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Rockcliffe
park newsletter
July
2006
NEWS FROM CITY HALL
Princess and Lisgar Roadway Rehabilitation
All who attended the public consultation last May 18th will know
that the design proposed by City staff was not well received by
residents or the RPRA. It was agreed that the road was in
desperate need of repair but residents were unwilling to change
the heritage look of the Village in order to meet City
standards. The meeting ended with two major outstanding issues.
One, I believe, has now been resolved in a satisfactory manner.
1- Lisgar/Princess Triangle
City staff had originally proposed to close the leg closest to
the Rideau Hall fence to vehicular traffic to make the
intersection safer. This would also have increased the
landscaped area. However, as a result of the community’s
concerns (principally on heritage grounds), staff have now
suggested that safety would be adequately served by leaving the
triangular geometry untouched on condition that the leg which
was to have been closed now allow one-way traffic (southbound)
only. This would remove the main safety concern, a movement
blind for drivers of delivery vehicles and trucks in the reverse
direction.
2- Princess - Sidewalk/Road
There is general agreement that a pathway accommodating
pedestrians is desirable (in City parlance – ‘warranted’) along
Princess. Staff is proposing a standard concrete sidewalk
adjacent to the Rideau Hall side of the roadway. Accommodating a
more rural looking path, with a verge on both sides, requires
that some small amount of land be acquired on the opposite
(park) side, from the NCC. Even assuming agreement on the part
of the NCC, this would apparently require a Federal
Environmental Assessment and approval of the NCC’s governing
Board. Further, City staff is not supportive of committing any
additional resources for a ‘non-standard’ road cross-section. As
well, staff is concerned that no more time be lost in repairing
a roadway that clearly needs urgent rehabilitation. I am
discussing with the RPRA, the political options and their risks,
which may now be necessary.
Beechwood Community Design
One last public meeting was held on July 5th at St. Charles
Church. City staff will now finalize their report to be
considered by Planning Committee on September 12th.
CFB Rockcliffe
The first public meeting at the Aviation Museum on the evening
of June 27th was very well attended. This initial meeting was an
opportunity for creating positive first impressions. The Canada
Lands Corporation (CLC) introduced themselves, and their
consultants, to the community. Jim Lynes, acting president of
CLC, and Mr. Ken Greenberg, on behalf of the consulting team,
spoke in broad terms of their intentions to focus on principles
of sustainable development and to maintain a close and open
dialogue with the surrounding communities as they move forward
with their planning exercise. Jane Brammer, spoke on behalf of
CARAD - Community Action for Rockcliffe Airbase Development, the
newly created network organization representing community
associations having a significant interest in the future of CFB
Rockcliffe, or as it is coming to be known, “Rockcliffe
Landing”. CARAD can be reached at “airbase_ideas@hotmail.com”.
Both presentations, as well as the audio/video component of the
Q&A session which followed, can be found at
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com .
Councillor Jacques Legendre
I can be contacted by telephone at 580-2483, by fax at 580-2523
or by email at
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Visit your web site at
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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