Ottawa Greenbelt: Group D Monika Boštičková Michael Lee
Introduction: The Ottawa Greenbelt was proposed by French planner Jacques Gréber in 1950 as part of the master plan for Ottawa. It is 203.5 km2, being owned by the National Capital Commision, government departments and private interests. It was intended to be a rural landmark, limit sub-urban sprawl, accomodate federal and research instuitions, and preserve and provide natural areas. The Greenbelt`s external shape is not so significant, rather it is the pockets of urban space within the greenbelt, located near Kanata and Orleans, which we believe to be catalytic in the growth of the two sub-urban areas. The program of the greenbelt includes natural areas, forestry, instituitional, agricultural, recreational, commercial and residential. Its diversified program makes the Ottawa Greenbelt different from other greenbelts as it allows deliberate urban development to occur as part of its planning. However with all it`s multifunctionality, we question if this affects it`s intergrity as a greenbelt and whether or not this is causing positive effects. In this case study we will look at the multifunctional composition of the Ottawa greenbelt and the idea of how this is causal to accelerated sub-urban growth external to the greenbelt.
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1:500 000
LINKAGE TO LAURENTIAN SHIELD
LINKAGE TO ALGONQUIN PARK
DEVELOPMENT NATURAL LANDS
LINKAGE TO ADIRONDACK PARK
AGRICULTURE
NATURAL LANDS FORESTS
INSTITUTIONAL AGRICULTURE RECREATIONAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTAL
NATURAL AREAS
Core natural areas are connected by a long corridor. Besides hiking and admiring preserved nature, you can find golf courses, soccer fields or tennis centers in the Greenbelt.
AGRICULTURAL AREAS
A key idea of the greenbelt is to protect agricultural land in order to provide local produce. The most common crops are corn, soybeans and cereals.
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DEVELOPED AREAS
The Ottawa Greenbelt has several areas of land that includes residential, commercial, recreational and instituitional developments to occur.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure within the greenbelt causes disturbances in between rural and natural spaces.
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42% NATURAL AREAS
26% AGRICULTURE
14% FOREST
9% INSTITUITIONAL
5% TRANP
RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL
INSTITUITIONAL RECREATIONAL
AGRICULTURE
NATURAL AREA FORESTS
KEY GREENBELT AREAS SHIRLEYS BAY
BIRDWATCHING
AIR FORCE EXPERIMENTATION CENTER DEFENCE DEVELOPEMENT CENTER COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH CENTER CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY
BIKING
STONY SWAMP
VEGGIE TRAIL FARMS
RECREATION
WETLAND GEOLOGY EXHIBITION HIKING TRAILS
ORGANIC VEGGIES HONEY PUMPKINS CHRISTMAS TREES
OTTAWA
PORATION
2 % RECREATIONAL
GOLF
AIRPORT
TRAVEL
1% COMMERCIAL
PLAY
1% INFRASTRUCTURE
MER BLEUE
SPHAGNUM BOG MER BLEUE TRAIL
0.4% RESIDENTIAL
STORES
BUY
ORLEANS
BIG circle = BIG population MORE rings = MORE density
INNER OTTAWA AREA
KANATA
DENSITY AND POPULATION
SOUTH NEPEAN
This diagram is to show the failure to stop suburban sprawl. Areas such as Kanata, South Nepean and Orleans are now growing rapidly since the establishment of the greenbelt. The separation of neighboring suburban areas creates many commuters that travel from thier respective areas to the downtown Ottawa area, causing high infrastructure costs and long commute times.
By 2020, two thirds of all population will be accommodated behind the Greenbelt.
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There are three proposals of the future development: 1.
The City of Ottawa has proposed that a quarter of the Greenbelt should be developed. Development would take place along major roads within the Greenbelt.
2.
Development can occur within the Greenbelt as most of the land is still under or un-developed.
3.
Expansion of the outer cities can continue.
2
3
Black Rapids Lock Station
Leased Agricultural Lands
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Research Farm
Queensway Carleton Hospital
Excluded developed area
Natural Resources Canada: CanmetENERGY
Natural Resources Canada: CanmetENERGY
Pine Grove Forest
Leased Agricultural Lands
National Defence: Leitrim Base
Pine Grove Forest
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Research Farm
Golf Course
Queensway Carleton Hospital National Defence: Leitrim Base
Residental Houses
Excluded developed area Ottawa International Airport
Black Rapids Lock Station
Golf Course
Leased Agricultural Lands
Residental Houses
Ottawa International Airport
FORESTS
INSTITUTIONAL
AGRICULTURE
RECREATIONAL
Black Rapids Lock Station
NATURAL LANDS
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTAL