Media Release: CHNA Voices Concern about New Tower at Preston and Carling

Attention Assignment Editors, City Editors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association Board Voices Concern About New Tower Plans at Preston and Carling

OTTAWA – January 21, 2011 – Following a meeting of the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association (CHNA) Board, the CHNA is raising formal concerns about the proposal to build a 35-storey condominium development at the corner of Preston Street and Carling Avenue.

While the development lies just outside the boundaries of the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood, residents believe this development will only further exacerbate rapidly escalating traffic and capacity issues within the area, and the Association will be raising the issue at an upcoming meeting with Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Katherine Hobbs, on January 26th.

“We’ve been adamant for some time that the rapid growth in the area around Carling Avenue – particularly on Champagne Avenue and in the area immediately east of the O-Train tracks – is being done without critical investments in infrastructure, and with limited recognition of the impact this development will have on the surrounding community” stated Amanda Farris, a member of the CHNA executive, and past-President.

"The neighbourhood streets are suffering from increased volume, speed and noise from car traffic", stated Peter Eady, Chair of the CHNA Traffic Committee. "We are already trying to manage the implications of the new intensification along the O-Train corridor as it affects our area. This new development will only add to the congestion and subsequent flow-through traffic at key choke points like Preston & Carling, Sherwood & Parkdale and the 417 on-ramps.”

The CHNA is quick to point out that while there have been numerous developments requiring zoning approvals for height and density, the community has generally been open to development in the area. Still, the pressure this project, along with several others, will put on existing infrastructure, needs to be reviewed before any further development takes place.

“While we recognize the opportunity for growth around the Carling O-Train station, the current service has limited benefit to most commuters” stated Farris. “Our community recognizes the need for sustainable growth and intensification of our City, but this project, and others currently being planned or recently approved, put the cart before the horse”. Residents in Little Italy and the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood are going to be suffering the consequences.

The Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association represents about 2000 homeowners and tenants in an area bounded by Highway 417 to the North, Carling Avenue to the South, Island Park to the West and the O-Train line to the East.

For more information, please visit the CHNA website at www.chna4u.blogspot.com

Media inquiries:

Amanda Farris

613.866.4089

REMINDER: Public Consultation Meeting on Monday January 24th.

Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada has invited us to attend a public consultation meeting. It will review preliminary plans for a proposed relocation of the Central Experimental Farm entrance on Carling Avenue at Maple Drive to Melrose Avenue. (attached is the flyer your received in your mail)

7 – 9 p.m.,

Monday, January 24, 2011.

Central Experimental Farm, K.W. Neatby Building, Salon A,

960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6

The CHNA Executive committee has not yet taken a formal position on the Melrose-CEF entry. However here are some points to consider -

· Justification for closing Maple Drive appears frivolous (an approximate one block move) and without regard for the neighborhood

· The cost for unnecessary roadway modifications in a time of budget constraints is unwarranted

· The full traffic study CEF conducted has not been made available to CHNA for review and discussion

· Signalizing an intersection will have an impact on traffic and the results of which are unknown

· Another set of lights in a heavily signalized corridor (Irving to Holland) will cause more cut-through traffic

We hope that you will be able to attend.

Sincerely,

Amanda Farris

Civic Hospital Neigbourhood Association

Central Experimental Farm Maple Drive Entrance Relocation - Public Consultation Meeting

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada invites you to attend a public consultation meeting. It will review preliminary plans for a proposed relocation of the Central Experimental Farm entrance on Carling Avenue at Maple Drive to Melrose Avenue.

7 - 9 p.m. Monday January 24, 2011

Central Experimental Farm, K.W. Neatby Building, Salon A, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6

A Management Plan was prepared in 2003 as a long term framework for managing the Central Experimental Farm (CEF). It recommends relocating the CEF's main entrance on Carling Avenue as a way to "To sustain a cultural landscape of national historic significance through a reinvigorated and ongoing agricultural research program".

Ottawa City Councillors, Katherine Hobbs and Maria McRae, officials from Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada, and the Consulting Team will be available to discuss concept plans and take your questions. Your input is vital at this stage of the project.

During this consultation, you will be able to:

• Review the Management Plan and a summary of the Traffic Study for the Central Experimental Farm Entrance Relocation and related objectives
• Provide comments and bring forth any issues that you may have with regard to the proposed plan

Comments

• For more information and/or to submit comments, please send an e-mail.:CEFplan@agr.gc.ca
• Comments should be submitted by Monday, January 17, 2011.

Background information

• The Management Plan
• The Traffic Study (Executive Summary)

Update on 125 Hickory Street

On Tuesday, January 4th, CHNA Secretary Alayne McGregor, CHNA Traffic Committee Chair Peter Eady and CHNA Vice President Katherine Steinhoff met with Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Katherine Hobbs and city staff to discuss the site plan for 125 Hickory Street.

The staff report to the City’s Planning Committee on the rezoning of 125 Hickory said: “Possible improvements to the local roadways will be considered through the related site plan application”. This is what CHNA discussed.

CHNA reiterated its request for no-entry signs during rush hours at intersections near 125 Hickory, as outlined in the association’s submission on 125 Hickory.

We also raised a variety of other issues, including the need for traffic calming measures on Sherwood.

City staff said they have secured cash contributions from the developer (or developers) :
1. For a pedestrian bridge over the O-Train
2. And $30,000 for other traffic calming measures

Staff said we could use the money to take a few, small immediate measures or put it in a pot towards a traffic study. It was not clear what area a study would cover or how long it would take for a study to start and finish. It also wasn’t clear where the rest of the money would come from. A traffic study usually costs about $100,000 to $150,000. And there is no money in the Community Development Plan for a traffic study according to City staff.

CHNA also asked staff if they are considering measures to encourage people to use public transit. And no they’re not.

Staff said that the developer is attempting to interest a grocery store in occupying the commercial space on the ground floor of the 125 Hickory Street development.

At the end of the meeting, the City promised to send CHNA a variety of options to consider. And we committed to provide additional details regarding our suggestions.

Ottawa police report rash of burglaries in Glebe, Civic Hospital area

Ottawa Citizen January 6, 2011 5:02 PM

OTTAWA — About 25 houses have been broken into in the Glebe and Civic
Hospital neighbourhoods in the past week, a period that last year saw just
one such burglary.

Many of the break-ins have been during the day, Ottawa police said in a
news release Thursday, with thieves forcing back doors or windows.

They’re making off with cash, jewelry and small electronics, police said.

They’re asking anyone who sees suspicious people or activity to call 911.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen


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