Street pics - Sherwood Avenue

Planning Committee Meeting Request

Hello neighbours

I would like to make a plea to the community to come speak at the Planning Committee to voice their concerns about the proposed zoning of the Ashcroft Convent site. I think the community was lulled to sleep by both a busy summer and the fact that Heritage designation was passed in April. This ensures no protection yet for that site and we must ensure that proper zoning is enforced and the Community Design Plan is respected.

Several hundred people have come to several public meetings to discuss the Ashcroft Convent site. Many people have asked “What can I do?”. You can come express your opinion directly to the Planning and Environment Committee on Tuesday Sep 28th. Ashcroft has been manipulating the media to deliver the message that the community supports their plan. Without a strong opposition, their zoning application may pass as councilors may believe what they read in the media.

I know it is very difficult for most working families to take a day or half a day off work but I feel this is an important issue not only for this community but it sets a dangerous precedent throughout the city as it goes against the Official Plan and Secondary Plans.

If you are nervous about speaking in public, I would be happy to assist you. To that end, I would like to have a meeting on Sunday evening (Sep 26th) where we can share our thoughts and put together a speaking strategy in advance of Tuesday’s meeting. Each speaker is only allowed 5 minutes. There are lots of issues and concerns that the community has so we can organize these into 5 minute segments but we need more speakers. I know that I could probably easily speak for 60 minutes on all the issues that I feel should be addressed.

As was mentioned, it is not good enough to feel that your community association will speak for you. It is much more impactful for you to speak directly. Speak up for your rights in this community. While Christine has done a great job pushing forth the community’s concerns, we must now speak for ourselves.

If you are retired or have the ability to take some time off work, please sign up to speak. Note that City Hall has Wifi access so you can bring your work with you.

What can you do? Sign up!

Please email Caitlin Salter-MacDonald (Planning Committee coordinator) immediately and tell her that you would like to speak at the PEC meeting in Sep 28th. Her email is Caitlin.Salter-MacDonald@ottawa.ca
Contact me by email carrasco@caronadesigns.com or 613-852-2540 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              613-852-2540      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              613-852-2540      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              613-852-2540      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              613-852-2540      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and let me know that you plan to speak and would like to meet on Sunday. I will follow up with details
Sign the petition that Christine sent out last week and send it back to her or your community association

Regards

Sylvano Carrasco

125 Hickory coming to Planning and Environment Committee on Sept. 28th

A message from the office of City Councillor Christine Leadman follows:

The Planning and Environment agenda was released for Sept. 28 and the councillor has confirmed that the re-zoning application for this site will be part of that meeting. The councillor would like to invite all of you, if you are able, to attend the meeting being held in the Champlain Room at City Hall. The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. but there are a number of issues preceding it on the agenda which could lead to it being discussed later in the morning or in the afternoon. The rezoning of 114 Richmond Road is also on the agenda that day and immediately precedes 125 Hickory on the agenda.

If you wish to speak to the committee you can contact the committee clerk at caitlin.salter-macdonald@ottawa.ca. If you are unable to attend, you can also send your comments along to the clerk in advance of the meeting in order to have them noted and circulated to councillors.

As referred to in the newsletter earlier this year, there have been some changes to the development to reduce some of the height and density but the councillor still has some concerns including the remaining density and the traffic that would be caused. This is a big development that will affect those directly near it as well as the rest of the community.

If you did not receive the newsletter, I have included the link to the development update which includes 125 Hickory as well as 114 Richmond. I have also included the link to the application from the city's website. I have also included a link to the meeting agenda so you can see what else is on it and there is also a direct link from it to the City Staff's report to council.

Newsletter update: http://www.kitchissippiward.com/development-updates-in-kitchissippi/

Development application: http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7UMT1F

Agenda: http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2010/09-28/agendaindex81.htm

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Councillor Leadman's office.

Kindest regards,

Jennifer Young
Office of Christine Leadman
City Councillor for Kitchissippi Ward

Street pics - Railway Street

CHNA Needs YOU!

Everyone is busy but more hands make for light work. Consider volunteering to support your neighbourhood association. It's a great opportunity to meet others, have fun and make our neighbourhood a great place to live. You can help by offering just a few hours of your time a year. Contact me at CHNA4U@gmail.com to find out more.


-Amanda

Ward Council Candidates to Speak at AGM

Join your neighbours for the CHNA AGM and hear the 3 Ward Council candidates speak on the issues and answer your questions. The AGM will be held on Oct. 5th at 7pm. The Candidates will speak and answer your questions from 7pm to 8pm. CHNA agenda to follow.

Update on 100 Champagne

According to staff at the Planning and Environment Committee:

"The item now rises to City Council on September 22 for the final decision. A few days after that [CHNA] will receive a notice of the decision, at which point, a 20-day appeal period begins, where an appeal will bring the application to the Ontario Municipal Board for consideration.

There is a disposition and minutes of the Planning and Environment Committee meeting [held to discuss 100 Champagne on September 14th], with the minutes taking a few days to prepare, both of which are/will be posted on the website here: http://ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/docs.pl?Elist=14204&lang=en"

Street pics - Queensway/Young Street

CHNA's submission to City's planning committee meeting on 100 Champagne

September 13, 2010

Dear Mr. Hakala:

Re: Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment Proposal and Site Plan Control Proposal for 100 Champagne Avenue South (File No: D01-01-10-0008; D02-02-10-0025; D07-12-10-0147)

The Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association (CHNA) objects to the development at 100 Champagne, as currently proposed.

We support the City's plans to promote intensification and sustainable development in a way that meets the needs of our community, both now and in the future. However, we request that the City recognize and deal with the traffic issues resulting from developments such as 100 Champagne, and consider our very reasonable recommendations (enclosed as Appendix 1) which are in keeping with Official Plan and 20-20 objectives.

As you know, the primary goal of the City's Official Plan is sustainability, where sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The plan suggests a balance between the needs of present and future generations.

This development (and the other large developments in the same area) do not promote this balance. In fact, we think the needs of current residents are being ignored. We respectfully request that you consider our needs and our very reasonable recommendations.

A response to these recommendations would be much appreciated. Please note that we would like to make one minor amendment to recommendation number two to enable residents living on Hickory Street between Champagne and Loretta to get to their homes between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m..Recommendation 2 a) should read: 'No entry from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m' signs at Hickory and Champagne (going North and West) to divert traffic to Carling during rush hours.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

Katherine Steinhoff

Vice President

Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association

Upcoming meetings on developments near Carling O-Train stop

Domicile development (100 Champagne) - September 14th at 9:30, City of Ottawa, Planning and Environment Committee meeting, Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West

Arnon development (855 Carling) - September 14th at 1:00, City Hall, Keefer room, 110 Laurier Avenue West. The OMB hearing regarding Arnon is expected to last eight days.

Street pics - Hickory Street

Update on Arnon development at 855 Carling

Christine Leadman, City Councillor for Kitchissippi Ward, provided the following update in her latest newsletter:

"The property at the intersection of Carling Avenue and Champagne Avenue is of great importance to the city as it could have a big effect on the route for light rail transit. As such, what is allowed to be built there must be sensitive to this as well as the needs and wishes of the community.

This development was initially presented to the community as an office building that would most likely host government offices. However, as the market has changed, the developers are now investigating the option of residential buildings instead. If the developer pursues this option, it could result in an increase in building height.

The proposal was held up initially as an assessment needed to be done to see how the proposal would affect light rail. As a result, the application was delayed and the developer appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Since then, the Planning and Environment Committee has approved the requested zoning change despite the councillor’s best efforts. However, there is still an OMB appeal to be considered. The developer is appealing requirements placed on the site. They are regarding restrictions due to the possible light rail connection on the property and the requirement that the building must have a commercial space at grade. "

The OMB hearing regarding Arnon will start September 14, and is expected to go for 8 days. It will be held at City Hall in the Keefer room.