Attendees:
Motion: Mark Mongeau motioned that the following statement be adopted by the Hunt Club Community Organization to address the three levels of government: "We support the City of Ottawa's Official Plan land designations for Parcels 3 and 4 of the South ern Corridor. This is the southernmost portion of the large green space located between Riverside Drive and McCarthy Woods ( 25 hectares) and between the Woods and the Airport Parkway (12 hectares). This vast natural area lies between two neighbourhood s, Hunt Club Woods and Riverside Park. The parcels in question are currently designated Major Open Space. We oppose development of this land and wish to preserve the area's natural beauty for recreational purposes". Seconded by Maria Fitzpatrick. Votes: for 26, against 1. Carried.
City Councillor, Maria McRae, reported on the following:
Fred McLennan: Introduced discussion on the Southern Corridor.
Shelley Parlow represents a group that wants to preserve the Southern Corridor. The City has restricted development in parts of the Southern Corridor but the NCC is appealing the City's Official Plan.
Maria McRae, the City Councillor has asked that the Hunt Club Community Organization express its position.
Patrick Richter collected 2000 signatures on a petition supporting the City's Official Plan. He told the people who signed the petition that they could not all attend the monthly meeting because there was only limited space. He wants the Southern Corridor to be protected permanently.
Maria Fitzpatrick lives on Rhapsody Lane. She wants to preserve the Southern Corridor because it is important to preserve the ecology, to preserve the oxygen-producing capacity of the plant life and to preserve the value of her prop erty. She asks "What is wrong with urban sprawl?"
Brian MacAdam likes to walk his dog in the Southern Corridor. He has visited Hong Kong and doesn't like it because it is too crowded. He thinks there is nothing wrong with urban sprawl.
Alan Riddell, Conservative candidate for Ottawa South wants a more open NCC and wants to make it harder to develop open space.
Sarah McCormack: we don't have enough space, we need more space. There is a problem with urban sprawl but we in Hunt Club have done our part. Our grandchildren will suffer if we lose the Southern Corridor. Why do we have to settle for its loss?
Carol Evoy lives in the Coady Residence. Urban sprawl is a problem but we absolutely love the Southern Corridor just the way it is!
Rick Logan just came back from Asia where there is huge congestion and crowding. We should demand that the green space be preserved even though it may look self serving.
Joan Hearn lives on Gillespie Crescent: We should be stopping urban sprawl but in order to make any significant difference to the City, the Southern Corridor would have to be developed intensively. Since she does not want intensive development she is against any.
Peter Brimacombe is in favour of development because it is the only way to stop urban sprawl. Urban sprawl in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has consumed a good part of the best agricultural land in Canada. It is this loss that our grandchildren will feel. Restricted development in the Southern Corridor makes it harder and less likely to achieve four important goals:
Next meeting: Mon 13 Sep 2004 at 7:30pm