CAFES Speaks for Trees and the Release of Zoning By-law Draft 2

On Monday, March 31st, 2025 the Joint Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met to receive Draft 2 of the New Comprehensive Zoning By-law. Erica Shardlow, speaking for the CAFES network provided a public delegation to the Committee in support of zoning metrics that protect and regulate the space for canopy trees through required soil volumes, soft landscaping minimums and setbacks on residential lots.

CAFES has been engaged in the New Comprehensive Zoning By-law since January of 2024 when a group of experienced volunteers formed a working group and co-wrote a recommendations paper on how zoning can regulate trees. CAFES submitted version 3.0 of our paper in October 2024, in response to Draft 1 of the new Zoning By-law. Also in October, we submitted a detailed recommendations document on Draft 1 within the Peoples Official Plan Coalition (POP).

Visit Engage Ottawa HERE to read Draft 2 as well as other supporting documents. Further updates on the new by-law will also be posted to this page. Public consultation will take place over the next several months, and Draft 3 will be expected in September 2025.

You can view the March 31st committee meeting on Youtube here.

CAFES' comments and recommendations on Draft 2 are summarized in the following points, and you can see our full presentation below.

• The by-law is an important opportunity to lay the foundation for achieving the Official Plan's 40% canopy cover target. We want to see a compact, green and livable city and recognize equity and 15-minute neighbourhoods as essential considerations.
• CAFES has been advocating for trees planted in proper soil volumes to ensure trees are being given adequate space to thrive to maturity. Currently, Draft 2 requires 30 cubic m soil volumes to be provided above underground structures. We are pushing for it to be required in all residential rear lots, front yards, in parking lots, and above stormwater infrastructure.
• We support Draft 2 provisions for NO car parking minimums, single lane shared driveways at 3m width, driveways with permeable wheel strips, EV chargers, the prohibition of reverse-slope driveways in flood plains, and soft landscaping minimums in surface lots.
• We suggest 6m front yard setbacks city-wide. Where this is not possible, small 3m setbacks should be paired with large Right of Way space to allow for contiguous soil and space for trees.

If you want to learn more, want to get involved with trees and zoning issues, or have a question, please contact Erica at eshardlow@cafesottawa.ca