Renovation and addition to an existing detached home.
2061 Belcourt Boulevard . Project Description
Construction of a new detached home on an urban infill lot. The client wished to design and build to the passive house standard, but has no intention of pursuing certification for the project.
The Four Tests
The lack of efficiency encountered in some bureaucratic systems never ceases to amaze me. Over a decade ago I worked for the Town of Banff on the receiving end of applications like the one that I recently submitted for 205 Crichton Street. Back in the day, we were experimenting with the submission of development applications in electronic format. In the last decade this has become … Read More
Committee of Adjustment Application
The applications to the Committee of Adjustment for minor variances from the zoning bylaw and for consent to sever the property were made on June 9. A letter acknowledging receipt of the applications was received on June 10. Notice of the public hearing to be held on July 2 was circulated to all neighbouring property owners and the community association. Signs were also posted … Read More
3685 Donnelly Drive . Project Description
Construction of a new detached home on a previously undeveloped property. The first home built using a cement stabilized reinforced insulated rammed earth wall in eastern Ontario.
City of Ottawa Heritage Permit
The Heritage Permit for the proposed renovation and addition to 205 Crichton Street arrived from the City of Ottawa today. Even though we have been working toward this one piece of paper since late 2011 (since last fall in earnest), the accomplishment is somewhat anticlimactic. I have always had confidence that we would get this far. The steps that are … Read More
Ottawa City Council
“The only constant is change.” (Heraclitus, philosopher, c. 535 – c. 475 BCE) Support for the renovation and addition to the home at 205 Crichton Street continued at the Ottawa City Council meeting this morning. (Download Ottawa City Council Agenda for May 14, 2014.) Council approved the Heritage Permit Application without discussion, based on its broad support. The planning approvals process will now continue … Read More
City of Ottawa Planning Committee Approval
Yesterday morning the City of Ottawa’s Planning Committee unanimously endorsed my proposed renovation and addition to 205 Crichton Street. (Download the Planning Committee Agenda for April 22, 2014.) This is the third of four levels of approval in the City of Ottawa’s Heritage Permitting process. The first came from City Heritage Planners in their report concerning the project, issued a week before the Built … Read More
City of Ottawa Built Heritage Sub-Committee Approval
A City of Ottawa Heritage Permit application moves through a four stage process of review: (1) City Heritage Planners recommend to the (2) Built Heritage Sub-Committee who recommend to the (3) Planning Committee who recommend to (4) City Council whether or not they should: “Approve the application, subject to approval of minor variances by the Committee of Adjustment, per plans submitted by Vert Plan Design … Read More
Project Opposition
While picking up a coffee at my local Bridgehead, I also picked up a copy of the New Edinburgh News. Within its pages (April 2014, pages 4, 5 and 9) the NECA HDC revealed their opinion of my proposed renovation and addition to 205 Crichton Street. I am disappointed that the NECA HDC did not choose to work with me … Read More