Planning Staff Reject Stittsville Boundary Expansion
City planners recommend council block a developer's request to expand the urban boundary for housing south of Stittsville.
Ottawa's planning department is recommending city council reject a proposal to expand the urban boundary south of Stittsville, blocking a developer's bid to build homes on currently protected greenfield land.
The recommendation—made public this week—signals staff believe the expansion doesn't align with the city's growth strategy or long-range planning priorities. Stittsville, already one of the city's fastest-growing communities, has seen substantial residential development in recent years. Adding more housing south of the current boundary would stretch servicing infrastructure and alter the neighborhood's character further.
The decision will head to council for final vote. If approved by councillors, it would keep the boundary where it stands and deny the developer's application. If rejected, the application moves back to review—potentially opening a pathway for the expansion.
The timing matters. Ottawa is currently working through its 10-year growth management strategy and refreshing long-range planning goals. Council has been cautious about greenfield expansion, preferring infill development and intensification along transit corridors downtown and in secondary centers. The Stittsville boundary decision fits into that broader framework.
It's a marker of where the city stands on growth—deliberate rather than reactive, and skeptical of sprawl-friendly expansion requests that would shift costs to taxpayers and stretch municipal resources. Whether council agrees with staff is another matter.