Attendees:

• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch,, Director
• John Sankey, Director
• Fred Winters, Director
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office

Motion: To accept the minutes of December 5, 2005. Moved by John Sankey; seconded by Fred Winters. Carried

Motion: To pay the National Capital Freenet $20 to host the HCCO web site. Moved by John Sankey; seconded by Peter Brimacombe. Carried.

Fred Winters: Who looks after the skating rinks?

Alan Asselstine The Hunt Club Riverside Recreation Association (HCRRA) looks after the skating rink at the Community Centre and a community group looks after the one at Owl Park.

Maria McRea: Welcome to John Sankey. He is an ecologist and can be of great help in the upcoming study on birds in the Southern Corridor. Most residents want the Southern Corridor preserved as-is but there are others that want it to be developed. The NCC owns the land and wants to sell it to developers. Maria is looking for a win-win solution. She presented her report.

John Sankey: Parked cars on Uplands at Royalton are interfering with snow removal.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: is outraged that Rogers Cable showed “Jackass the Movie” on channel 15. The movie is morally depraved and disgusting.

Maria McRea: Communication over the cable networks is a federal issue. Gisèle should write to Rogers and the CRTC. Another option would be to bring the issue up at an all-candidates meeting.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: Handicapped people on Twyford need better snow removal and maybe a traffic sign would spur the snow removal crew to consider them. There was an accident on Twyford because the car was going too fast.

Alan Asselstine: The pedestrian walkway between Hunt Club and Patermeade should be plowed better. The Hunt Club Riverside Recreation Association (HCRRA) is sponsoring an all-candidates meeting Jan 17 at 19:00 and wants the HCCO to help. The East-West Rail Line will put further pressure to develop the Southern Corridor.

Peter Brimacombe: Peak Oil threatens our way of life. We need to develop the Southern Corridor in order to survive Peak Oil! He will attend the Ottawa Peak Oil Forum on Saturday January 28 at City Hall from 8:30 to 16:00 and prepare a report for the next meeting. (http://www.crudeawakening.net/)

Next meeting: Mon 6 Feb 2006 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Manuel Costa
• Gordon Graham
• Paul Desormeaux
• Barbara Leimsner
• Brian McDougall
• Paul McRae
• Ken Kealey
• Hidge Murdock
• Ivan Desaulniers
• Colin McSweeney
• Linda Poulsen
• Robert Poulsen
• Flo Ladds
• Bob Richer
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office
• Bonnie Conlon, City councillor’s office
• Tom Collins, The News

Motion: To renew our membership to the Greenspace Alliance ($10). The Greenspace Alliance seeks to preserve significant greenspaces in the City. Moved by Shelley Parlow, seconded by Gisèle Loiselle-Branch. Carried 3 to 1.

Maria McRae thanked the Hunt Club Community Organization for its work, welcomed the people at the meeting and presented a report.

A motion to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides has been presented to Council. There are legal problems with this by-law because the City cannot legally prohibit pesticides in the City but exclude golf courses and rural areas. Councillor Alex Cullen has worked hard on his proposal to reduce the use of pesticides. She is in favour of his proposal. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is an agency of the Federal Government. Other Canadian cities such as Toronto, London, Montreal and Vancouver have passed by-laws against pesticides.

Gordon Graham took issue with the right of the Hunt Club Community Organization to pass a motion against pesticides because it does not represent the majority.

Brian McDougall: The Hunt Club Community Organization can take whatever position it chooses. There has not been a formal poll on this issue and the Organization does not have to follow the politicians. Other cities have adopted similar by-laws against pesticides.

Manuel Costa: Pesticides are a health issue. It is hard to prove the link between pesticides and health – dandelions are not worth the risk!

Barbara Leismsner: We need to trust the scientists, the health of our community is at state! The Family Physicians of Ontario have said “there is enough concern” they support a ban. Dr. Robert Walker of CHEO supports a ban. She has leukemia because of exposure to DDT!

Colin McSweeney is associated with the lawn-care industry. He wants to reduce the use of pesticides. The lawn-care companies asked the City for guidelines as to acceptable rates of application for specific chemicals but the City could not provide them. City staff were zealots!

Fred McLennan polled the meeting: “how many people are in favour of a ban on pesticides and how many are opposed”? 7 in favour, 11 opposed

Maria McRae: On Wednesday November 9, the City budget will be released: She is working with a citizens group cBAT who work to add value to the City of Ottawa budget: Maria is committed to eliminating waste in City spending.

Autumn Tea for Seniors was a great success! 130 people attended on October 28 at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre.

There is a threat of a strike at OC Transpo. Maria does not want to see a strike and is against a lock-out.

Shelley Parlow: There will be an entertaining program of music and poetry to raise funds for the Poet’s Path at the Beechwood Cemetary on Nov 17 from 19:00 to 22:00.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: There should be a sign on Twyford Street near the path to the A & P Plaza. The sign would warn motorists that seniors and handicapped people are crossing the Street. Pat Murphy will follow up on Gisèle’s suggestion.

Alan Asselstine: On November 17, at the Jim Durrell Centre, there will be an open house to explain the East-West Corridor Light Rail Transit Project. The proposed east-west corridor effectively goes through the southern corridor, the proposed route will force riders from the east and west to go to South Keys but their destination is downtown.

Manuel Costa: the City needs the Light Rail Transit Project!

Next meeting: Mon 5 Dec 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Frank Horger
• Barbara Horger
• Manuel Costa
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office

Motion: That the Hunt Club Community Organization support a City wide ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides. Moved by Shelley Parlow. Carried.

The proposed Agenda was approved with one addition proposed by M. Costa: the coming pesticide discussion at City Hall.

The Minutes of the Sep.12, 2005 meeting were approved as written.

Pat Murphy, representing Councilor Maria McRae distributed a monthly report. It was read and discussed.

Shelley Parlow commented on the permanent graffiti on an utility box near Uplands Park and asked if it could be “adopted”.

A discussion was held regarding the future Light Rail corridors, North-South and East-West. Issues such as station location, benefits, land development, rolling equipment, vehicle features, rights of way, routing, etc were addressed.

Manuel Costa briefly described the City’s pesticide education campaign and its results; the City’s report is expected soon and will be discussed by Council at the end of the month.

Next meeting: Mon 7 Nov 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Art Miskew, Vice-President
• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Fred Winters, Director
• Maria McRae, City councillor
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office
• Erin Kelly, The News
• Ivy-Lea Lunau, David McGuinty’s Office

Motion: To oppose new restrictions on turns on or off Bronson Avenue. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Fred Winters. carried.

Maria McRae reported on the following:

• On Monday September 19, she is hosting a Family Fun Day for residents of River Ward. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided by Outback Steakhouse. Donations will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. Members of the Ottawa Renegades Football Club will be there: Kerry Joseph, Yo Murphy, Ibrahim Kahn and Johnny Scott.
• Integrated Road Safety Initiative is a program to reduce traffic fatalities or serious injuries. In July, the Police targeted sidewalk cycling and improper lane changing (by cars). In September the Police will target failing to stop for school buses and running red lights.
• Garbage Collection You can now recycle plastic tubs and lids (they have to be clean)
• Starting in January small business can buy garbage bags which the City will pick up on the regular collection days
• North-South Light Rail Project The City is doing an Environmental Assessment of the North-South Light Rail Project. This is an important part of the transportation infrastructure of the City. There will be a sod-turning event next year.

Art Miskew: The bottleneck in bus traffic are the bridges over the Ottawa River.

Maria McRae: Light Rail should cross the Ottawa River but the Province of Quebec resists it. By the way, thanks to Alan Asselstine for his work on Light Rail.

Alan Asselstine: The big problem is Albert and Slater Streets. They are jammed right now with buses, there is no room for buses and trains!

Art Miskew: You can have buses or trains but not both.

Maria McRae: This winter roads and sidewalks to be better maintained. The City expects there will be more freezing rain.

Alan Asselstine: Some older neighbourhoods have sidewalks on both sides of the road but don’t need them. It would be easier and cheaper to clear only one side and push the snow onto the other.

Maria McRae: I will send this suggestion to Transportation for comment.

Free parking for Veterans: 2005 is the Year of the Veteran. City will allow vehicles bearing a veterans license plate, issued by the Ministry of Transportation , to park for free at parking meters and in most City parking lots for the remainder of 2005.

The City has again received an AAA credit rating from Moody’s Investor Services. The City issues bonds to finance some of the capital projects it undertakes each year. The annual amount of debt issued by the City varies from year to year in a range of $50 to $100 million per year. The high credit ratings reduce the costs of the bonds.

2006 Budget: City Council directed staff to budget within the cost of living (2.4%) tax increase. The budget is severely pressured by

• high inflation on key materials, electricity , fuel and parts
• increase to purchased services as companies pass on their increased costs
• increased compensation to City’s unionized workforce

There will be a $60 – $70 million gap between revenue and expenditures this year!

Peter Brimacombe: There was a budget shortfall last year too. The budget shortfalls point to the need to be more efficient. To be more efficient, there has to be more density. The Southern Corridor is prime land for development, it can use existing road, water, sewer and hydro lines. It is located along the proposed east-west light rail line close to the north-south line.

Fred McLennan: There is a move on City Council to prohibit turns off Bronson Avenue onto Findlay Avenue. Residents of Hunt Club need this route to get onto the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. We need to revisit Albion Road closing.

Maria McRae: Uplands and Arnott Parks were refurbished this summer. Drugs and undesirables were reduced in Cahill Park by the use of motion detectors: After 23:00 people entering the park trigger an alarm, security staff can watch them and tell them to get out of the park. Motion detectors and cameras were donated by corporate sponsors.

Ivy-Lea Lunau: works for David McGuinty the Member of Parliament for the riding. David would like to help communities connect with federally-funded programs that meet their needs. Project Porchlight encourages homeowners to change their incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs to save energy.

Next meeting: Mon 3 Oct 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Alan Asselstine, Director
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• James Freeman
• Edith Freeman
• Maria McRae, City councillor
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office
• Tom Collins, The News

Motion: Whereas the HCCO wants to maximize the greenspace in the Southern Corridor and avoid costly litigation at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), be it resolved that the HCCO encourages the City and the NCC to continue to work together to find a viable solution. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Gisèle Loiselle-Branch. Carried.

Motion: To change the HCCO bank account from the Bank of Nova Scotia to the Alterna Bank (formerly CS CO-OP). Signatures on banking transactions will be Alan Asselstine, Treasurer and Fred McLennan President. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Gisèle Loiselle-Branch. Carried.

Maria McRae presented her report.

Peter Brimacombe: We have to have an efficient infrastructure to blunt the disastrous effects of peak oil. Once we reach peak oil there will be huge price increases in energy especially gasoline and diesel fuel and there will be shortages and electrical black-outs. Development in the Southern Corridor is an important part of an efficient infrastructure.

Alan Asselstine:

• taxpayers are paying more for public transit while riders are paying less!
• priorities for Urban Natural Areas are
  1. land along the Rideau River
  2. the headwaters of Sawmill Creek which extends out to Leitrim
  3. the Southern Corridor
• Regarding the Southern Corridor, the community has always accepted infill as legitimate because it makes the best use of existing infrastructure.

Maria McRae: needs direction from the Hunt Club Community Organization because talks with the NCC raise the expectation that some kind of deal can be worked out this summer.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: a new medical centre on Broadview in Toronto is attractive and practical, the City of Ottawa should consider this as an example of efficient infrastructure.

Alan Asselstine: The HCCO recommends that the City study a 3 way stop at the south-end of Plante and McCarthy. What is being done?
Maria McRae: Traffic counts will be done.

Next meeting: Mon 12 Sep 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Mike Nihmey
• Carole Gudz
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office

Motion: To donate the same amount as last year to the Victoria Day Celebration. Moved by Peter Brimacombe, seconded by Shelley Parlow. carried.

Pat Murphy presented a written report from City Councillor Maria McRae.

Carole Gudz and Mike Nihmey presented their proposal for a Car Free Day (CFD). Car Free Day is an initiative of the Sierra Club, it is a series of events to show the benefits of restricting automobiles within cities. The proposal is to close a small stretch of McCarthy Road between Hunt Club Road and the south-end of Plante Drive on Thursday September 22, 2005. The Road would be closed for four hours from 13:00 to 17:00. There could be fun events such as a community quilt where people would paint murals on canvas or other material and put them together on the Road. There could be a giant snakes-and-ladders game where the pieces are real people. Mike Nihmey has approached different schools to see if their students could participate.

Shelley Parlow: thought the idea was good.

Peter Brimacombe: we need at least 50% of the people that live on that stretch of road to sign on.

Fred McLennan: some people are going to be angry. It’s important that the event be well advertised. The issue will be deferred until next meeting.

Pat Murphy (representing Maria McRae) presented the Councillor’s Report:

• Uplands Park, City Council has approved $35,000 to replace the school-age play-structure. Thanks to Sarah McCormack for her help
• Rack and Roll is a program whereby cyclists can put their bikes on a bike rack and get on the bus. Not all buses are equipped with bike racks but there are 200 buses with them and ten designated routes. See http://www.octranspo.com/
• Maria McRae will host a strawberry social at the end of June. Contact Maria McRae at 580-2486 for tickets
• sewer backups, City Council has expanded the subsidy program for the installation of protective plumbing. See http://ottawa.ca/city_services/grants/10_15_en.shtml
• compost for sale at Trail Road, $5.15 to fill a container in a car and $15.45 to fill a pick-up truck. See http://ottawa.ca/gc/compost_awareness_en.shtml
• smoke alarms, Ottawa Fire Services reminds us to have working smoke alarms!
• West Nile virus protection, the City is continuing its program which includes applying larvicide as needed. See http://ottawa.ca/city_services/yourhealth/environmental/westnile_faq_en.shtml

Shelley Parlow asked for a garbage collection calendar. Pat Murphy will send her one. It’s also available online: http://ottawa.ca/gc/zone7f_en.shtml.

Fred McLennan: Erwin Dreessen has asked for a donation to the Victoria Day Celebration.

Shelley Parlow: Erwin Dreessen and Bill Royds will present the Poets’ Pathway to the National Capital Commission (NCC) on Tuesday May 3.

Fred McLennan: Longwood Building Corporation has submitted a plan for the development of 96 townhouses, south of Hunt Club Road, behind the BMW dealership.

Shelley Parlow: the main concern is that the water quality of creeks through the property be protected.

Next meeting: Mon 6 Jun 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Fred Winters, Director
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office

Motion: To widen the Terms of Reference of the Environmental Assessment to include a broader range of options including an east-west route through downtown. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Shelley Parlow. Carried.

Fred McLennan: The City will give us a tree to plant to help celebrate its 150th anniversary. We have the choice of maple or oak and we need to choose a place to plant it.

Two places were discussed: one on the grounds of the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre beside the baseball field next to McCarthy Woods and the other in Cahill Park near Twyford. The consensus was that the first location was the best and the tree should be a maple.

Pat Murphy (representing Maria McRae):

• The City is promoting “Spring Cleaning the Capital Campaign”. This is a project where residents cleanup areas near them. The City will pick up the garbage collected.
• “Ottawa Business Connects” is a program to help Ottawa businesses especially manufacturing.
• Maria McRae asked that the Police enforce speeding laws particularly on Plante Drive.
• There have been ongoing discussions regarding the entrance to the Shoppers Drug Mart Plaza at Walkley Road and Bank Street. One of the options is to put in a new traffic light on Walkley Road. In the meantime the existing entrance will be kept. Maria has talked with the commercial tenants in the A&P Plaza about safety concerns.
• She has discussed Neighbourhood Watch with people around Cahill Park near Twyford. A petition concerning property standards concerning the Hunt Club near Hunt Club Place has been sent to Bylaw Enforcement.

Fred McLennan presented a letter from one of the property owners on Hunt Club Place and a map of the land parcels with an aerial photograph as a backdrop. The property owners were identified and the presence of a stream was noted. Consensus was to take no position at this time subject to the review by Bylaw Enforcement.

Alan Asselstine reported on the East West Public Corridor LRT Project: http://ottawa.ca/public_consult/lrt/ew/index_en.shtml
The proposed route goes along the CNR railway on the north edge of the Southern Corridor. The Recommended Rapid Transit Network is a de-facto decision for railways and existing railway lines. It suggests stations in the middle of the Southern Corridor. It will use existing bridges but it will compete with existing freight trains. The real problem with public transit is the congestion of buses through the downtown area.

Shelley Parlow: She went to visit David McGuinty (M.P.) and a representative from Dalton McGuinty’s (Premier of Ontario) office. She presented the proposed Poets’ Pathway which would consist of 30 kilometres of walking trails. It is designed to preserve the Southern Corridor in its natural state. The meeting lasted three hours and was very friendly. David McGuinty said that he was glad to know of the concerns of the residents of Hunt Club.

Peter Brimacombe: Development of the Southern Corridor is one piece of the infrastructure that we need to survive peak oil. There is a growing body of opinion that warns of the danger:

• http://www.endofsuburbia.com/
• http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
• http://www.endofsuburbia.com/ and
• http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/.

The danger is such that McCarthy Woods is likely to be cut down for firewood!

Maria McRae. On the Tuesday after our meeting Alan received a letter from Maria saying that the 2005 City budget contains $9M for Phase II of the Sawmill Creek constructed wetlands. Construction is expected to start this fall. This is taking place thanks to Maria’s hard work and Wendy’s before that.

Next meeting: Mon 2 May 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Patrick Richter (Southern Corridor and website) Director (memberships)
• Erwin Dreessen
• Sarah McCormack
• Bill Royds, Greenspace Alliance
• Maria McRae, City councillor
• Pat Murphy, City councillor’s office
• Christen Harold, The News

City Councillor Maria McRae submitted a written report.

Erwin Dreessen and Bill Royds presented “Saving the Southern Corridor through Poetry”. The proposal is that the Southern Corridor should be preserved as a way to commemorate the Confederation Poets who were centered in the capital. This proposal is made by the Greenspace Alliance: http://www.flora.org/greenspace/poetspath-1/index.shtml. The National Capital Commission (NCC) owns the Southern Corridor. The NCC contests the designation of major portions of the Southern Corridor as Major Open Space in the City’s Official Plan. Instead the NCC wants them designated as General Urban Area which would allow them to be developed. Included in the proposal was a groundworks design for a commemorative plaque surrounded by a grove located next the the Hunt Club/Riverside Community Centre.

Patrick Richter: What would be the costs of the Poets’ Pathway?

Erwin Dreessen: The NCC would forego the sale of the property for development.

Sarah McCormack: Would adoption of this proposal save the Southern Corridor from development?

Erwin Dreessen: Yes. The Poets’ Pathway would go from Britannia in the west to the Beechwood Cemetery in the east but there are obstacles to a continuous pathway.

Peter Brimacombe: The City proposes to build 48,000 housing units in Leitrim/South Ottawa over the next 20 years to provide for a growing population. The 48,000 housing units will require an infrastructure that is too expensive to build, will require energy too expensive to maintain, will make development of an efficient public transit system impossible and will encroach on agricultural land. The documentary “The End of Suburbia” makes the point that “peak oil” is inevitable. The 48,000 units are not only inefficient, they threaten our survival. See http://www.endofsuburbia.com/catalog.htm. The documentary will be shown on Wednesday night at 22:00 on Vision TV. The alternative is to develop within the City. The Southern Corridor would be one such development.

There was a general discussion about Erwin Dreessen and Bill Royds’ presentation. Comments were positive.

Maria McRae:

• Agrees that we should preserve the Southern Corridor but that our best strategy is to work with the NCC to find a permanent solution.
• Thanked Erwin Dreessen and Bill Royds for their presentation and noted that Bill Royds also worked on the Sawmill Creek constructed wetlands.
• The proposed east-west extension of Light Rail will cut across a corner of the Southern Corridor.: http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/public_consult/lrt/ew/index_en.shtml
• There will be public meetings about expansion of Light Rail, March 21, 22 and 23: http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/public_consult/lrt/ns/stage_3/index_en.shtml
• Cost of expansion of Light Rail in Ottawa will be shared equally by federal, provincial and municipal governments – each will pay one third of $724 million.
• There will be a new bridge over the Rideau River just north of Manotick, it should include lanes for cars as well as tracks for trains.
• There will be a rail station at Walkley Road, it should be a multi-functional structure that would provide for shops and businesses.
• We have to build light rail to provide relief to the transportation crisis that we have right now.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: Many of the roads in our community have developed pot-holes over the course of the winter.

Maria McRae: There will be a big program to resurface the roads in the spring, including Uplands Drive, McCarthy Road, and Plante Drive. She voted in favour of the City budget including the plan to hire 20 new paramedics. She continues to look for ways to run the City more efficiently. For example the Hunt Club/Riverside Community Centre is run on a fee-for-service basis, this should be the model for other community centres. The City will be celebrating its 150-year anniversary this year: http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/residents/ottawa_150/index_en.shtml. As part of this celebration the Hunt Club Community Organization will be given a tree. We have to decide where to plant it by April 8. Also we are asked to contribute half a page to a scrap book that will be put in a time capsule. Once again this year, the City will host the Tulip Festival: http://www.tulipfestival.ca/

Patrick Richter is impressed with the improvements to the OC Transpo Routes, especially Route 87.

Fred McLennan: What conditions will be required to change the zoning near Hunt Club Place?

There was a general discussion regarding the application for rezoning, the property lots and the small stream in the area. Maria McRae said that she would actively follow developments.

Next meeting: Mon 4 Apr 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Patrick Richter (Southern Corridor and website) Director (memberships)
• Fred Winter
• Kiel Edge

Motion: To invite Erwin Dreessen to present his proposal on the Poet’s Pathway in the Southern Corridor. Moved by Patrick Richter, seconded by Shelley Parlow. carried.

Motion: The HCCO does not object to the Iogen proposal for a three-story building at the Iogen site as long as there is no access from Hunt Club Road. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Peter Brimacombe. carried.

Motion: To switch our account to the CS Co-op. Peter Brimacombe and Fred Winters are already members of the CS Co-op, they will be given signing authority. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Patrick Richter. carried.

Peter Brimacombe: Lack of development in the Southern Corridor forces development to the outskirts of the City. Development on the outskirts is the lowest density, it is the most expensive to service, it is the most expensive in terms of energy use, it provides no opportunity for efficient public transit, it disrupts the environment over the largest area and it intrudes into agricultural land. The City has written a report “Where will we live?” http://ottawa.ca/city_services/planningzoning/facts/where_we_live/index_en.shtml.

Figure 3 allocates 48,000 new units to the South Urban/ Leitrim area. The report confirms that this development would be the lowest density development (25 units/hectare) and that 30% of the land would be used for roads and other infrastructure. Low density means that the South Urban/Leitrim development would be very expensive to service, it would provide no opportunity for effiicient public transit and it would disrupt the environment over a wide area. The fact that it is on the outskirts means that it would further inclusions into agricultural land.

Patrick Richter: But if the Southern Corridor were developed wouldn’t that reduce the natural areas and increase pollution in our neighbourhood?

Alan Asselstine: It is a question of how you build, you can build the houses side-by-side or you can build them one-on-top-of-another. The one-on-top-of-another is the most efficient and will provide the minimum impact on the environment.

Fred Winters: I like the trees in the Southern Corridor. There is rapid expansion on the outskirts of the City right now.

Peter Brimacombe: 48,000 new units in South Ottawa/Leitrim would destroy wetlands and other natural areas, it is more costly, it is a cost we cannot afford.

Shelley Parlow: There is a clear majority against development in the Southern Corridor.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: High density threatens surrounding natural spaces because some people would throw their garbage there.

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch: There needs to be more parking on Twyford on the side opposite the fire station. The units in the Sequoia Co-op have one parking spot each but many families have two cars. The City should give permission to pave the strip beside the road to provide more parking spaces. There is the road, beside the road a sidewalk and beside the sidewalk the strip of land.

Pat Murphy: The Sequoia Co-op would have to ask the City for a change in the site plan. She will investigate.

Shelley Parlow: The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has invited interested parties to be present at a meeting Monday February 28 at 10:00 to hear the NCC appeal of the City Official Plan. The NCC is appealing zoning that restricts development in the Southern Corridor. Patrick Richter said that he would attend.

Fred McLennan: The Hunt and Golf Club has applied to change the zoning of three lots on Hunt Club Place from residential to leisure. The application is opposed by Mr. Greg Capello who owns lots on Hunt Club Place. Hunt Club Place is on the north side of Hunt Club Road across from the BMW Dealership. The Planning Committe will hear this on March 22.

Fred McLennan: The Airport Authority has proposed to build a three story office building at the Iogen Site.

Fred McLennan: There will be public meetings to discuss Ward Boundaries. http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/ward/ward_5_en.shtml

Alan Asselstine: The principle is one person one vote. It should be respected.

Alan Asselstine: The HCCO has its bank account at the Scotia Bank in the A&P Plaza. The Scotia Bank is charging $9 a month. He recommends moving the account to the CS Co-op, there will be a one-time fee of $15 and then $0.60 a cheque.

Next meeting: Mon 7 Mar 2005 at 7:30pm

Attendees:

• Fred MacLennan, President
• Alan Asselstine, Treasurer
• Peter Brimacombe, Secretary
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Shelley Parlow, Director
• Patrick Richter (Southern Corridor and website) Director (memberships)
• Tom Collins, The News

Motion: The City should evaluate its policy on snow removal on sidewalks in the whole City. Criteria should be based on use such as the amount of pedestrian traffic, whether the sidewalk is along a bus route or a hospital. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Patrick Richter, carried.

Motion: The Hunt Club Community Organization should become a member of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa-Carleton (FCA) (http://ato.smartcapital.ca/fca/), cost is $30. Moved by Alan Asselstine, seconded by Shelley Parlow, carried. Alan pointed out that to be an active member we have to attend the meetings.

Motion: The Hunt Club Community Organization should become a member of Greenspace Alliance (http://www.flora.org/greenspace/), cost is $20. Moved by Shelley Parlow, seconded by Patrick Richter, carried.

Peter Brimacombe restated the Southern Corridor proposal: The Southern Corridor is described in the Hunt Club Draft Neighbourhood Plan, October 1998. The proposal would protect most of the Southern Corridor but would allow development next to existing development. The protected area comprises McCarthy Woods and most of the area to the west, it runs south of the Ontario Hydro Corridor and extends almost to Riverside Drive. The part to be developed is south of the protected part and is adjacent to existing development. The protected area including McCarthy Woods would be designated as an Urban Natural Feature, it would provide a continuous corridor for wild life.

Shelley Parlow: access to the Urban Natural Feature would be through the part to be developed. A culvert could enclose the little creek near Gillespie.

Alan Asselstine: The existing CNR railway could be used for the O Train but the root problem with public transit in Ottawa is the downtown congestion along Albert and Slater Streets. Public transit is a basic.

Fred McLennan: There will be a public consultation on the budget at the Jim Durrell Centre on January 18: http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/inside_govt/budget/budget_2005/p_consultations_2_en.shtml

Gisèle Loiselle-Branch will hand over the membership duties to Patrick Richter.

Next meeting: Mon 7 Feb 2005 at 7:30pm