area below including the garage, is owned by a Bellwood Ave. resident.
Church Hill has been through several incarnations within living memory.
In July, the developer's application to subdivide the lot was dismissed by the Committee of Adjustment. Several local residents who appeared before the committee had asked for further community consultation, given the long history of community use of the land.
Later in the summer, the developer's application to rezone the land from institutional use to residential use was approved by a different committee. However, he has not yet reapplied to subdivide the lot.
Development of Church Hill is unlikely to proceed without approval to subdivide. This would require a new application to the Committee of adjustment and another hearing.
Let us know if you are interest in:
This information was displayed during the Ottawa South Porch Sale. A score of people signed to express their interest. At the most recent OSCA board meeting, residents Lindsay Lambert, Jake Morrison joined me to ask for support. We noted that the official plans of the region and the city of Ottawa promote infills, but that this particular site is a unique one, not merely another square of 'unused' land.
We realized that our community should begin mapping its resources and planning how to protect them. It seemed that the sale of this land took many people by surprise. Many board members expressed their individual regrets over the future loss of a wonderful community resource, and told of their personal memories of sledding there.
The loss of large trees and their cooling influence was also anticipated. We wonder whether creative thinking and an outpouring of public interest can change the anticipated losses. We want to preserve this natural and recreational resource for community use. We need your memories of Church Hill in the past, and your visions for its future. Please contact Jane Keeler at 730-0366 or e-mail jakem@synapse.net.