Local developer Tamarack Homes is seeking the green light from Ottawa city councillors to add a massive new development of housing and store space to Orleans.
By Mark Brownlee.
Cardinal Creek Village will be an “urban community” with roughly 3,000 dwelling units east of Trim Road, between Old Montreal Road and the Ottawa River, according to a report from city staff on the matter.
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The proposed development will cover about 208 hectares – the equivalent of roughly 500 football fields – most of which will be single- and semi-detached homes.
“There’s a continuing demand for this type of housing in the Ottawa area,” said Tamarack president Chris Taggart in an interview. “The land supply is getting more constrained as time goes by because (the city is) really limiting more expansion of urban land out to the suburbs.”
The plan calls for a number of different uses, though, such as shopping areas along Old Montreal Road and Regional Road 174. This will include commercial space for businesses such as restaurants, liquor stores and banks.
Tamarack also wants to add a “central park” that it says could include amenities such as tennis courts, sports fields and walking areas, according to documents its filed with the city.
The planned mix of uses has earned the project the blessing of the area’s municipal representative.
The proposed development “demonstrates a form of suburban development that brings together the best elements of village lifestyle, downtown accessibility and suburban neighbourhood living,” wrote Stephen Blais, the area’s councillor, in the staff report on the issue.
City staff have given their blessing to the project, making it likely councillors will approve the developers’ request for approval at the next meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday.
Mr. Taggart said he expects the land will take about 15 to 20 years to develop.
The request from Tamarack is one of several development proposals that will be on the table at Tuesday’s planning committee meeting.
Minto and Richcraft are hoping to add 580 dwelling units to its Trailsedge subdivision on the southern limits of Orleans, north of Renaud Road and east of Page Road. The companies already received approval in 2010 for about 1,000 dwelling units.
Staff are also recommending councillors approve that proposal.

