Last week in the Globe, I argued that cities should replace city-wide zoning plans with simplified, flexible, and locally-oriented community planning permit systems (CPPS). Today, @jm-mcgrath argues in TVO that zoning should be standardized at the provincial level. These ideas can be compatible. 🧵

New from me in the Globe & Mail: Ottawa’s new zoning bylaw is a major step forward—but if we’re lucky, it’ll be the last of its kind.

My newest newsletter post over at Ottawa 3 Speed: A review of the proposed bike lanes on Gladstone Avenue and Gilmour Street.

Westbound contra-flow lane on Gilmour! Protected intersection at Rochester! Weird, convoluted crossing of Bronson! #ottbike

jordobicycles.substack.com/p/gladstone-...

Successfully defended my Master's thesis! "The development of residential zoning bylaws in Ottawa, 1946–1965" coming soon to a PDF download near you...

I was surprised to learn today that there used to be bike lanes on Colonel By Drive.

The lanes were installed in 1972, but I'm not sure when they were removed. With the pathways getting busier, this is something that @ncc-ccn.bsky.social should consider bringing back—there's a precedent for it.

One reason why the missing middle is missing: it takes a full year for the Ontario Land Tribunal to overturn a rogue ruling by the Committee of Adjustment, who rejected two 8-unit apartment buildings (two 6 unit buildings were allowed by right) against the opinion of City of Ottawa planners.

Percy & Catherine intersection: drivers get a green light, pedestrians get a walk signal, but cyclists (in between) get a red light. I can't think of any rational explanation for this set-up, and I don't think it exists anywhere else in the city (anybody know?) @arieltroster.com can you fix this?

They really did it.

A great example of why main streets require safe cycling infrastructure. If you're wondering why cyclists don't just take parallel routes on quiet side streets, it's because they don't always exist.

Mutchmor Road in Old Ottawa East has to be one of the strangest streets in the city. Why is a two-lane neighbourhood street designed like a highway?

In this post, I find out.

open.substack.com/pub/jordobic...

It's very encouraging for Toronto that its newly-hired Chief Planner is touring Copenhagen for ideas (and posting about it).

Note that the City of Ottawa has been without a chief planner since 2022.

Toronto's foray into multi-unit buildings in traditionally low-density neighbourhoods is starting to produce results. Multiplex permits are up, but projects are still being held back by other zoning constraints such as setbacks and heights.

Important lessons here for Ottawa's ongoing zoning reform.

New from me in the Citizen: Why the City of Ottawa's new Transportation Master Plan is a work of fantasy. Zombie roads, fairy LRTs/BRTs, and the twin dragons of cost and congestion—readers beware!
ottawacitizen.com/opinion/zomb...

Some lessons could be learned here for Ottawa’s Baseline BRT and not-quite-BRT Carling Avenue transit priority lanes.

I've seen some uninspiring plans from the City of Ottawa before, but the first draft of the new Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is especially weak. @alex-is.online has a summary here of all the planned projects from the 2013 TMP that have been cancelled in the new one.

Big news for flat walls: the 2nd draft of Ottawa's new zoning bylaw ditches the rule from the 1st draft that 20% of a front façade had to be recessed 60 cm. Flat walls mean more interior space for apartments and simpler construction for builders.
jordobicycles.substack.com/p/three-spee...