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MANOR PARK CHRONICLE
mARCH 2007
Karen Way
As most of you will know, Council’s decision on this issue (to
approve development, but to limit the height to 7 stories
whereas the developer had proposed 12 stories) has been appealed
by Richcraft. That appeal may have been heard by the time you
read this. As soon as the OMB’s decision is known it will be
posted on the Rideau-Rockcliffe web site.
Transportation – New Beginnings
Mayor O’Brien has formed a task force to propose a way forward
following the dramatic vote to cancel the North-South Light Rail
Transit system in December. The task force has been given the
following mandate: -
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Examine the City of Ottawa’s current
Master Transportation Plan and all current or proposed
transportation infrastructure projects;
-
Review available transportation options
including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT),
heavy rail, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, new transit
corridors, bridges and facilities;
-
Review proposed future residential and
commercial development plans to assess their impact on
existing transportation infrastructure and future needs;
-
Solicit input from Ottawa city
councillors, the City of Gatineau, the National Capital
Commission (NCC);
-
Provide a forum – to be defined – to
receive public input and submissions.
-
Make recommendations (short-, medium-,
and long-term) for development of a integrated rapid
transportation plan that alleviates existing East/West
pressures, is scalable to account for immediate and growing
pressures in the South end and provides options to reduce
congestion through the downtown corridor.
The Task Force is composed of:
Honourable David Collenette, Chair, has served under three
Prime Ministers in a number of portfolios. As Minister of
Transport (1997-2003) he was key to securing federal
assistance for transit and transportation initiatives across
Canada including Ottawa’s O-Train.
Roger Beauchesne, P.Eng, MBA, PMP, 59, is a resident of
Rideau-Rockcliffe. He is a retired public servant and
professional engineer with 32 years of project management
experience in the federal public service – managing national
and international files – across three departments.
Susan Brownrigg-Smith, BA, 48, is the founder of Brownrigg-Smith
Consulting, a multi-disciplinary consultancy. She has been a
spokesperson for the Community Budget Advisory Team (CBAT).
Terry Findlay, 57, has been an OC Transpo driver for 35
years and has been driving the O-Train since its inception.
He brings a front-line perspective to the work of the Task
Force.
Harry W. Gow, BA, MSW, 68 is a resident of Chelsea, Québec.
In 1976, he co-founded Transport 2000 Canada, a nationwide
transport consumer network. Mr. Gow is President of le
Conseil regional de developpement durable de 1'Outaouais (CREDDO),
and a board member of les Transports Collectifs des Collines.
Hanif Patni, BA, BBA, MBA, 49, is President and CEO,
Coventry Connections. He has 25 years of transportation
management experience across three continents. He also
serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Ottawa Tourism
and Convention Authority (OTCA).
Hume Rogers, MA, 49, is the General Manager of the Capital
Hill Hotel & Suites. He is the coordinator of the
Albert-Slater Coalition.
The Task Force’s final report will be
provided to Mayor O‘Brien on or before June 1, 2007. Upon
review, Mayor O’Brien will then submit the Task Force Report to
the relevant city committees for consideration. The Task Force
report will be advisory in nature only. All decisions with
respect to future transit and transportation initiatives remain
the domain and responsibility of City Council. Transportation
Committee has also tasked staff to prepare a ‘white paper’ on
the major transportation decisions facing the City for
discussion in early April. These two groups, staff and the task
force, will not be working in isolation but rather in parallel.
It is hoped that these efforts will help Council reach a
consensus regarding the best way forward in as short a time as
possible. It is my own hope that that consensus will include: -
1. a realization that the Transitway, as it exists in the
downtown core (Albert & Slater), is both a major service issue
and a significant degradation of our downtown that can no longer
be tolerated; 2. a recognition that Ottawa needs to move toward
a “hub-and-spoke” structure for OC Transpo’s routes; and
finally, 3. that the national capital region needs better
interprovincial transportation connections (bridges and improved
transit integration).
Stop the Presses! – Some Good News Regarding Kettle Island
It was recently announced that the Nature Conservancy of Canada
(NCC – yes, there is another NCC!) has received Kettle Island as
a gift from its current owners, the Bowater Corporation. This
NCC (www.natureconservancy.ca ) is Canada's leading national
land conservation organization. It is a private, non-profit
group that partners with corporate and individual landowners to
achieve the direct protection of Canada’s most important natural
treasures, through land donation, purchase and conservation
easement.
This can only be considered very good news. Although it will not
absolutely preclude a bridge in the vicinity of Kettle Island,
the fact that Kettle Island will henceforth receive the
protection of the Nature Conservancy of Canada can only make
that choice more difficult.
Safety Concerns in Manor Park
There have been disturbing incidents in the vicinity of the
Manor Park Public School and the Field House in recent months.
Some of these have been the subjects of articles in this paper.
It was thought that a public meeting at which everyone might
voice their concerns and share their views and suggestions might
be useful. You are invited to attend a meeting on March 5th at
7:30 pm in the small gymnasium of the Manor Park Public School.
City staff (Bylaw officers, Police), and representatives of the
school as well as Manor Park Estates properties will be on hand.
Safety Concerns in Manor Park – Public Meeting
Date: Monday, March 5th, 2007
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Manor Park Public School – Small Gymnasium
100 Braemar Street
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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