The new trade show and exhibition space to be built near the airport will not include a hotel after the city's committee of adjustment voted in favour of the project's builder. Shenkman Corp. has proposed to build a 150,000 square foot trade-show space near the airport, but, under the city's zoning bylaws, such a facility would be allowed only if it was located in an airport passenger terminal or a hotel. Shenkman filed for a minor variance in order to build the facility without a hotel on the property. The committee of adjustment approved the variance in a unanimous vote on Wednesday evening. Kevin McCrann, president of Shenkman, said building the hotel would not constitute sound planning since the existing Hilton Garden Inn was just across the street from where the trade show centre would be built.
McCrann said the approved variance would free up about five acres at the back of the property. He added that he did not know what the company would do with that land at this point. Environmental groups voiced their concerns about the facility at the meeting, stating that the land where it would be built contained at risk species and wetlands. McCrann said the facility was important for the city. "This is a much needed piece of infrastructure," he said. " Ottawa is far behind in providing this type of space." |
