Published in The BANAR February 1997
by Lois Kemp
When the Greenbelt around Ottawa was finally decided upon in 1959, the Hamlet of Blackburn was indicated as a small ribbon development, 200 feet deep along the south side of the Navan Road west of the Corners, and a small triangular section taking in the School (P.S. #21), and the few houses then existing in that area.
The Blackburn Property Owners’ Association realized this was not an economical unit as high taxes would result from such a small development.
With this in mind, a Hamlet area of 700 acres, to have a final population of
10,000, was proposed.
Subdivision control was set up and the Hamlet area was zoned “AAA”, which was the highest possible category, meaning limited development until a plan could be created. This zoning caused hardship for some of the property owners, as the plan could not be approved until it was feasible to fully service the area with water, sewers and roads.
When the plan was finally approved, many of the property owners were zoned medium and high-density, industrial, and commercial, which meant, until the homes were built and a need was created for their lands, many of the property owners were restricted in doing anything with their property.
Many heated discussions between the neighbours and council took place at the Gloucester Council meetings regarding this zoning.
Dolphin Enterprises Ltd. (Costain Estates Ltd.), one of the large land owners, and A. B. Taylor did an intensive search for water, but only a quarter of the required minimum supply was located.
Meanwhile, Ottawa had started on a new filtration plant and water mains.
A final agreement between Gloucester Township and the City of Ottawa was signed in early 1962. Also, an agreement was being negotiated with Ottawa on the use of the sewage disposal plant, which was under construction on Shefford Road. The cost of providing the trunk sewer and water mains was assumed by the developers.
Finally in July, 1966, Costain started building homes in Blackburn Hamlet, and in 1967, the first new homeowners moved into phase one of the Hamlet, Westpark Drive and Parkridge Crescent.
Sources: Blackburn Property Owners’ Association minutes, the late Mike Budd’s papers, the Ottawa Citizen.