A city committee has agreed to a five-week moratorium on developing land in a section of Kanata.

The moratorium would halt building in an area near Fernbank and Kanata West, giving city engineers the opportunity to study flood problems in the area.

"It's not going to stop Kanata West entirely at this point -- it's five weeks," said Coun. Peggy Feltmate, who represents the area.

"There'll probably be a few units that are going to be affected, but for the most part there's legal issues that means the city really can't stop (development), but it does give a pause so that we can examine where we need to go from here."

Feltmate said she will use that time to work with her community so they understand the issues of development and how it impacts them.

The moratorium proposal comes after severe flash floods on July 24 deluged hundreds of basements in Kanata, mostly in the Glen Cairn neighbourhood

For many residents, it was the third major flood in the last 13 years. Some still can't get insurance, and many are still making repairs.

Although city officials have admitted they were too slow responding to residents in need, city staff said there was no negligence and therefore no liability.

The moratorium proposal will go to city council for debate on Sept. 23.