Ken McCrea reported by email to the GA that Cavanagh has undertaken significant site alteration over a large area of woodland and wetlands at this location west of Stittsville. There was little information about what this development would be but it seems to be laid out like a rural subdivision. The City moratorium on such subdivisions, introduced in OPA76, was made permanent in OPA 150. Paul wondered whether this was not an illegal development. Erwin suggested that this could be either one of the rural subdivisions that were “grandfathered in”  when OPA 150 was adopted, or it could be the development that was exempted from the proscription of new rural subdivisions (Official Plan, s. 3.7.2, policy 8; this section is no longer under appeal). It was agreed that this should be verified.

Action: Erwin to verify if the property is Cavanagh’s. (Postscript: 6700 Hazeldean is indeed one of the exempted properties.)”

The City of Ottawa is inviting comments on the Eastern Sub-watersheds Stormwater Management Retrofit Study. The purpose of the study is to identify a stormwater management retrofit plan that will mitigate the water quality, erosion and flooding impacts of existing development within the subwatersheds of Bilberry, Taylor and Voyageur Creeks, and the urbanized areas of the Green’s Creek subwatershed. The proposed retrofit plan provides a strategy to help mitigate the impacts of uncontrolled runoff from areas in the east end of the city that have little or no stormwater management. The Online Information Session can be viewed at this link. Deadline for comments is July 13.

Wesley Clover Zoning Bylaw application

According to new information received from the developer, the Zoning application submitted seeks to add permitted uses to align with uses that are already occurring on the site, in accordance with their lease with the NCC. No new facilities or construction is currently planned, and none could be without NCC approval. We will contact all parties involved to validate that they share a common understanding of the application.

Action: Paul to write to the NCC, City planners and Wesley Clover

Leitrim Rd, widening and realignment update

After the City approval of the EA for this post-2031 transportation project, the GA wrote to the CEO of the NCC, expressing its concerns regarding the route selected for the realignment. We have received a detailed response from Dr Kristmanson indicating that the NCC has not signed off on this proposed realignment and will not until its concerns are fully addressed.

Paul attended the public information session on June 11. The proposed development is on 20 acres and includes a retirement home, a private school (new home of the Westboro Academy), some residential and a retail strip along Hunt Club, with two proposed car dealerships (access from within the development). The single access to the development would be from Riverside Drive, 370 metres north of the Hunt Club intersection. The main concern of residents was traffic and road access, given the existing congestion on Riverside Drive and Hunt Club. The proposal for car dealerships at that location was particularly not well received.  As part of the approval, 5 of the 20 acres, fronting the Rideau River, would be ceded to the city and rezoned as EP. This would provide a green link along the river, joining up to a naturalized storm water facility to the north, and extending towards the riverfront greenspace adjoining McCarthy Woods and meadow. It was agreed not to oppose the development generally, to support the transfer to the City of the 5 acre riverfront parcel and to advocate for alternative retail uses rather than car dealerships.

Action:  Paul to communicate this position to the City planners.

It was agreed to support the local community in opposition to this application to permit a car dealership on this riverfront parcel (kitty corner across the river from 3930 Riverside Drive).

Action: Paul to communicate this position to the City planners.

Paul attended the information session on May 29. Richcraft presented its latest concept plan for development on the site. Adjustments were made in response to the feedback provided at the previous information session. In particular, the plan now reflects updated flood plain mapping for this reach of the Carp River. Also, a naturalized storm water management facility has been expanded to handle runoff from another development east of Terry Fox Drive, which corresponds partly to a suggestion made by the GA at the previous information session. As regards other greenspace issues, rather than a sports field type park, a treed linear park is planned along the base of the South March Highlands ridge. In compensation for building on or near Blanding’s Turtle and Bobolink habitat, a large rural parcel across the Carp River from the development will be ceded to the City and maintained as protected habitat. This is probably as good a result as can be obtained in the face of the imperative of developing this parcel. However, there was talk at the session of expanding the engineered naturalization of the Carp River seen south of Richardson Road to this site as well, and that would be an even better outcome if it could be realized.

Council approved the CDP for this urban expansion area. While there was little potential for conserving or expanding greenspace at this location, we are still concerned that the City approved a land swap, bring a developable rural parcel into the urban boundary and swapping out an urban parcel that was not developable until late in the timeframes of the Official Plan (before 2031). We are of the view that changes to the urban boundary can only be made as a result of a comprehensive review as per the Planning Act. We made a submission in this regard. The idea of using this case as a test of the new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal was raised but no decision made on it.