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Author: Erwin Dreessen

Policies & Threats Related to Greenspaces

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Proposed Embassy Row on SJAM

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has filed for an Official Plan amendment to allow for the creation of a diplomatic precinct along the Ottawa River. The subject lands, located at Slidell Street and the Sir John A. McDonald Parkway, are next to the Mechanicsville neighbourhood in Kitchissippi Ward. The lands are zoned by the City of Ottawa as greenspace (O1 Parks and Open Space) and are actively used by the

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Erwin Dreessen February 25, 2021 June 24, 2024

Council considers which lands to include in urban expansion

We don’t want any urban expansion, because climate change. In May 2019, we proposed a No Expansion scenario, with 63.5% of projected growth to be achieved through intensification, the balance by building out the remaining vacant greenfields already inside the urban area. The City concedes that: “This scenario represents the greatest extent to which growth management can contribute to achieving policy directions where most growth occurs through intensification, growth uses existing

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Erwin Dreessen February 9, 2021 June 24, 2024

In Memoriam: Bryan Hawley

In Memoriam Bryan G. Hawley May 23, 1945 – October 29, 2020   With great sadness we learn of the passing, at age 75 and after a very long illness, of Bryan Hawley, co-founder of the Greenspace Alliance. He was no stranger to the Ottawa Hospital’s General Campus, but his last stay was a long and painful one. Despite the pandemic restrictions, his family was able to be with him

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Erwin Dreessen January 20, 2021 June 24, 2024

City updates stakeholders on directions expected in draft Official Plan

On September 24, City staff briefed the FCA-GOHBA (Federation of Citizens’ Associations, of which the Greenspace Alliance is a member, and the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association) stakeholders group  on policy directions expected in the draft Official Plan that will be released in late November 2020. In an extensive presentation, senior planning staff gave the attendees a first look at the proposed structure of the new Official Plan. New concepts

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Erwin Dreessen October 21, 2020 June 24, 2024

Workshop on Climate Solutions and Ottawa’s New Official Plan

On November 15 and 16 some 100 people gathered for a day and a half at Bayview Yards in Ottawa to discuss the climate crisis face to face and define priority actions that must be included in Ottawa’s new Official Plan to address the climate emergency. The organization of the workshop was led by Daniel Buckles and Paul Johanis of the Greenspace Alliance, with significant support from Ecology Ottawa, The

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Erwin Dreessen November 19, 2019 June 24, 2024

Consultation on the new Official Plan, 2019

Greenspace Alliance activities in relation to the new Official Plan over the summer of 2019 The Greenspace Alliance participated in the second FCA/GOHBA stakeholder meeting organized by the City on June 11 at the Jack Purcell Centre. This was an opportunity to exchange with senior city planning staff and representatives of several developers on key issues regarding growth, intensification and affordability. The People’s Official Plan informal group met on June

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Erwin Dreessen October 8, 2019 June 24, 2024

Submissions to Joint Meeting of Planning/Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees, August 22 2019

Oral presentations were made by the following members of the People’s Official Plan team: Mitchell Beer (The Energy Mix), Paul Johanis (GA), Daniel Buckles (CAFES), Moe Garahan (Just Food), Sally Thomas and Trevor Hache (Healthy Transportation Coalition), John Woodhouse (Council on Ageing), Heather Pearl (Champlain Park Community Association) and Sheila Perry (FCA). Four high level strategic direction papers were submitted on the following themes: Growth management (Greenspace Alliance) Intensification and Climate

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Erwin Dreessen October 8, 2019 June 24, 2024

Don’t Shut Down the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre

In late February, word came around that the newly created Support Centre to help communities in provincial planning matters would shut down by June and would not take on any new clients. Since it opened its doors in April, it has dealt with 570 requests from 168 communities!  What better proof that this kind of help is badly needed. So we’re not taking this lying down: Here is a press

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Erwin Dreessen March 5, 2019 June 24, 2024

Photo Gallery, Centenary elm on Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill 1927   The elm is quite small and hard to see in this picture, just a dark shadow to the left of the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald. But this aerial photograph from 1931 shows exactly where it is.      This still from a 1938 film reel also shows the tree in the distance. In this case, its shadow on the ground is more visible than

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Erwin Dreessen February 5, 2019 June 24, 2024

Tree Protection in the Parliamentary Precinct

The Centre Block on Parliament Hill will be undergoing extensive renovations, which are expected to last at least 10 years. It will be closed for that entire period. We have heard concerns that one or more mature trees near the structure may be removed for ease of access to the building or to otherwise facilitate the renovation process. We are particularly concerned about a mature elm, which stands just to

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Erwin Dreessen January 21, 2019 June 24, 2024