Issue of vehicle access to convent site through Byron Linear Park going back to Planning Committee next week
Posted: May 18th, 2011 | Author: westwellington | Filed under: Events | No Comments »A few key updates to report on the issue of the proposed southern (Byron side) exit from the convent propety this morning. There was signficant interest and strong opinions on the issue at the WVCA AGM last night – and a sudden realization that timelines are short.
Firstly, the Councillor informed us last night that the issue will be coming to Planning Committee next Tuesday, May 24 (9:30am, City Hall, Champlain Room). This fact had not been included in the emails she sent out on the issue over the past week. Here is the Planning Committee agenda:
http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2011/05-24/agendaindex14.htm. Scroll down to Item 4, “Vehicular access through Byron Avenue Linear Park to the Proposed Development at 90 Richmond Road…” and the actual report can be accessed:
The fact that the Byron access is back on the table is also reported in an article in the Citizen today:
The Planning Department report states that “This report was advertised in the daily papers and property owners located between Richmond Road, Iona Street, Island Park Drive and Kirkwood Avenue have been notified of the recommendation in this report and the Committee meeting date by mail.” However, those living within that area, had, as of yesterday, not been notified - and the report is dated May 12.
On May 18, a meeting was scheduled with the Councillor to discuss this issue, with Jason Thomson (WVCA), Roland Dorsay of Island Park Community Association and Amos Hayes attending. What the meeting this morning made obvious was that Councillor Hobbs is totally committed to supporting the cut through Byron Park. She actually contends that this option will affect less of the park, because the Shannon route is longer, and continues to insist that all new city roads must be 16.5 metres (54 ft) wide, which would mean a Shannon which is wider than Richmond Road or Byron, let alone the other smaller streets in the area.
After much debate at the meeting this morning, Roland Dorsay left Councillor Hobbs and her staff with one additional question: why couldn’t a doubled-in-width Shannon be used as an exit for service/emergency vehicles only, while residents on the Byron side of the development exit the property via Richmond? This proposed compromise would provide the second public access while also limiting the impact on both Shannon and the linear park.
WVCA urges you to make your views known on the issue, whether by attending the Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday (anyone who would like to address the committee can sign up to speak that day) or by providing written comments to the Planning Committee Coordinator: Caitlin Salter-MacDonald, email hidden; JavaScript is required" target="_blank">email hidden; JavaScript is required.
Here is an example of the argument being made in the report: “Providing an access across the linear park is not unlike any of the nine roads that currently bisect this park from Holland Avenue to Churchill Avenue and since the proposed access would go through the longest continuous stretch of the linear park between Holland and Churchill Avenues without a crossing and the two resulting segments would be longer than some current segments, the impact is considered minimal.”
Jason Thomson
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