Opponents launch appeal of massive North Gower warehouse development

Opponents of a gigantic Amazon-type warehouse development in North Gower are taking their fight to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

The appeal to LPAT — formerly known as the Ontario Municipal Board — comes after Ottawa City Council last month gave the green light to the warehouse that was proposed by Montreal developer Broccolini. Its opponents argue the planned 65,000 square metre, 22-metre tall warehouse contravenes both the city’s official plan and the North Gower secondary plan, which said any development should be designed to reinforce the community’s rural nature.

City council approved the warehouse without debate after it was endorsed by the city’s Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee at a contentious meeting on Dec. 5.

The warehouse, if it goes ahead, is to be built on Roger Stevens Drive, just west of Highway 417.

Opponents formed what they call the Rideau Action Group, which filed two interconnected appeals to LPAT on Jan. 13. The city issued its official notification of the Broccolini decision on Dec. 24. Opponents had 20 calendar days to file an appeal with LPAT.

The land in question was zoned for industrial-commercial use, but residents say the prospect of a sprawling warehouse with constant tractor trailer traffic and employing up to 1,700 people will be out of place in the middle of farmland and high-end country homes. They worry how it will affect their well water and drainage, since the area lies outside the city’s water and sewer services.

‘It is regrettable that a group of middle income rural residents are forced to defend the Village’s rural character and community safety against the team-work of the City of Ottawa and a large construction company both with multi-million dollar budgets” Teddie Laframboise, chair of the Rideau Action Group, said in a release.