The return of football to Ottawa appears to be one step closer.
Ottawa city council voted in favour of a $250 million redevelopment plan for Lansdowne Park on Monday, which could pave the way for a new outdoor stadium and, in turn, an expansion CFL team.
By a vote of 15-9, councillors approved in principle an amended plan that would give the city more control over design and more return on their $12 million financial investment.
A group of four prominent and reputable Ottawa businessmen - Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt and Ottawa developers Roger Greenberg, John Ruddy and Bill Shenkman - have been granted a conditional expansion franchise by the league, dependent upon the group's ability to secure a stadium deal with the city.
"You need the right local owners, and I think that's what we have here with these four gentlemen,'' said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon last week. ''And that, coupled with the new stadium, is a recipe for success."
The group is now in partnership with the city on the project and they must now satisfy five further conditions prior to another vote by council in either May or June.
"We had a passionate and very real debate," said Ottawa mayor Larry O'Brien. "Many issues came out, there was a lot of changes to the original proposal and I think the citizens of Ottawa are the big winners today."
Lansdowne Park has been without football since the Ottawa Renegades left town after the 2005 season and the facilities have fallen into disrepair.
“This is not Lansdowne Park. This is Lansdowne Dump. It's time for somebody to do something about it,” councillor Rainer Bloess told the Ottawa Citizen after the decision.
But not all parties celebrated the news.
“It's a sad day because of the division. It's divided us, shattered the city. It was through love of my city that I tried to protect Lansdowne Park,” a tearful councillor Clive Doucet told the newspaper.
According to CFL TSN Insider Dave Naylor, Ottawa could return to the CFL in time for the 2013 season.