City council has approved the controversial rezoning application for 931 Pinecrest Rd. and a local community association has responded with a suggestion to create a local task force on intensification.

The rezoning will allow the property's owner, Adib Saad, to operate the former duplex as a triplex, but on the condition that he produce an acceptable site plan before the local zoning by-law is altered.

Though local residents have expressed strong opposition to the application at several public meetings, council approved it with no discussion or debate, save a dissent from local city Coun. Alex Cullen, at its Sept. 8 meeting.

Henry Sweich, president of the Queensway Terrace North Community Association - representing the community adjacent to the Britannia Heights duplex - said after council's decision that the neighbourhood has had its fill of intensification. He told The News that an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board is possible, and said he thinks the association has a strong case given some unusual circumstances around the approval.

Residents were under the impression, from both the city's notification sign on the property and public meetings on the matter, that Mr. Saad was seeking to convert the property to a fourplex. However, city planning staff recommended denial of the fourplex rezoning but endorsed a triplex on the site. At the time, Mr. Sweich asked the committee to send the matter back for public consultation, arguing that staff's alteration amounted to an entirely new application.

In addressing 931 and other, similar rezonings, city planners have said that approvals do not set a precedent for other multi-plex conversions. Community associations across the west end, however, feel differently.

"We've lost two battles now," Mr. Sweich said. "Now the writing's on the wall."

Previously, the association opposed a rezoning application for 847 Ivanhoe Ave. City council also approved this duplex-to-triplex rezoning earlier this year.

At a meeting hosted by Coun. Cullen last week, Mr. Sweich took the further step of suggesting the task force to several other community groups.

Noting that Bay ward's housing make-up is 58% rental, versus just 39% city-wide, Mr. Sweich said: "We're doing more than our share."

Council approved the 931 application on the recommendation of its planning committee, which gave the thumbs up late in August.

Following that decision, a neighbour of the property distributed a flyer sharply critical of the city planning department in general, and Coun. Cullen in particular on the issue of illegally converted multi-plexes already operating in the area.

"This is spot zoning," wrote Pinecrest Rd. resident Laurence Baird, "and can have an impact on you, the homeowner when and if you ever decide to sell your home. The current zoning by-law has been made a public mockery by our councillor and the City of Ottawa...As homeowners, we are the first line to defend our neighbourhood from adversity and ridiculous politics. We have to stand up to the city, or the city will continue its ways of walking over the taxpayer."

Throughout the many debates on intensification in general, Coun. Cullen has noted that the provincial Planning Act gives all property owners the right to make rezoning applications.

The city's Official Plan, which remains the subject of dozens of Ontario Municipal Board appeals, not only supports urban intensification via such rezonings, but also grants homeowners the right to create multi-plex rental properties.