City council approves Lansdowne site plan

Part of the Lansdowne redevelopment plans call for moving the Horticulture building. The proposal has been met with stiff opposition.

Ottawa city council overwhelmingly approved the site plan for redeveloping Lansdowne Park Monday, even though the sitting mayor and several city councillors who participated in the vote either weren't re-elected or opted not to seek another term in office.

The vote on stage one of the site plan for Lansdowne Park is the last major vote that will be made by the outgoing council.

City councillors started listening to dozens of delegations on Friday, many arguing against the redevelopment plans, which include moving the historic horticulture building a short distance.

The meeting marked the last time Coun. Clive Doucet could be vocal about the project from his councillor chair.

"(The plan) has the horticulture building moved into the park. The farmers' market no longer has a square - it's basically on a roadway. I don't think kids are going to feel too comfortable running around there as they do today," he told city council on Monday morning.

Council's approval of the site plan puts the project one step closer to starting construction in the spring. Commercial aspects of the site, though, could still face challenges at the Ontario Municipal Board.

Ottawa's new city council gets sworn in on Dec. 2.