Is preserving this 90-hectare property a good use of $1.95M in city funds?

Ottawa’s Rural Councillors Spar Over $1.95M Land Purchase

A simmering dispute between rural Ottawa city councillors and staff has emerged over a proposed $1.95 million purchase of a 90-hectare west-end property. The disagreement centers on whether this land, with its untouched shoreline, mature forest, and expansive green spaces, should be preserved using the city’s limited funds for natural area acquisition.

City staff, championing the purchase, argue that the Fitzroy Harbour property is ideal for meeting preservation goals. The land, complete with a 19th-century log home and farmhouse, has been on the market for over a year, with no takers for development. Staff envision connecting natural systems and exploring archaeological finds, echoing the potential of the Morris Island Conservation Area.

Yet, not all councillors are convinced. West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly leadsthe dissent, questioning the urgency and necessity of buying this land. "It’s been on the market for over a year, so clearly, it’s not a hot commodity," he said. Kelly likens the purchase to a homeowner fixing their landscaping while their roof caves in, suggesting that more deserving properties exist.

Local farmers like Jack McLaren agree with Kelly, calling the land "nothing special" and labeling the purchase "frivolous and unnecessary." However, many citizens laud the property’s beauty and wildlife, with a YouTube video advertising its sale likening it to a "once in a lifetime" find.

The rural councillors face an uphill battle. Last month, the finance and corporate services committee voted to approve the purchase. Nick Stow, the city’s natural systems branch program manager, maintains that each small decision to enhance natural heritage is critical. He cites the land’s affordability, given its initial asking price of $3.5 million, and its potential for tree planting and wetland restoration.

The city’s Natural Area Acquisition Account currently has a balance of about $5 million. Council will decide the sale’s fate this coming Wednesday, weighing the purchase against a proposal by Councillor Kelly to create a list of other properties in need of protection and clarify the criteria for choosing them. The city’s site alteration bylaw does provide some protections for land near the urban boundary.