Ottawa boundaries expansion ordered

The Ontario Municipal Board has ordered Ottawa to expand its municipal boundaries by 850 hectares, a defeat for the city in its efforts to keep urban sprawl in check.

In 2009, city council voted to expand the boundary by just 230 hectares, about a quarter of the 850-hectare expansion recommended by staff, and a tenth of the additional land sought by developers.

The province requires the city to keep a 15-year supply of developable land on hand to handle future growth.

Developers unhappy with the restrictions appealed to the OMB, and won their appeal on Monday.

Rainer Bloess, the councillor for Innes Ward, said he saw it coming. The only people who gained in the battle were lawyers, he added.

"The case was stacked against us from the beginning. It's a waste of money for the taxpayers of Ottawa," Bloess said.

"We spent probably close to half a million dollars. The other side probably spent a million and a half dollars. Both sides lose in this case. The only ones who win are the lawyers," he said.

Mayor Jim Watson had campaigned to keep urban sprawl in check. And in January council held the line on the boundary, and chose not to expand further.

Council is not expected to appeal the board's decision.