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MANOR PARK CHRONICLE
november
2006
Karen Way
You may recall that I reported, in the last issue of the
Chronicle, that City Council unanimously approved re-zoning of
the former school site to allow a residential building of 7
stories at most. I felt that the zoning decision should be
viewed as a significant victory for the Manor Park and Cardinal
Glen communities. Unfortunately, I must now tell you that the
battle is not yet over. Richcraft have decided to appeal that
decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The City will be
a party in that hearing, defending the decision taken by
Council. The community must now decide how it will proceed. It
has three choices; it could choose not to participate at all,
choose to be a participant with the simple right to be heard by
the OMB, or finally, seek party status. Acting as a party in the
hearing allows for a significantly increased role (e.g. ability
to call expert witnesses in support of one’s position,
opportunity to cross-examine other witnesses). I would encourage
the community to adopt that role although I do recognize that
there would be costs associated in going down that road. Be
assured that I will do all I can to support this community in
defending what was an eminently reasonable compromise.
Beechwood Community Design
Planning Committee, on September 12th, approved the Beechwood
Community Design Plan. There were two amendments of note.
One dealt with the controversial ‘restaurant-pavilion’ notion
for the southern tip of Stanley Park. The restaurant option was
removed. The possibility of a pavilion or a facility of some
sort was retained. It is important to remember that the City
owns the land. As such, the City has full control of the use to
be made of this land. I believe that leaving the possibility for
some imaginative proposal that would be fully compatible with
the gateway entrance to the park, adjacent to the river,
preserves a healthy flexibility. Any proposal would of course
have to meet with significant community approval as determined
by a thorough consultation process. As well, rezoning would be
required as the proposed rezoning within the Design Plan was
removed. You should also know that currently no proposal exists
to my knowledge.
The second amendment sought to preserve the existing view
sightline of the Peace Tower on parliament hill from the newly
inaugurated “Poet’s Hill Literary Heritage Site” of Beechwood
Cemetery. Poet’s Hill is the point of departure for a proposed
extended Poet’s Pathway network that will connect sites of
literary-historical importance throughout the capital. The
amendment called for a study of any height restrictions that
might be necessary along this sightline.
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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