Report to River Ward Community Associations
April 2001
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Windmill
Option Signed for Hog’s Back Park
Parks Canada and the NCC have given the Friendship
Windmill Corporation a three year option to get approvals from federal and
municipal governments that will allow them to construct a windmill at Mooney’s
Bay. This agreement was based on the
Windmill proponent’s claim that the vast majority of people attending the
public meeting in November of 1999 were in support of the proposal. The fact is that most supporters who were
present that evening were brought in from other areas of the City, and were
already involved with the project – and many local residents with valid
concerns were not even given an opportunity to speak. It does not bode well for the future of this project, on any
site, when organizers feel the need to “railroad” a host community and
misinterpret input from public consultation.
I continue to follow this matter closely. The City has not yet received an application from the Windmill
Corporation.
Community
Resource Centre Opportunity
Community Resource Centres are partnerships between
residents and agencies that provide support services at the local level,
promoting social, economic, physical, mental and environmental health. When service re-alignment taxed municipal
budgets in the late 1990’s, the Region recognized CRC’s as our best investment
for supporting individuals and families that may need help. In Ottawa, 13 different CRC’s serve
geographic areas from the downtown to West Carleton, Kars and Cumberland.
Unfortunately,
the communities of Hunt Club and Riverside Park do not fall into any of these
catchment areas at this time, although the need for services had been
identified and prioritized by the former Regional government. Capital and operating dollars were simply
not available to acquire a new centre at that time. However, some funding was provided for youth programs and
sessions on immigration, social assistance, consumer protection, parenting, and
so on.
I am
pleased to report that an opportunity now exists to build on the groundwork of
the South Ottawa Gloucester Community Resource Action Team, and create a CRC
for our communities. If you are
interested in working with me in an advisory role for this, the final leg, of
the lengthy process to bring a CRC to Hunt Club-Riverside, I would appreciate
hearing from you. While experience
would be an asset, perhaps the most important quality is caring about our
community and its most vulnerable residents.
Please give me a call at 580-2486 for more information, or to become
involved.
Francophonie
Games at Terry Fox – Mooney’s Bay
With overlap from three popular events this summer – the Francophonie Games, the Hope Volleyball Tournament and the Lebanese Festival – the City it preparing to take measures to protect Riverside Park residents from parking, noise and other event-related issues during a three week period in July.
Together with the Riverside Park Community and Recreation
Association, I have organized a public information meeting with representatives
of these events and City regulatory staff.
This forum will allow residents to ask questions and give direction on
measures they would like taken to mitigate impacts on their community.
All are invited – May 2nd, Riverside United
Church (Riverside Drive just south of Walkley intersection, at 7 p.m.
Conservation Ontario, the collective voice of the
province’s 38 conservation authorities, has submitted a discussion paper to the
Walkerton Inquiry. This paper shows how
proper watershed management could have prevented the pollution of the aquifer
by managing water as a unit. Please let
me know if you would like to receive a copy of this document.
While the tragedy
in the Walkerton community may seem remote from our city, residents in the
Village of Richmond were recently directed by the Medical Officer of Health to
boil water after the failure of chlorination devices at their communal
system. An investigation is underway by
City staff to identify what happened and ensure that communal wells are
protected in the future.
The City of Ottawa is also working with area conservation
authorities to develop a well inspection program after the Eastern Ontario
Water Management Study showed that proper inspection of wells during
construction can help prevent pollution of aquifers.
The Mayor has announced a major conference in June to
address the issue of managing growth in our City. As part of this process, Council also endorsed the establishment
of an Advisory Group composed of key stakeholders as a means of securing input
on the substantive elements of the Summit endeavour.
Councillors are asked to identify community leaders who
would like to have their names submitted as advisors to this process. Please let me know if you are interested.
The Ottawa Partnership (TOP) has reported on a study that
looks at tax revenues flowing to the Ontario and Federal Governments from job
creation generated by our city’s red-hot economy. The study has found:
·
44,800 new jobs were
created over the 1998 - 2000 period, generating $824M in new annual tax revenue
(90% of which flows to senior governments).
·
this growth has resulted
in an immediate and unfunded $250M need for municipal road and transit
infrastructure.
·
for the longer term,
Ottawa’s capital funding shortfall is estimated at $100M annually over the next
20 years (equivalent to one-time 13% property tax increase based on 2001
revenue).
If we want to sustain Ottawa’s momentum in job creation,
quality of life and existing tax revenue streams, a timely investment by all
levels of government - specifically federal and provincial - is recommended to
address this infrastructure challenge.
Rural
Component in our new City
While Ottawa may be best known as a high tech or
government town, it also boasts the largest agricultural economy of any major
city in Canada. A new report puts
agricultural revenue in our city at greater than that of Toronto, Montreal,
Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary combined.
Ninety percent of the land within the new City boundaries
is rural. There are working farms in every one of the 11 municipalities
comprising the new City. In recent years, these farms have experienced double
the rate of growth of those in the rest of Eastern Ontario. In 1996, for example, farm gate sales
measured more than $136M, with an additional $1.94M in sales by businesses that
dealt with farmers. Ottawa’s farms are
dominated by beef and diary operations, as well as thriving horse and specialty
crop sectors. Directly and indirectly,
they employ over 10,000 people.
In recognition that agriculture is an essential part of
our new economy, City Council has taken an important first step by establishing
a permanent standing committee on agricultural and rural issues.
Advisory
Committees for New City
In March, Council decided to create 16 committees to
advise Council in the following areas:
Equity and Diversity; Accessibility; French Language Services; Youth
Cabinet; Poverty Issues; Arts; Seniors; Parks and Recreation; Environment;
LACAC; Mobility Issues; Agriculture and
Rural Affairs; Cycling; Ottawa Forests; Health and Social Services; and
Heritage.
Positions
for each of these groups will be advertised in the weekly and daily newspapers
in April, and interested residents are encouraged to apply.
Light
Rail Pilot Project - Update
In August of this year (after the Francophonie Games, but
before Carleton University academic year begins) we will launch the first
passenger rail service in North America that is designed for one-person
operation in the cab. We are also the
first North American rail company using Bombardier Talent trains. In April, the first 30 candidates will be
selected to begin training for the position of light rail operator.
Preliminary construction work is already underway at the
Greenboro, Confederation, Carleton, Carling and Bayview stations. Because this is a pilot project, stations
are very basic in design with concrete platforms and unheated shelters. They will be fully accessible, however, and
the platforms will have extensions to the train doors. Full attention has been paid to
security. All stations will be well lit
and equipped with emergency and pay phones, security cameras, and a PA system
on the platform that can be addressed from the control centre, security dispatch
or train operators’ radios. Contractors
are aiming to complete all outstanding station work by August 5th.
Fares for light rail will be fully integrated with the OC
Transpo fare structure. Passes,
transfers and cash (but not tickets) will be accepted. The trains will operate on an honour fare
system with roving fare inspectors checking for compliance, since rail
operators will work in a separate cab.
Cash fares will be paid on board via an electronically operated fare box
that issues a transfer.
Land
Exchange at Hunt Club Rd./Riverside Dr. - Update
A report will be considered by Corporate Services
Committee on April 17th regarding the land swap between the City and
adjacent property owner. The benefit
of this land exchange will be to locate a park next to the Quinterra/Riverwood
community instead of the Hunt Club Bridge (with commercial/office dividing the
two). This land exchange is at nominal
cost ($1.00) and does not represent revenue or expense to the City. Independent real estate appraisals on both
parcels indicate that land values are similar.
The City of Ottawa has been collecting monies from local
developers within the Uplands/Riverside area on a per unit charge to be used
for the implementation of these recreation facilities.
The Transitway, built by the Region and now owned by the
City, has won an award for Canadian Public Works Project of the Century. Our unique bus-based rapid transit system
has the lowest per capita capital cost and the highest ridership of any rapid
transit system in North America. It has
proven that even low density urban centres like Ottawa can offer effective and
affordable rapid transit.
After months of consultation and discussion, the time is
nearing for a decision on the by-law to ban smoking in public places in the new
City of Ottawa. This includes all
restaurants, bars, bingo halls etc. I
feel it is appropriate to report back to you on my reasoning and position
before the vote is taken by Council.
The following comments embody advice taken from residents on this
important issue.
Concerns expressed can be grouped into 3 categories: dire consequences for businesses; infringes
on personal freedoms; and, attempts to legislate morality. Supporters say that it promotes health for
all, including the personal freedoms of non-smokers, at the expense of none.
I remain concerned about the short-term effect on
businesses, although those who have voluntarily become non-smoking (McDonald’s,
Tim Horton’s) have not seen a decline.
Movie theatres also bounced back after smoking was banned and are now
more popular than ever. Many new
patrons will likely choose to visit smoke-free establishments and make up for
business lost to Hull or elsewhere.
I do not believe that government is legislating morality
in passing this by-law - it is merely clarifying a long-held basic tenet of our
society and its laws: the obligation of
all of us not to do damage to our neighbour, whether figuratively or literally. If all smokers had consideration for the
Golden Rule, they would show concern and consideration for fellow patrons, and
not smoke indoors in public places.
This by-law just requires people to do what they should be doing in the
first place.
With regard to personal freedoms, no one denies smokers
their right to their habit, it is the non-smoker who is denied a right to air
free of second-hand smoke. Smokers
remain free to indulge, just not in a way that endangers those around them.
I would like to thank all those who took time to contact
me on this important issue. Thanks as
well to the Ottawa-Carleton Council on Smoking and Health and its member
agencies who have been involved in this debate since 1978 - working to educate
the public, and City Council, on the very serious health dangers from
second-hand smoke. Their website has
received more than 10,000 hits, and polled support for the ban at 81%. They have received over 600 e-mails, with
support at 4:1.
My own consultation closely mirrors these findings,
although I want to say that my position has not been reached as a result of
counting hands. On the contrary, I am
convinced that this is a step to protect and encourage public health, and one
that the vast majority of the public is now ready and willing to take.
I intend to vote in favour of the 100% smoke free by-law
on April 25th.
1.
Moffatt Farm: Prince of
Wales Dr./Falaise: current status - DCR Phoenix has submitted Official Plan,
Zoning Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision applications to the City. Planner
Doug Bridgewater is reviewing the material, and awaiting further studies. Once
all necessary information has been received, a formal circulation and
consultation process will begin. As outlined in earlier reports, the NCC has
offered this to DCR Phoenix in exchange for land encompassing the Montfort
Woods. Public consultation is integral to land use changes.
2.
Medical
Centre/Hyperbaric Chamber: Bank and
Vancouver: current status - A site plan to move the tank in order to meet
zoning and Fire Code requirements is under review, and a decision on the
relocation of the tank will be made shortly.
3.
2930 Albion Rd. Located between Kitchener and Walkley: current
status - Claridge Homes submitted plans for a portion of the former
Heron-Walkley corridor after signing a conditional purchase agreement with the
NCC. The final number of units is
expected to be less than the previously agreed to zoning allows with a mix of
single-family dwellings and townhomes. A public information meeting was held
March 22 to review the proposal.
4.
Central
Park/Ashcroft/Clyde Avenue Holdings: 1241 Clyde Ave. (former DOC lands); current status – An appeal on the
Draft Plan of Subdivision was dismissed at the OMB. Council approved a zoning
bylaw March 28 that suggests about 160 homes – ranging in density from singles
to townhouses - on this 3.8-hectare site.
5.
300 Central Park Dr. (fronting on
Merivale Road) Ashcroft-Clyde Avenue Holdings has submitted a Zoning Amendment
Application and Site Plan Control Proposal to the City for this site. A public
Open House was held at the Ashcroft Sales Centre April 3 to review these
applications. The proposal is to rezone two high density residential zones and
a leisure linkage zone that surround an existing employment centre zone, to a
single new employment centre zoning. The site plan proposal would encompass all
of the new employment centre zone and would allow the construction of a
high-rise apartment tower, an office building and three freestanding
retail/restaurant uses. A three-storey parking structure would link the
apartment building and office building. Both applications are expected to be
considered by Planning Committee in late May.
6.
1280 Merivale Rd. (Central Park near Caldwell): A Site Plan Control
Proposal has been submitted to the City suggesting 113 townhomes with private
roads for this 1.8-hectare site. Staff is not prepared to support the plan as
it has been proposed, and the developer has not yet submitted revisions.
7.
110 Central Park Dr. (next to park) Ashcroft/Clyde Avenue Holdings
has submitted a site plan proposing two 10-storey apartment towers and one
four-storey retirement building for this site. Combined, there would be a total
of 224 units, with a 144-space underground parking garage and 102 above-ground
parking spaces. The site is presently zoned to allow medium and high density
residential uses. Comments on the proposal should be sent to City planner
Patrick Legault by April 20.
8.
1172 Walkley Road: CP rail land located on the south side of Walkley
Rd, west of Bank St. - Council endorsed a Planning Committee decision of March
28 to allow the rezoning for a high-rise residential or office development on
this site.
9.
McCarthy/Cahill West
Development – City staff is reviewing
comments for Minto’s proposal to rezone the area to allow a residential mix of
single family homes and townhomes. Generally, comments indicate residents would
prefer fewer houses along McCarthy Road and Cahill Drive West, and that money
derived from payment-in-lieu-of-parkland is directed to the Hunt Club Riverside
Community Centre.
10. 1057 Merivale Road (south of Shillington) – The applicant is proposing to demolish a repair garage
and convenience store presently located on the site and replace the structures
with a four-storey, 36-unit rooming house. The proposal includes 26 parking
spaces. Zoning is in place for this development.
12. 1132 Merivale Road: (vacant lot at the corner of Merivale and Mayview Avenue); current
status - Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation has applied to build 13 two,
three and four-bedroom townhouses and stacked townhouse rental units. No
rezoning is required. A departmental recommendation is expected shortly. This
project will receive funding from the Homelessness Initiatives Fund.
13. 3600 Riverside Drive - Tubman Funeral Homes: A Divisional
Court Appeal date has been set for May 7th. Tubman’s is proceeding to appeal.
14. Albion Road and CN Tracks (surplus NCC property): The NCC has given notice that
it proposes to dispose of approximately 2.4 ha (18.3 acres) east of Albion
Road.