General Meeting – September 16 2024 – Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital

Meeting Minutes

General Meeting – September 16 2024

Published on:

November 21, 2024

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Meeting date:

September 16, 2024

Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), Nicole DesRoches, Jason Kania, J.P Unger, Erwin Dreessen, Arto Keklikian

1. Adoption of the agenda

The proposed agenda was agreed upon

Moved by Nicole, seconded by Arto. Approved.

2. Administrative items

a. Minutes of July 29 2024 meeting (for approval)

Moved by Erwin, seconded by Arto. Carried.

b. Website report

Paul gave a demonstration of the new website and sought feedback from members. It was generally well received but a concern was expressed regarding the use of stock images rather than our own images of local greenspace and of our own people where applicable. He indicated that the website would be ready for deployment within two or three weeks. Jason requested additional information on technical requirements for hosting the new website on our server.

Action: Paul to source appropriate images to replace those on the new website.

c. Association report

The Peoples Official Plan coalition, of which the GA is a founding member, held a visioning exercise on August 15 at the Just Food barn. It was attended by 12 member organizations. It was intended to review the performance of the coalition since the POP2 grant was obtained in 2022 and to map out whether and how it would proceed beyond the end of the grant in 2025. There was broad consensus that the Coalition would continue to operate beyond 2025. High level ideas on how to improve internal operations and external engagement and impact were discussed. These will be addressed at the regular bi-weekly POP meetings over the next several months. In the short term, a survey/outreach activity will be initiated to seek the input of all coalition members on the way forward.

Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review
Things are heating up regarding the City’s review of its Comprehensive Zoning By-law, with comments on Draft 1 of the by-law due by October 31 in advance of Draft 2, which is expected in March 2025. The FCA held a workshop on the review on September 7, which was attended by representatives of 30 community and citizens associations, including the GA. Members of the POP coalition, including the GA, met with City Planning staff on September 9 to focus on ZBL provisions regarding trees, greenspaces and other environmental issues. A staff information memo, which floated ideas on bylaw provisions not previously discussed, was presented to Planning and Housing Committee on September 11. While participating in these activities, the GA will also want to make its own submission before October 31.

Action: Paul to draft a GA submission for review by members addressing primarily trees, greenspaces and other environmental issues.
PPS Review
The latest version of the PPS has been published, incorporating changes and revisions based on the several changes to legislation and policies made by the provincial government over the last few years to boost housing supply, often to the detriment of environmental and natural heritage. An analysis of the new PPS will need to be made to identify and assess these impacts locally.
Official Plan 2021
An omnibus Official Plan Amendment (OPA) was to be considered at Planning and Housing Committee on August 28. The GA made a submission regarding the specific issue of Country Lot Subdivisions, which led to a meeting with the lead planner to further elaborate on the issue. We later learned that the Omnibus OPA will be brought to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on October 3 and Planning and Housing Committee on October 9.

RURAL
Conservation Authority lands
One of the recent policy directions issued by the provincial government was to direct Conservation Authorities to identify any surplus Conservation Lands under their stewardship for possible conversion to housing development. The idea of “surplus” conservation land seems nonsensical to us and this direction is a major threat to rural greenspace.

Action: Paul to contact the local Conservation Authorities, either directly or through established channels, to enquire about the status of this directive.
MAJOR URBAN
NCC Parkways
The NCC has launched a consultation process on its Parkway Planning and Design Guidelines. As the parkway network is a major urban greenspace in the region, the GA will want to be involved in this review.

Action: Arto to monitor developments through his contacts at the NCC.
OTHER
THREATS
Nothing to report.

The Meeting adjourned at 8:33.

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The Greenspace Alliance works with community organizations and individuals to preserve and enhance natural areas in the National Capital area, including public and private green spaces, wetlands and waterways.

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