Ottawa planning committee backs three-year zoning exemption for Barrhaven mosque
Ottawa's planning committee supported a staff recommendation to allow the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre to operate for up to three years, even though the site lacks building code approvals. Full council will make the final decision.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on capitalcurrent.ca.
Ottawa's planning committee backed a staff recommendation on November 4 to let the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre stay open for up to three years, even though the site at Greenbank and Barnsdale roads is operating without the planning and building code approvals a permanent place of worship normally requires.
Capital Current reported that councillors on the planning committee voted to support the staff suggestion of a temporary zoning exemption. A building permit has been submitted for the site, but the mosque needs temporary zoning approval to keep running while that process moves forward.
What the city found
A city staff report said the one-storey building and quonset hut at Greenbank and Barnsdale roads opened in 2024. Staff support the site operating temporarily but do not consider the existing structures a permanent place of worship in what will become a denser urban area.
The report noted that most public comments about the site focused on traffic and parking. Staff observed that some people coming to services park off-site to avoid a bottleneck of vehicles at the end of prayers, and that this creates concerns about on-street parking and pedestrians crossing Greenbank Road.
Speed limit and traffic questions
Barrhaven West Councillor David Hill raised the question of Greenbank Road's speed limit during the November 4 meeting. The current limit along the road next to the mosque site is 80 km/h, Capital Current reported. Hill asked whether staff had a position on reducing it.
Staff told the committee that no speed assessment had been completed before the meeting, and that lower speeds generally reduce the risk of collisions.
You can read David Hill's profile at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/david-hill.
A call to work across committees
Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster said the mosque's situation points to a wider gap in how the city handles buildings that bring people together many times a day. Capital Current reported that she said planning and transportation decisions are handled by separate committees, and that community buildings like a mosque, which may hold services five, six or seven times a day, have different traffic and parking demands than a typical church.
"As our city grows and we welcome more Muslim communities to Ottawa, this is another example where planning and transportation tend to be quite siloed," Troster told the committee, according to Capital Current.
She said she hopes the city can look at how to coordinate those two functions better, citing a mosque in her own Somerset ward where on-street parking generates regular complaints even though the building has worked well for the community.
You can read Ariel Troster's profile at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ariel-troster.
What comes next
The temporary zoning amendment now goes to full Ottawa City Council for a final decision. If approved, the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre can continue to operate for up to three years under the temporary permission while the building permit process continues.
Residents who want to follow the decision can track the full council agenda at the City's public meetings site.
Questions this story answers
What did Ottawa's planning committee decide about the Barrhaven mosque on November 4?
Capital Current reported that Ottawa city councillors on the planning committee voted to support a staff recommendation giving the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre a temporary zoning exemption of up to three years. The committee endorsed the staff report at the November 4, 2026 planning committee meeting. Full council must still approve the zoning amendment before it takes effect.
Why does the mosque need a zoning exemption?
Capital Current reported that the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre, which opened in 2024 at the corner of Greenbank and Barnsdale roads, does not have appropriate planning or building code approvals. A city staff report said a building permit has been submitted for the site, but it needs temporary zoning approval to continue operating in the meantime. City staff do not consider the existing buildings a permanent place of worship in what will be a future urban community.
What traffic and safety concerns did councillors raise?
Capital Current reported that Barrhaven West Councillor David Hill asked whether staff had a position on reducing the speed limit on Greenbank Road next to the site, noting the current limit is 80 km/h. Staff said no assessment had been completed before the meeting, and that lower speeds typically reduce collision risks. The staff report also noted that some people attending services park off-site, raising concerns about on-street parking and pedestrians crossing Greenbank Road.
What did Councillor Troster say about planning and transportation?
Capital Current reported that Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster said the mosque's situation shows that planning and transportation decisions are handled by different city committees without enough coordination. She said buildings that hold services many times a day, like a mosque, have different traffic and parking needs than a typical church, and that the city needs to find ways to work across those committee lines as Ottawa grows.
What happens next for the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre?
Capital Current reported that the planning committee's backing now sends the temporary zoning amendment to full Ottawa City Council for a final decision. The site is operating while the building permit is being processed. If council approves the exemption, the mosque can continue to serve the community for up to three years under the temporary permission.
Who is Councillor David Hill?
David Hill is the elected councillor for Ward 3, Barrhaven West, on Ottawa City Council. He was elected on October 26, 2026. His ward covers the area where the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre is located, near Greenbank and Barnsdale roads. You can read his full profile at voche.me.
Who is Councillor Ariel Troster?
Ariel Troster is the elected councillor for Ward 14, Somerset, on Ottawa City Council. She was elected on October 26, 2026. At the November 4 planning committee meeting, she raised the need for better coordination between the city's planning and transportation committees when new community buildings are being approved. You can read her full profile at voche.me.
Where is the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre located?
Capital Current reported that the MAC Barrhaven Islamic Centre is at the intersection of Greenbank Road and Barnsdale Road in Barrhaven, in Ottawa's south end. The site includes a one-storey building and a quonset hut. It opened in 2024 and has been serving the Muslim community in Barrhaven since then.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Capital Current: Councillors support Barrhaven Mosque site despite lack of building code approvalcapitalcurrent.ca
- Ottawa City Council planning committee, November 4, 2026pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com
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