General Meeting – November 18, 2024 – Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital

Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), Nicole DesRoches, Erwin Dreessen, Arto Keklikian, Iola Price, Tony Keith, Terry McIntyre

1. Adoption of the agenda

The proposed agenda was agreed upon, with the addition of an item under Association report.

Moved by Arto, seconded by Nicole. Approved.

2. Administrative items

a. Minutes of October 21 2024 meeting (for approval)

Moved by Nicole, seconded by Erwin. Carried.

b. Website report

Paul reported that the new website was nearing completion, with mostly content clean up work remaining. Erwin expressed concern that there were gaps in the content and that much of the content he had consulted seemed to have been atomized and reassembled in a manner that disrupted the logical narrative flow of the original texts. Paul reassured members that all the content from the old website had been preserved and that the means of restoring the thematic and chronological order of the errant sections was built into the content management interface of the new website. He expected that significant progress would be made by the next general meeting.

c. Membership report

Paul reported that the second batch of membership renewal reminders, for members who renew in the second half of the year, was sent. To date the response has been good. The postal strike, however, might delay some of the renewals.

d. Treasurer’s report

Paul submitted a reimbursement request of $12.00 for the GA’s annual filing with Corporations Canada and $211 for the renewal of our P.O Box rental. Moved by Iola, seconded by Nicole. Carried

e. Association report

Although Nicole was not able to attend the seminar held by les Amis des Parcs in Montreal last month, she has now been invited to join a webinar on November 27, where she will give a presentation on the work of the Greenspace Alliance. Paul also reported on a meeting he attended with other POP coalition members with Debbie Stewart, the newly appointed General Manager of Strategic Initiatives for the City of Ottawa. This was an introductory meeting with no substantial discussions on specific issues. Each member had an opportunity to introduce themselves and give a brief description of their organization. As a follow up to the meeting, she asked participants for feedback on our perceptions of what works and what doesn’t at City Hall.

Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review
The Greenspace Alliance signed on to the Peoples Official Plan Coalition’s submission on Draft 1 of the new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw. Much of the work on the submission was done by CAFE’s Tree Caucus, supplemented by contributions from POP members, including the GA. It is excellent work, which covered all the points that the Alliance wished to make, and more. Draft 2 of the new Zoning Bylaw is expected by the end of March 2025.
Tree Protection By-Law
Staff has sent a memo to Council regarding their communications with the Normal Farm Practices Board of Ontario, which was in response to a staff direction provided as a result of the Tewin deforestation. It was the invocation of the agricultural exemption that was used as justification for not applying the Tree Protection Bylaw or the Site Alteration Bylaw to this clear cut by the developers of Tewin. The question was whether the clear cut of a forested area is considered a normal farm practice. Unfortunately, the Board did not rule on this particular case, which seems to be the only way the Board can issue a determination on the matter. As there was no complaint made by area residents and no formal reference made to the Board by the City, the question remains unanswered. From this, City staff have concluded that no amendment or modification is required to the Tree Bylaw or the Site Alteration Bylaw. This seems to close the door on this sad chapter. Peri-urban woodlands can be clear cut by landowners or developers without any notification whatever to the City so long as they claim they will use the land for an agricultural operation.
Rural Summit
Some members attended the Rural Summit, organized by Ottawa’s rural councillors and held on November 2, 2024 at Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean. Many thanks to our sister organization the Federation of Citizens’ Associations for making these notes on the proceedings available.
New urban expansion policy
Conditions and fees for urban expansion applications under the new policy were approved at a Joint Meeting of Agricultural and Rural Affairs and Planning and Housing Committees on October 16, and approved by Council on October 20, when they took effect.
POP2
The GA signed on to a POP coalition letter to Mayor and Council regarding the removal from the TMP of planned bicycle lanes along the main street in the Village of Richmond, this at the request of the local councillor.

Threats and Opportunities

Goulbourn Wetlands
An application has been made by Cavanagh to establish a new quarry in what was once part of the Goulbourn Provincially Significant Wetland. Of the three wetlands on the property, one was found upon a prior appeal to the OLT as being not significant, another was re-assessed as not significant under the new OWES process introduced in 2023 (de-complexing) and the last one was found to be part of the Goulbourn complex and thus retains its provincially significant designation. Some of the forested areas on the property were found to be significant woodlands and will also be retained. For these elements of the Natural Heritage System, it seems that the Official Plan protection policies are being applied. There will be no negative impacts on significant natural features located on or adjacent to the proposed extraction area. Progressive rehabilitation will be undertaken to restore 35.5 ha of upland forest communities and 19.5 ha of wetlands, as well as 9.0 ha of thickets in transition areas between uplands, meadows and wetlands. These areas exceed the areas to be removed for the development of the Stittsville Quarry II and will result in improved ecological functions once rehabilitation is complete.
Bear Brook Provincially Significant Wetland
The City announced that as a result of wetland evaluations it had commissioned, a large wetland complex on the eastern edge of Ottawa’s urban boundary was designated as Provincially Significant. The Bear Brook wetlands cover 561 hectares east and south of the Tewin urban expansion area. This is cause for a huge celebration as it is a very rare occurrence indeed that such a large addition be made to the Natural Heritage System.
Plaisance Quebec National Park
Nicole reported that a vast new conservation area along the north shore of the Ottawa River from Thurso to Gatineau, known as the Refuge Faunique des Grands Baies de l’Outaouais is nearing completion and that funding for the expansion of the Parc National de Plaisance has been approved by the Quebec government. This will extend the park on both sides of the Petite Nation River up to the Plaisance Falls. This is also cause for celebration.
MAJOR URBAN
NCC Parkways
We are still seeking information on the reason for the clearing of trees along the Airport Parkway in the vicinity of Blossom Park to the east and Windsor Park to the west.
OTHER
Champlain Park Oaks
An inquiry has been sent to City staff regarding the development of a heritage tree policy which would address the protection of healthy, mid-life ancient trees, beyond the protection currently afforded to distinctive trees in the Tree Protection Bylaw. This is an outstanding issue from the development of the Urban Forest Management Plan and Tree Protection bylaw which needs to be addressed to prevent the unnecessary removal of trees such as this magnificent oak in Champlain Park.
More Tree Removals
An inquiry has been sent to City staff regarding the removal of 23 mature trees along James Street from Bronson to Bank.
Macoun Marsh
Iola updated the group on rehabilitation work on the Macoun Marsh being undertaken by Beechwood Cemetery, which owns the land. As result of a complaint from a resident, the City investigated and issued a stop work order. However, upon completing their evaluation they concluded that the rehabilitation plan was valid and work could resume in the spring.

Current Issues