General Meeting – 29 May 2012

GREENSPACE ALLIANCE OF CANADA’S CAPITAL

Greenspace Watch

General Meeting

May 29, 2012

Champlain Park Fieldhouse

160 Cowley Avenue, Ottawa

MINUTES

Present: Amy Kempster (chair), Janice Seline, Elina Elnione, David McNicoll, Jason Kania, Erwin Dreessen (note taker)
Regrets: Sol Shuster, Martin Callsen, James O’Grady, Juan Pedro Unger

The meeting commenced at 8:10 p.m.

  1. Agenda

    An amended agenda was approved.

  2. Minutes of 24 April 2012

    Erwin moved, seconded by Elina, to approve the Minutes of April 24 as circulated. Approved.

  3. Officers for the new year

    Sol will be asked to continue as Vice-Chair. Elina agreed to be Secretary. Erwin will continue as Treasurer. Jason will continue as web master and list owner. Amy and Jason will meet to develop a plan of action on memberships.

  4. Ottawa Official Plan

    Erwin reported on the pre-hearing conference of May 17-18 in preparation of the final hearing on appeals of OPA 76 — Phase 2B of the urban boundary hearings. The OMB has not yet issued its decision which will establish whether the total urban expansion is 850 or 1,013 hectares. Chris Busby and Judy Makin have agreed to be witnesses for issues regarding Areas 1 and 2 in Kanata. Iola Price has agreed to be a witness for issues regarding Areas 8 and 9. Witness Statements are due June 11, Visual Evidence is due June 22; the hearing starts July 3 and is expected to last till July 30.

    Planning Committee on May 22, apparently upon the urging of “Messrs. Jack Stirling and Ted Phillips, on behalf of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association,” deferred a staff recommendation which would have set the time horizon of the next round of Official and related Master Plans to 2031 (no change from the 2006-2009 exercise). Indications from staff are that, with a 2031 planning horizon, no further urban expansion would be required.

  5. Emerald Ash Borer

    Erwin will draw attention to the campaign at the upcoming CAFES meeting. Amy will do the same at the upcoming FCA meeting.

  6. South March Highhlands

    On June 2, South March Highlands is celebrating its win in the People’s Choice contest for Great Public Places organized by the Canadian Institute of Planners, with over 22,000 votes garnered from across Canada.

  7. Ontario Stewardship Council

    No decision was regarding the Council’s request to express support of the status quo of stewardship councils.

  8. Development Charges

    Amy will write to Min. Bob Chiarelli regarding elimination of the 10% discount for transit capital costs.

  9. Plant sale

    Janice provided the Board with the proceeds of this year’s plant sale, which was received with gratitude and deep appreciation for Janice’s work and all those who helped make it happen.

    Jason moved, seconded by Erwin, to donate $200.00 to the Poets’ Pathway. Agreed.

  10. Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines

    The staff report recommending adoption of the 2nd edition of the EIS Guidelines will come before  Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on May 31 and before Planning Committee on June 12.  Erwin agreed to draft a comment in support of including an additional environmental planner in Budget 2013 to improve follow-up, monitoring and enforcement.

The meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.

Next meeting of the Alliance will be on Tuesday, June 19, 20102, location t.b.d.