The National Capital Commission's Plan for Canada's Capital.

The NCC wanted to preserve the entire Central Experimental Farm. 

"The PFCC (Plan for Canada's Capital) contains broad, high-level policies that place the CEF within the context of other federal lands in the National Capital Region:

• identifying the lands east of Prince of Wales as Capital Urban Green Space
• the Rideau Canal and nearby CEF shore lands as Waterway and Shore Land
• the Agriculture Museum Lands as National Cultural Institutional
• the research fields as Rural Lands, and
• the lands near Carling as Federal Node.

"In the context of this plan, the CEF's role as a National Historic Site and a cultural landscape of national historic significance underlies all its other federal land use roles. The PFCC further designates several roadways situated both within and connecting with the CEF:

• Prince of Wales Drive north of the traffic circle and the NCC Driveway are designated Capital Parkway, connecting with Queen Elizabeth Drive on the east and Island Park Drive on the northwest.
• The PFCC designates Prince of Wales Drive south of the traffic circle as Scenic Entry, matching the designation in the City of Ottawa Official Plan. Due to the connectivity of Prince of Wales Drive with the NCR federal capital Parkway system, and the potential of this roadway to sever historic and contemporary landscape and land use patterns within the National Historic Site, the CEF National Historic Management Plan establishes guidelines for Prince of Wales Drive as an urban parkway within the CEF boundaries."

Recreational Pathways in the Farm are part of the Capital Pathway Network, requiring the implementation of a number of design, maintenance, safety and signage standards and guidelines contained in the "Integrated Network of Recreational Pathways for the NCR" report...They are mostly gravel, with a few major routes paved in asphalt.

 The Arboretum.

The Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site is designated in its entirety as part of the National Interest Land Mass. These lands are essential for the long-term symbolism, functions, physical structure, and natural and landscape qualities of the Capital. Implicit in a NILM designation is a formal expression of the Federal Government's interest in the long-term use of these lands. 

NILM lands are, or should be, under the custody of the federal government to ensure they are protected and enhanced. (Google: "CEF National Historic Site Management Plan (7 of 20.")

 Definitions.

Capital Urban Green Space - 

Waterway and Shore Land - 

National Cultural Institution - 

Rural Lands - the research fields.

Federal Node - land and buildings near Carling Avenue. 

Capital Parkway - Prince of Wales Drive north of the traffic circle.

Scenic Entry - The NCC's Plan for Canada's Capital designates Prince of Wales Drive south of the traffic circle as Scenic Entry, matching the designation in the City of Ottawa Official Plan.

Capital Pathway Network - most of the network should not be paved.

Core Zone - An ordered, structured landscape. A varied mix of building sizes and use to accommodate agricultural research and related activities. Remnants of historic vegetation research collections. Shared use by the public and the research community. An informal, non-rectilinear grid of local roads. 

The Entry Zone - Expansive lawn areas with mature specimen trees and curving paths. Long, framed vistas and varied, dramatic topography. Overlooks Dow's Lake and the Rideau Canal. Roadways designed in the parkway tradition.

Central Green - land north of the William Saunders Building.

Internal Roadways - No internal road widenings should be permitted.

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EXPERIMENTAL FARM LAND EAST OF PRINCE OF WALES DRIVE IS DESIGNATED AS CAPITAL URBAN GREEN SPACE - From: "The National Capital Commission's Plan for Canada's Capital." Google: CEF National Historic Site Management Plan Part 7 0f 20.

A fairly recent image. The Arboretum, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ornamental Flower Garden, the Red Barn and trees are involved in the botanical garden project. The Arboretum Woods are a legally protected landscape.

Agriculture Canada rejected the botanical garden's request for 108 acres at the same location in the year 2002:

"Please be advised that on May 8, 2002 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada wrote to Mr. Ian Efford of the OBGS informing him that AAFC would not consider their application for a garden at the Central Experimental Farm as a number of conditions had not been met in their application. These conditions were as follows:

1. It must not include any use of land on the west side of Prince of Wales Drive.

2. The use of any land or facilities on the east side of Prince of Wales Drive must meet the Canadian Heritage (Parks Canada) criteria (e.g.) it must not have a negative impact on the heritage values of the Canal nor impede the operation of the Canal, specifically at the Hartwells lock station but also navigation in general.

3. The Arboretum, if included, must remain free and open to the public. 

4. The Fletcher Wildlife Garden must remain as it is.

5. The Commemorative Integrity Statement must be observed.

6. The land use must be compatible with other jurisdictions (e.g. NCC, Parks, City of Ottawa, etc.) and designations (e.g.) National Interest Land Mass (NILM) of the Central Experimental Farm and

7. It must clearly demonstrate financial viability/self sufficiency. (Google: Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital General Meeting, June 12, 2002.)

Botanical garden plan alarms Farm fans. Nature lovers fear Experimental Farm will become theme park by Carolynne Wheeler, Ottawa Citizen, August 3, 2001.

- The Ottawa Botanical Society will charge $10 to $15 dollars for access to gardens it plans to build south of the arboretum. For the time being access to the Arboretum is free.

-Curfews are being imposed that prevent amateur astronomers and joggers from enjoying the site during the evening.

-A proposal to fence off part of the Central Experimental Farm to create a $35 million botanical garden has alarmed cyclists, joggers and other people who fear nature trails will give way to concession stands, parking lots and swarms of visitors.

-Phase 1 of the project would fence off about 108 acres of land now designated for research. It would improve the existing arboretum and (Fletcher) wildlife garden.

-Later phases of the project may involve land from National Defence and Public Works.