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MANOR PARK CHRONICLE
SEPTEMBER 2003
Birch Avenue Rehabilitation Project
Manor Park residents will know that Birch Street is to be
completely rehabilitated this year. The works will involve the
underground storm and sanitary sewers, the water main services as
well as replacing the roadbed. The lighting along the road will be
addressed as part of the project, but more on that later. It is
also necessary that a sidewalk be constructed to bring this
street, which is a residential collector carrying regular bus
service in both directions, up to the standards required of such
roads.
An initial public forum was held at the school on April 17 to
discuss:
1- The preliminary designs and the sidewalk options,
2- Any concerns with staff,
3- The community’s comments and suggestions,
4- The proposed temporary rerouting of Bus # 7.
Initially, city staff was proposing to maintain the road width,
currently averaging 9.5 metres, and adding a standard 2 metre
sidewalk. There was to be no land expropriation, as there exists
more than enough road allowance to accommodate the required
facilities. Staff explained that the west side of Birch was the
more suitable location for a sidewalk. There were far fewer trees
threatened (if any) on that side. As well, there are underground
pipes on the east side that militate against a sidewalk at that
location. Residents requested that an option of incorporating a
boulevard between the sidewalk and the roadway edge on the west
side be examined – partly for snow storage but also as a way of
distancing pedestrians from vehicular traffic. It was generally
agreed that property owners immediately affected would be
consulted on the matter. Bus service would divert through the
community but only for the period of time necessary. The diversion
from Birch would generally follow Dunvegan, Arundel and Merriman,
accessing all or part of that corridor via Hemlock-Justin-Lonsdale
or Eastbourne or Farnham as required.
A second meeting was held on June 17, primarily to review an
updated corridor design and to discuss concerns specific to
residents of Birch. The meeting discussed sidewalk positioning
(i.e. boulevard or no boulevard), sidewalk material (i.e. tarmac
or concrete) and sidewalk width. This meeting also considered
whether the corridor should be centred on the existing roadway or
whether the roadway edge should remain largely in place and the
sidewalk added to the west side. The noise and potential
vibrations caused by the buses was an important factor. Street
lighting considerations were examined as well.
No clear consensus was reached that evening. As time was getting
short to be able to finalize critical design elements and then
issue the tender calls etc. for this season, I promised to discuss
possible modifications with staff (within their delegated
authority), incorporating as many of the features that seemed most
desired and to seek approval from residents prior to proceeding.
In the end, the vast majority of households on Birch accepted a
proposal that featured:
1- A reduced road width from 9.5 metres to 9 metres;
2- A reduced western concrete sidewalk width of 1.65 metres;
3- A roadway edge on the east side at its current position.
Further deviations from standards over which city staff have
delegated authority would have required Council approval (without
any assurance of success for whatever was requested) and a year’s
delay in project implementation. I believe that this design will
serve the community at large very well for decades to come while
offering the least possible undesirable consequences for the
property owners along Birch. Work is expected to begin in early
September. A reconstituted roadway, with an initial usable tarmac
layer, should be in place prior to freeze-up. Finishing work,
landscaping and lighting would follow in the spring.
One final aspect remains to be settled. The community will be
consulted on the type of lighting fixture as well as on the type
of light source. In this case there is more time to consider the
options, as the installation of lighting will occur in the latter
phases of the project. There will be a meeting in the community on
this subject sometime in the fall or winter. There are three
fixture options on the table, two of which (# 2 and # 3) will
require Transportation Committee and Council approval. The options
are:
1- 15 cobra head fixtures, located on the west side (as with the
sidewalk, underground water and gas mains make it difficult to
have the lamp-posts on the east side);
2- Approximately 20 coach style fixtures similar to those existing
currently elsewhere in Manor Park (lighting level would not meet
city standards); and,
3- The status quo providing a lighting level far below city
standards.
Also, for each of the above options, there are two types of light
source to consider – High Pressure Sodium (city standard; produces
a yellow/orange light) and Metal Halide (not standard, requires
Transportation Committee and Council approval; produces a white
light and is more expensive both as to initial cost and on-going
maintenance). No additional costs would be attributable to the
residents if a decision were made to adopt a higher cost option,
either for the type of fixture or the light source.
You may wish to consider these options and discuss them with your
neighbours in advance of the public meeting. My office is always
available should any questions arise.
A Truly Outstanding Effort!
Mr. & Mrs. Robertson, of our Cardinal Glen community, have shown
all of us what can be achieved by way of diverting waste from our
landfill. In April, the Ottawa Citizen carried their story,
marking the first time in 3 years that this couple had put out
even one bag of garbage! They have adopted the “reduction, reuse,
recycling and composting of household materials” strategy
extraordinarily effectively. Their efforts in helping to make the
City of Ottawa a better environment in which to live were recently
recognized by the City of Ottawa’s Transportation, Utilities and
Public Works Department. Well done!
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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