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MANOR PARK CHRONICLE
MARS 2004
Karen Way Rezoning
On a cold January 21st evening, I chaired a meeting to discuss the
redevelopment of the former school property on Karen Way. Thanks
to the authorities of St. David & St. Martin Presbyterian Church
parish for allowing us to rent their basement assembly hall. City
staff was on hand to provide technical information related to
planning (Gordon Harrison 580-2424 # 13868), vibration (-during
the construction phase), stormwater/sewer servicing and traffic.
There was considerable interest in the proposals as demonstrated
by the attendance (~ 85) and the presence of representatives of
the Cardinal Glen Community Association and the Manor Park
Community Association. A lively and vigorous commentary / question
& answer session followed the presentation of the proposal by the
architects (R. Lahey Architects Inc.) for the new owners of the
site (Richcraft Homes Ltd.). Mr. Adam Thompson, Director of
Development for Richcraft, started the discussion by indicating
that Richcraft’s ‘target unit-count’ for the site was 200-220.
Various approaches for accommodating this number of residential
units were outlined by the architect. The most controversial
option included an 18-story apartment building facing St. Laurent
Blvd., with some attached townhouses adjacent to the residential
neighbourhood on Apple Tree Lane. It is fair to say that none of
the proposals, outlined that evening, were received very
favourably. Richcraft’s representatives indicated a willingness to
re-examine the file and to come back to the community with new
proposals at some future date. No date has yet been selected. I
invite those interested to monitor the Rideau-Rockcliffe web site
(see below) for the date of the next consultation. As a result of
some of the discussion that evening, the City will require a
sun/shadow study as well as a traffic impact study for the next
presentation to the community. As well, I have learned that
Richcraft have revised their ‘target unit-count’ downward to 160.
The site presents difficulties because it sits on a major road
(urban arterial) yet it is also adjacent to a community of
single-family homes. I encourage residents to consult the City’s
new Official Plan, especially section 2.5.1, starting on page 44
(available on the City’s web site -
www.ottawa.ca -or at branch libraries). This section, titled
“Compatibility of Development”, outlines the principles the City
staff would be using to assess the suitability of subsequent
proposals.
UPR, “Opportunity logs”, public consultations & the City’s 2004
Budget
On January 19th, there was a major consultation on the Universal
Program Review (UPR) and the “Opportunity Logs” at the St Laurent
Complex. On February 17th, I held a public meeting at the
Overbrook Community Centre (33 Quill Street), to provide residents
with some information on the draft budget, as tabled on February
11th , and to hear your comments on its proposals.
Ottawa residents are calling on their city councillors to show
some leadership with the difficult decisions ahead this year. For
some, that leadership requires that politicians indicate clearly
whether they support a tax freeze or an increase, and if so, how
much of an increase. I do not agree with this approach, now, nor
during the election last fall. I rejected that simplistic approach
because it still leaves open the question of just how the number
selected (0%, 3% or whatever) would be achieved.
Instead, I think we should carefully examine what the City does,
why it does it and then apply good judgement as to the importance
of a particular expenditure. Of course, that judgement is not
formed in a vacuum. Personally I have listened to the public, as I
have done over the last 12 years in office, as I arrive at an
enlightened response. And we must not forget the input of our
professional staff in the process. Finally, we, as elected
officials, must bring our own experience to bear in forming our
decisions and we must ultimately take personal responsibility for
those decisions.
This year is no different. What is different is that past Councils
(of which I was a part) were unwilling to account for inflation.
There was a phrase some years ago that went - “do more with less”.
Whatever the merits of that approach then, it seems clear that it
will no longer do.
This year, I am suggesting that we identify “priority areas” as
guideposts as we go through the myriad decisions that must be
made.
First: maintain or enhance the efficacy of those
expenditures intended to foster or support public security,
community safety, and public health. (Note: I define ‘health’ in
its broadest aspect, which would include physical fitness, mental
& intellectual capabilities and cultural liveliness.)
Second: make adequate provision for expenditures primarily
intended for efficiently maintaining or maximizing the useful life
of existing municipal properties. (i.e. “Make certain that the
roof is not about to leak before thinking of enlarging the
house”.) Business and fresh capital flow into a vital and lively
city, not into a decaying one. Moreover, postponed life-cycle
maintenance usually results in increased costs downstream and
amounts to a hidden debt not easily visible on the books.
Third: provide cost-effective solutions to meet housing
needs of our most disadvantaged citizens, especially our seniors.
(It is not necessary to actually own the housing stock to provide
assisted housing.)
Fourth: foster an affordable and liveable urban environment
for the long term. (Stop urban sprawl).
Fifth: encourage an enhanced citizen volunteerism component
in the provision and delivery of services. (Why can’t we do what
our smaller municipalities used to do so well?)
Sixth: focus on prudent fiscal management as we respect
these priorities.
For example, applying these priorities to the transportation
sector would mean that we would: support budget expenditures to
maintain existing road, bridge and bus system components; support
expansions of the urban mass-transit system; and support enhanced
security on our roads by making better and appropriate use of
technology (i.e. red-light cameras, speed-on-green cameras, photo
radar).
These priorities do not only cause expenditures. For instance,
they have resulted in my past support for closing fire stations.
So long as our professionals, who are charged with administering
the fire department, assure us that public safety is not
threatened or diminished, I can support such closures. By the way,
there was no proposed reduction in the numbers of fire fighters.
It’s only logical that the network of fixed stations in a larger
amalgamated municipality would be different from the network that
resulted from the decisions of the former 11 separate
municipalities.
I hope Ottawa taxpayers find this approach, or something like it,
useful as part of their own strategic examination of what the City
does and how it does it. If we all collectively answer the
challenge this year, we may have set a course for our City that
will preserve its quality of life for some time to come.
It is not too late to provide your comments to the City’s standing
committees directly. If you would like to make a five-minute
presentation to a standing committee, you should contact the
appropriate committee co-ordinator by calling City Hall at (613)
580-2400.
Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee - March 1st
, 9:30AM
Transportation Committee - March 2nd and 3rd , 9:30AM
Health, Recreation and Social Services - March 4th and 5th ,
9:30AM
Planning and Environmental Committee - March 9th , 9:30AM
Emergency and Protective Services Committee - March 11th , 9:30AM
Once standing committees have reviewed the draft budget, their
recommendations and amendments will be forwarded to City Council.
Council makes its final decisions on March 24 starting at 9:30 AM.
Jacques Legendre
Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe
You can communicate with me at (please include a telephone
number):
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 580-2483, Fax: 580-2523
E-mail:
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Web Site:
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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