Councillor’s Report – River Ward

October 2002

 

 


Ottawa 20/20 – New Official Plan

      Experts tell us that in the next 20 years, our City will be home to 400,000 new residents, 190,000 new homes, 300,000 new jobs and 200,000 new cars and trucks. Ottawa is charting a new course to manage these changes, a process which began with the Smart Growth Summit in June 2001.

The current step in the Ottawa 20/20 process is the launch of a series of public consultation workshops that have been designed to enable residents, community groups and other stakeholders to express their ideas, ask questions and gain information on the City’s new Official Plan. These workshops will take place until November 4th in locations around the City. River Ward residents are invited to attend a local workshop October 22nd, at the Carleton Heights Community Centre, 1665 Apeldoorn Ave., from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Topics to be discussed cover a broad spectrum including increased traffic, greenspace, local arts and heritage, and access to amenities and services. The feedback received in these workshops will be incorporated into the development of the City’s new Official Plan and related Human Services Plan, Arts and Heritage Plan, Economic Strategy and Corporate Strategic Plan.

2003 Budget

We’re looking at another property tax freeze and meeting the City’s amalgamation target as a result of 2003 Budget directions approved by Council in late July. Since the new City was formed, $53 million in amalgamation savings have been identified and incorporated in the base budget. Service levels have been maintained and enhanced. We asked staff to investigate a number of options in order to meet the tax rate target including long-range operational plans and reviewing user fees, charges and/or service levels.

Significant investments in public safety, transit and transportation, health, social housing, libraries, recreation, rural servicing initiatives and water and sewer infrastructure are among the major initiatives funded in 2001 and 2002 budgets. Contributions to reserve funds totalled $341 million over those two years as well.

Public consultation on the 2003 Budget got underway in May and lasted until mid-June. The 2003 Draft Capital and Operating Budgets are scheduled to be tabled on November 13th with community consultation continuing from Nov. 14 to Dec. 6, 2002. Standing committees will review the budget from Dec. 9 to 17, with City Council’s review slated for January 31st, 2003.

Hunt Club Riverside Community Service Centre

      It was my distinct honour and pleasure to help celebrate the opening of the City’s 13th Community Service Centre Sept. 5th with the many people who helped make this centre a reality. That evening helped recognize the significant achievement of the centre’s new home in the Hunt Club Shopping Centre at 3320 Paul Anka Dr.

      The HCRCSC will provide a variety of services, programs and workshops for residents of Hunt Club and Riverside Park. These communities have, until now, been without access to social services and programs available in other areas in the City. A needs assessment showed that high immigrant, senior populations and families in these communities could benefit from access to programs and resources.

      On the occasion of the opening of Ottawa’ newest resource centre, I was pleased to offer my personal best wishes to the Hunt Club Riverside Community Services Centre Board of Directors, who include: Maria McRae, Pamela McDonald, Nancy Seaby, Lynda Barrett, Laura Clark, Juno Eapen, Flo Ladds, Sonya Laing, Pat Thurlow and Kelli Tonner, as well as centre staff and volunteers for continued success. All of these people truly do live up to the Centre’s motto of “Community Serving Community.”

Proposed Animal Control By-law

We have been gathering comments on the City’s proposed animal control by-law, which will harmonize 25 previous by-laws in former municipalities into one. To examine the issue, the City hired a consultant who made a wide range of recommendations. The most controversial seemed to be the required leashing of dogs off personal property (except in areas otherwise designated), cat licensing and not allowing cats to trespass, cause damage or nuisance on other people’s property.

Council considered this by-law at a meeting Oct. 9th. While the general contents of the proposed by-law remained intact, Council did not support banning circuses, and relaxed regulations regarding ownership of parrots, cockatoos, macaws and tarantulas.

Full details on the by-law will be available on the City’s website at www.ottawa.ca .

Pesticide Use on Private Property

      In an effort to determine the best way to reduce the use of pesticides on private properties, several public consultations sessions were scheduled across the City. This series of discussions capped a summer-long education campaign initiated by the City. In the past several months, the campaign has raised awareness of the potential health and environmental risks associated with the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides, and has encouraged residents to reduce use and consider alternative greening options for their lawns and gardens.

      Four options are being proposed for consideration. The first is to continue the City’s existing public awareness and education campaign on pesticide reduction. Option two centres on enhancing the awareness campaign and includes a public/private outreach program. The third option incorporates the elements contained in either Option 1 or 2, but also examines the idea of industry self-regulation through voluntary compliance of predetermined standards. The final option seeks the public’s views on municipal regulation, such as a pesticides bylaw.

      If you did not attend a public consultation session, there is still an opportunity to make your views known. I welcome your input on this subject and encourage you to write, call or e-mail me directly.

  Community Grant Programs

      The Community Environmental Grant Program (CEPGP) has a submission deadline of October 18th. Non-profit organizations and community groups are invited to submit a project proposal in writing no later than 4 p.m. that day.

      Information packages are available on the City’s website (www.ottawa.ca ) under “City Services/Grants,” at the City’s Client Services Centres, or by contacting Sarah Desjardins, program coordinator at 580-2424, ext. 22792.

      CEPGP was created to help the City meet its environmental objectives in the areas of water efficiency, solid waste diversion, wastewater, the water environment, sustainable development and broader climate issues.

      Applications are also now being accepted for the 2003 Community Grant Program for Health, Recreation and Social Services. Funding guidelines, including proposal outline and application form, are now available for community agencies, groups and associations at City Libraries, as well as at Ottawa City Hall, located at 110 Laurier Ave. West. The application package is also accessible through the City of Ottawa’s website. The deadline for submission is November 15th at 4:30 p.m.

 

School Zone Safety Awareness Campaign

      This fall, as children returned to school, the City launched its first School Zone Traffic Awareness Campaign, designed to enhance the safety of those who walk to school.

      Steady growth in the City, combined with increased traffic and more children on the roads, has prompted us to focus on larger, more comprehensive traffic safety programs around schools. Educating children and providing them with the knowledge they require in order to better understand traffic is an integral part of the safety program. That, combined with enforcement, which will focus on driver behaviour, and an engineering plan addressing issues such as signs, signal timing, crossing guards and other traffic management tools.

      This program has been launched at 10 schools through the new City of Ottawa, and may expand if it is found successful.

Groundwater Mapping Study

      The Ontario Ministry of the Environment is teaming up with local municipalities, including Ottawa, to do the most thorough groundwater study ever undertaken in this area. The study will cover 25,000 square kilometres, including Rideau River watershed.

      The goal of the study is to learn more about how groundwater works, including the quantity and quality of regional systems and their susceptibility to contamination. The results of the study will provide recommendations for an updated groundwater management and protection policy that can then be used by City Planning staff.

      The City, along with other participating municipalities and counties, will help share in the funding of this study.

River Ward Development Proposals – October 2002

 

  1. Moffatt Farm: (Prince of Wales at Falaise); The Ontario Municipal Board recently provided an Interim Decision regarding this 86-acre public openspace site. The Board ruled that there was not sufficient planning evidence to support the proposed development and ordered a suitably designed broader secondary plan be undertaken. The study is to be done within six months, and will result in extensive public consultation to determine the best uses for the Moffatt Farm. I would like to extend congratulations to the many people who have been involved in this issue. Support for this issue has been widespread, and the OMB interim decision is a positive outcome.

 

  1. 310 Central Park Dr. (Merivale at Central Park Drive); Ashcroft Homes has submitted a revised Site Plan application for this site, which was subject to an original and Site Plan application in June 2001. Ashcroft is proposing an additional 10-storey condominium tower adjacent to the parking structure, as well as a reduction in height of the office tower from eight storeys to seven. Staff-delegated authority has been removed, and this matter will go before Planning Committee for consideration. For more information or to forward comments, please contact Gordon Harrison, City Planner, at 580-2400, ext. 13868.

 

  1. 1420 Carling Ave. (Carling at Kirkwood); A Zoning Amendment and Site Plan application have been made for this property to permit the construction of a three-storey apartment building similar to adjacent buildings.

 

  1. 4000 Hunt Club Road (Hunt Club at Riverside); A Site Plan application has been submitted for this property, located on the southwest corner of Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive, to permit a gas bar, car wash and fast food restaurant. The site is presently vacant. For more information or to forward comments, please contact Gordon Harrison, City Planner, at 580-2424, ext. 13868.

 

  1. 660 Hunt Club Road (Southwest corner of Hunt Club and Paul Anka); This Site Plan application proposes a small expansion to an existing building that used to house a car dealership. Otto’s BMW proposes an addition totaling 450 square-metres to the existing building. For more information or to forward comments, please contact Gordon Harrison, City Planner, at 580-2424, ext. 13868.

 

  1. 300 Hunt Club Road (Southeast corner of Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive); Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments have been submitted for this vacant 12.5 hectare lot. The application proposes a 14,460 square-metre mixed commercial development on the site. The property is presently designated as a Business Employment Area under the Official Plan and zoned Industrial Business Park. The application proposes changing the Official Plan designation to Community Shopping Centre designation, and zoning to District Linear Commercial. For more information or to forward comments please contact Nancy Meloshe, Planner, at 726-8028.

 

  1. 1935 Bank St. The Site Plan for the relocation of the Bank Street Medical oxygen tank has been approved.