Communications from Katherine Hobbs: Inquiries at Council

The WVCA received this email from Councillor Katherine Hobbs:

Good Afternoon,

I wanted to bring to your attention three inquiries I submitted at the last City Council meeting. Inquiries are formal requests for information from staff that are entered into the official record of Council, on matters of importance in a Councillor’s ward. Those I submitted last week dealt with the Western LRT, and developer encroachment permits.

First, I took the liberty of submitting an idea brought to my attention by the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association (CHNA):

“What is the current policy on the use of funds from encroachment permits for construction?

What would be required to allow Area Traffic Management Studies (ATMS) to receive additional funding through encroachment permit fees in areas identified for ATM Studies and affected by major new development?”

Currently, these funds go into general revenue, but as Peter has suggested, it would be useful if these funds could be directed toward Area Traffic Management Studies  in neighbourhoods undergoing significant redevelopment, such as the eastern section of the CHNA by the O-Train tracks. The answer to this inquiry will be reported back for the August 24^th Council meeting.

Second, I submitted two questions regarding Western LRT. The first asks about what financial efficiencies could be realized if the western extension of the LRT from Tunney’s to Lincoln Fields were timed to be a continuation of the first phase of LRT approved by council last week:

“How much savings could be realized if the western extension to Lincoln Fields were to be built as part of, or immediately after, the completion of the initial 12.5km Tunney’s Pasture to Blair Station segment of LRT?

In particular, savings from not having to build a temporary transfer terminus station at Tunney’s Pasture, inflation and construction costs, and continuity of construction crews and machinery?”

The second asked for an assessment of what the land above the Scott Street Transitway trench would be worth if the land could be covered after LRT conversion and sold for private development. The inquiry specifies that such funds would be used for the Western LRT extension, and notes they could be used to bury the LRT as it goes through Kitchissippi to maintain greenspace and promote transit accessibility:

“Given that cities such as Washington and New York City have had successful and profitable experiences developing Railway Rows and yards with development built over functional railways, and that the Scott Street Transitway trench is slated for conversion to LRT;

Could staff investigate the technical and economical feasibility of creating developable land over the Scott Street trench after its conversion to LRT, and calculate the value of this land, which could be directed toward ensuring that if the Western LRT extension were to go along the Byron/Richmond corridor, that it would be cut and cover, preserving green space along the Byron Linear Park.”

Both of these LRT inquiries will be included in the information presented at the September open house, where the results of the Environmental Assessment including the possible routes study will be revealed.

These inquiries are part of the conversation regarding LRT in Kitchissippi Ward, and will help us understand the benefits to be realized from LRT, and push forward the agenda for a more rapid extension, and a full realization of the benefits for our community. Extending LRT to Lincoln Fields at the same time as the initial project could potentially save millions for the project through efficiencies. The sale of new development lands in areas on the margins of, rather than in mature neighbourhoods could be financially beneficial to the project and taxpayers as well as keep densification and redevelopment near transit stations where the Official Plan calls for the most density.

I look forward to the responses from City staff on these inquiries and I will share their answers with you so that we may continue the conversation about our city’s light rail future.

Thanks,

Katherine

HICG account of the convent settlement

Hampton Iona has posted a detailed account of the convent settlement…

http://hamptoniona.wordpress.com/convent/settlement-of-114-richmond-road-convent-omb-case/

Ottawa Citizen: Ashcroft makes deal on Westboro convent project

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ashcroft+makes+deal+Westboro+convent+project/5023559/story.html

Have your say online! Help make Ottawa’s roads safer

From the City of Ottawa:

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa needs your input on its road safety strategy. Residents are urged to visit ottawa.ca/roadsafety to complete a brief survey and share ideas on road safety priorities. Survey topics include distracted drivers, aggressive drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, seniors, youth and children, and program goals.

The Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) began in 2003 by combining the efforts of multiple city departments, community partners and residents with a common goal to make Ottawa roads safer for all who use them. Whenever possible, any initiative introduced by the IRSP touches on the four Es: Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Emergency Service.

Now the IRSP is looking to build on its past success by designing an updated program for the next five years. Input from the community is an important part to ensuring the success of the new plan; residents are encouraged to participate online to share their ideas.

The online survey takes only 10 minutes to complete, but the information gathered from it can influence the City’s road safety priorities for years to come. We encourage everyone to have their say and help shape this important program. Together we can make Ottawa’s roads safer.

Comments will be received until June 26, 2011, and the final plan will be presented to City Council in the fall. Comments may also be provided to the road safety’s telephone hotline at 613-580-2702 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

For more information, please contact 613-580-2702 or email email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Ottawa – La Ville d’Ottawa a besoin de savoir ce que vous pensez de sa stratégie de sécurité routière. Les résidents sont priés de visiter le site ottawa.ca/securiteroutiere pour remplir un bref sondage et faire part de leur opinion sur les priorités en matière de sécurité routière. Les sujets du sondage comprennent la distraction et l’agressivité au volant, les piétons, les cyclistes et les motocyclistes, les aînés, les enfants et les jeunes, ainsi que les buts du programme.

Le Programme intégré de sensibilisation à la sécurité routière (PISSR) a débuté en 2003 grâce aux efforts de plusieurs services municipaux, de partenaires communautaires et de résidents ayant pour objectif commun de rendre les routes d’Ottawa plus sécuritaires pour tous les usagers. Chaque fois que c’est possible, les initiatives mises sur pied dans le cadre de ce programme portent sur les quatre aspects de la sécurité routière, à savoir l’aménagement, l’application des règlements, la sensibilisation et l’intervention d’urgence.

Les responsables du Programme intégré de sensibilisation à la sécurité routière cherchent maintenant à s’appuyer sur leurs réussites afin de concevoir une version améliorée du programme pour les cinq prochaines années. La participation de la collectivité étant essentielle au succès du nouveau plan, nous invitons les résidents à faire part en ligne de leurs idées sur la question.

Il ne faut que 10 minutes pour répondre au sondage en ligne. Les renseignements qui en seront tirés pourraient avoir une incidence sur les priorités en matière de sécurité routière de la Ville pour les années à venir. Nous vous invitons tous à faire connaître votre opinion pour nous aider à définir cet important programme. Ensemble, nous pouvons rendre les routes d’Ottawa plus sécuritaires.

Les commentaires seront acceptés jusqu’au 26juin 2011, et le plan final sera présenté au Conseil municipal à l’automne. Vous pouvez également formuler des commentaires au moyen de la ligne directe sur la sécurité routière au 613-580-2702 (ATS: 613-580-2401).

Pour obtenir un complément d’information, composez le 613-580-2702 ou envoyez un courriel à l’adresse email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Status update: Wellington Street West CDP

From the City of Ottawa:

I wish to provide you with a status update of the Wellington Street West Community Design Plan. 

1.       Council approved (May 25)

On Tuesday, April 26^th, the Staff report and recommendations for the Wellington St. West CDP were carried by Planning Committee.  Last Wednesday, May 25^th, the CDP, Official Plan Amendment (Secondary Plan) and Zoning By-law amendments were carried and approved by Council.  Congratulations, and again, many thanks who have contributed to this achievement!

2.        Correction to Technical Error:  Zoning by-law amendment (June 8 Council)

It has been brought to my attention by our Legislative & Technical Services Unit  that there is a technical error in the Zoning by-law amendments.  Although easily corrected, this will require that the zoning by-law passed at the May 25^th Council must be repealed and replaced with the new by-law that corrects this technical issue.  This will happen at the upcoming June 8^th Council. 

PLEASE NOTE: This means that the Zoning by-law amendment notifications will not be made until after the Council of June 8^th.  This includes mail-out notifications to parties who have requested and/or received notifications by mail in the past. 

The Secondary Plan (OPA) notifications will proceed as planned.

Taavi Siitam,  MCIP, RPP

Planner II, Community Planning and Urban Design
Planning and Growth Management Department

Race Weekend in Wellington Village

Congratulations to ALL the runners who took part in the various races over Race Weekend. It was exciting to have Sunday’s marathon and half-marathon go through Wellington Village.

Did you race?

Do you know someone who did?

Did you cheer them on?

Add to the Comments and tell us all about it!

Minor Variance Applications within Wellington Village

Public Hearings being held at the June Committee of Adjustment meeting (June 1, starting at 1pm, Ben Franklin Place, The Chamber, Main Floor, 101 Centrepointe Drive)

1) from James Cocks and Jan Leahy for 296 Carleton Ave/33 and 37 Gould Street (corner lot)

Purpose of Application: “The Owners want to demolish the existing detached dwelling and shed located on the property and subdivide the property into two separate parcels of land.  It is proposed to construct two new 2-storey detached dwellings, with one dwelling on each newly created parcel.”

Relief Required: for both 33 and 37 Gould, to permit a reduced lot area of 311 square metres, whereas the by-law requires a minimum lot area of 450 square metres; to permit a reduced rear yard setback of 5.18 metres, whereas by-law requries a minimum rear setback of 6.0 metres

2) from Doyle Homes Ltd. For 168 (160-166) Carleton Avenue

Purpose of Application: “The Owner wants to subdivide its property into four separate parcels of land in order to construct two new 2-storey semi-detached dwellings (four units), with one unit on each of the newly created parcels.  Each dwelling unit will have a patio on the rear third of the roof top, and the existing dwelling located on the property will be demolished.

Relief Required: for 160 Carleton, to permit a reduced lot width of 8.96 metres, whereas the By-law requires a minimum lot width of 9.0 metres; for 162, 164, 166 Carleton, to permit a reduced lot width of 7.17 metres, whereas the By-law requires a minimum lot width of 9.0 metres, and to permit a reduced lot area of 218.5 square metres, whereas the by-law requires a minimum lot area of 270 square metres.

3) from Domicile Developments Inc. for 131 Holland Avenue

Purpose of Application: The apartment building proposed for this property was the subject of a rezoning application in 2009 which established an approved building height and massing.  This approval was set out in the Zoning By-law on Schedule 245. As a result of some design changes to the building and a shift in the location of the building, the proposal no longer meets the defined areas.  Plans for the new 8-storey, 72-unit condominium apartment building have been filed with this Application.

Summary of relief required: to permit a northerly setback… of 1.2 metres, whereas Schedule 245 permits a setback of 1.625 metres from the property line; to permit [additional] balconies…; to permit increased height for Area C (south) of 24.9 metres, whereas Schedule 245 permits 18.5 metres; to permit very slightly increased heights (0.1 metres) for various parts of the development.

Contact the Committee of Adjustment (email hidden; JavaScript is required, 613-580-2436) or WVCA for additional information on any of these applications.

NCC REMINDER: Greenbelt Public Consultations

PRELIMINARY LAND USE CONCEPTS FOR THE GREENBELT
Public consultation

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is in the process of reviewing its Greenbelt Master Plan, which guides the way that the Greenbelt is used, managed and protected.

Participate in the public consultation about the strategic statements and preliminary land use concepts that will guide the future of the Greenbelt until 2060.

Visit the NCC website, at canadascapital.gc.ca/greenbeltconcepts, to learn more about the strategic statements and proposed land use concepts, as well as to provide your comments (by June 24, 2011).

Agenda for public consultations

• 6 pm to 7 pm
  Open house
• 7 pm to 7:30 pm
  Presentation
• 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  Question and comment period
• 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm
  Workshops in subgroups (RSVP)*

*RSVP to email hidden; JavaScript is required&subject=Preliminary%20Land%20Use%20Concepts%20for%20the%20Greenbelt%20-%20Public%20Consultation" target="_blank">email hidden; JavaScript is required before May 23.

Public consultation dates

• Tuesday, May 24, 2011
  6 pm to 9:30 pm
  National Arts Centre, Panorama Room
  53 Elgin Street, Ottawa
• Thursday, May 26, 2011
  6 pm to 9:30 pm
  Nepean Sportsplex, Room B
  1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa
• Wednesday, June 1, 2011
  6 pm to 9:30 pm
  Chimo Hotel, Mackenzie Room
  1199 Joseph Cyr Street, Ottawa

We’d like to hear from you!

• canadascapital.gc.ca
• email hidden; JavaScript is required&subject=Preliminary%20Land%20Use%20Concepts%20for%20the%20Greenbelt%20-%20Public%20Consultation" target="_blank">email hidden; JavaScript is required
• 613-239-5000
• 613-239-5090 (tty)

More on the Convent

From the WCA:

West-end sign rally and fundraiser 

The Convent issue continues 

A letter from a neighbour: Amos Hayes on the Convent 

Road Safety Forum – May 14 (8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

From the City of Ottawa:
Have your say! Help make Ottawa’s Roads Safer Join us at the Road Safety Forum for a morning of workshops and discussions about how to make Ottawa’s roads safer.

Road Safety Forum
Confederation Education Centre
1645 Woodroffe Avenue
May 14, 2011
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The forum will be kicked off by Mayor Jim Watson and will feature a Keynote address by Bernie Arseneau from the Minnesota Department of Transportation who will speak about the Minnesota “Towards Zero Deaths” program. The event will also include a Trade Show featuring informational displays on road safety programs and initiatives. Residents will have the opportunity to share their ideas on road safety priorities including:

• Distracted drivers

• Aggressive drivers

• Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists

• Seniors, youth and children

• Program goals

(English and French sessions will be available)

Admission is free, however advance registration is required as seating is limited. For more information and to register, please contact:

• Phone: 613-580-2702

• Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required