GCA Board Meeting Minutes

 

Tuesday, February 25, 7:00 p.m.
Glebe Community Centre

 

Present: Elizabeth Ballard, Jackie Bastianon, Kristi Carin, Anthony Carricato, Dan Chook Reid, June Creelman (proxy for Judy Wilson), John Crump, Sylvia Grandi, Rochelle Handelman, Jennifer Humphries, Caroline Mackenzie, Carol MacLeod, Brenda Perras, Johanna Persohn, Carmen Sanchez, Steph Small, Josh Van Noppen, Caroline Warburton

 

Others: Allan Bateman, Jane Bower, Trevor Greenway, Steve Harris, Phil Landry, Jonathan Macleod, Heather May, Liz McKeen, Shawn Menard, Maureen Musgrove, Wendy Myers, Jeff Prevett, Bruce Rosove, Bhagwant Sandhu, Janice Simon, Ryan Ward

 

Regrets: Nini Pal, Sue Stefko, Judy Wilson

 

WELCOME

Sarah welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

AGENDA AND MINUTES

The agenda was approved as presented (June / Rochelle), as were the minutes from the January meeting (Carol / Caroline).

 

REPORT FROM THE COUNCILLOR

Shawn provided an overview of proposals and recent consultations regarding Bank Street transportation. A “what we heard” report should be released in the next few weeks. Shawn hopes to present a proposal to the Transportation Committee in May, and would consult on that for at least a month.

 

Phil Landry, from the City of Ottawa, described the option that is being proposed (i.e., shared bicycle/bus lane over the bridge).

 

Sarah shared the Glebe BIA’s perspectives on their behalf. Shawn said that he is open to conversations with the BIA and that what is being considered right now is a pilot project in Old Ottawa South; more discussion is needed with respect to the Glebe. He would be open to a discussion about a bike lane on Bank St. in the Glebe, but is focused on the bridge right now.

 

Board members provided various comments:

  • It will be important to consider feeder routes into Bank St., coming off of the canal.
  • Enforcement of parking restrictions will also be important.
  • One member said that she would rather have space for traffic and parking as opposed to bike lanes in the Glebe.

 

Both Shawn and Phil stated that gathering data to inform next steps will be key.

 

With respect to Firehall Park, Jon reported that additional environmental assessments need to be done this spring. One Board member said that any toxic material should not be treated the way it was at Lansdowne.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS / MOTIONS / Q&A

 

Planning Committee

Carolyn provided an update on the Bank St. Height and Character Study. It is expected that the steering committee will meet at the end of March, that there will be public consultation in April, and that a final recommendation would be made in June. Carolyn asked Board members about the nature of her engagement with the City going forward.

 

Sarah summarized comments made at public meeting last year and the position of the GCA. She said that we reinforced this position in July but received no response from the City.

 

Johanna added some context with respect to heritage considerations.

 

Shawn said that the City is proposing a significant density increase on Isabella and Pretoria.

 

Board members provided several comments:

  • Due to heritage considerations, there are a limited number of properties that could be affected by a 6-storey height limit. It would add little density.
  • The City doesn’t need the GCA’s consent.
  • It would be good to continue to engage with the City so that we can have a dialogue with them when we know more about what they are considering.
  • Recognizing that it will take some time, it is important to keep the heritage conversation with respect to Bank St. moving forward.
  • Most of the streetscape is currently two storeys.

 

The following motion was put forward:

 

Motion A: Bank St. Height and Character Study

 

Be it resolved that the GCA Planning Committee, through its chair and her place on the steering committee, continue to engage with the City of Ottawa regarding the Bank St. Height and Character Study, and that they continue to emphasize the full scope of the GCA’s original position, including that buildings be a maximum of four storeys between Pretoria and Holmwood.

 

Discussion: Board members were generally supportive of continued engagement, both on the height limit and on the other principles put forward by the GCA in the spring of 2019.

 

(Rochelle / Brenda) Carried

 

Environment Committee

 

Motion 1: Maintaining the Urban Boundary in the City Official Plan to 2046

Whereas two key Committees of Ottawa City Council will vote on March 30, 2020 on whether to expand the urban boundary in the City’s new Official Plan that will run to 2046;

Whereas City Staff project that Ottawa’s population will grow by 400,000 or more, and require 194,500 additional dwellings;

Whereas City Staff are expected to recommend adding 1,200 or more hectares to the City’s land budget (land available for development) outside the urban boundary, in order to accommodate a substantial percentage of the new dwellings required;

Whereas a group of citizens working together to provide input to the City, called the People’s Official Plan (POP) for Ottawa’s Climate Emergency, has analyzed the City’s projections and identified opportunities to intensify within the urban boundary, including using City-owned undeveloped property and incentivizing intensification that is sensitive to inclusion, affordability, liveability, neighbourhood character and energy efficiency;

Whereas the GCA Environment Committee supports the POP position to not extend the boundary and contribute to further urban sprawl;

Whereas urban sprawl would increase carbon emissions and human stress through thousands of additional kilometres driven by new residents dispersed in the farthest reaches of the urban area, when we should be reducing GHG emissions from transportation;

Whereas urban sprawl would cost taxpayers for decades to come for new roads, new water and waste water infrastructure and other municipal services (it costs about 30% more to provide city services to new neighbourhoods built on the edge of the city, compared to homes built within existing city limits);

Whereas the GCA Environment Committee further supports the preservation of arable land for agriculture and wild areas for recreation and biodiversity;

Whereas the GCA Environment Committee believes that intensification can be done in a sensitive, environmentally sustainable way, with respect for heritage character;

Whereas the Federation of Citizens’ Associations (FCA) is engaged in the People’s Official Plan and is preparing a letter for member community associations to send to the Mayor and Councillors, urging that the current boundary be maintained and recommending specific areas where policy, regulation and incentives can be applied to facilitate the kind of intensification noted above;

Whereas the GCA approved a September 2019 motion committing it to write to the City to support the FCA’s earlier comments on the Official Plan, which included opposition to expansion of the urban boundary;

 

Be it resolved that the GCA Board give the Executive of the Board the authority to make a final decision to sign the FCA letter as is, make adjustments, or prepare its own letter supporting the FCA position.

 

Discussion: Jennifer presented the motion. One Board member said that this seems to contradict our position regarding building heights and densification in the Glebe.

 

(Jennifer / Carol) Carried

 

Parks Committee

Jackie presented an overview of the Master Parks Plan, including recommendations to be presented to the City. These recommendations have been shared with Board members and uploaded to the GCA website, and will be voted on at the GCA meeting in March.

 

OTHER MOTIONS AND UPDATES

 

Patterson Creek Bistro

Wendy provided an update. Elizabeth added that the Parks Committee will consider this as part of its Master Parks Plan work.

 

Ottawa Hospital Project

Bhagwant provided an update on the hospital’s Community Engagement Group. Their report is available at greatertogether.ca. He suggested the Board may want to invite someone from the hospital or the consultant to speak at a meeting. 

 

Lansdowne

Sarah reported that the Lansdowne Community Consultation Group has convened. She also shared some concerns about an article in this month’s Ottawa Magazine. Board members were supportive of Sarah writing a letter to the editor to address the article.

 

Tony reported on the committee’s recent meeting, and presented the following motion:

 

Motion B: Lansdowne Community Survey 

 

Be it resolved that the GCA Lansdowne Committee work with our neighbouring community associations to develop a community survey (online and in person at community events, the farmers market, etc.) to consult residents in Capital Ward and across the city on their views towards Lansdowne Park. The survey would include questions about the interest for further privatization of the city-owned land, desired amenities, types of events, overall use and functionality of the park. 

 

Discussion: Tony said that they would work to launch the survey in the spring, and that he would return to the Board with a financial request once the survey platform has been chosen (and if it requires payment). He also said that other community associations might be able to contribute. 

 

(Tony / June) Carried

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Sarah reported that she received correspondence regarding the Navy Curling Club and a projected rent increase in 2023. She also provided an update regarding gateway signage. Sarah also expressed concern about the recent adjustment to City committee membership and continued exclusion of interested urban councillors on FEDCO. Board members were supportive of Sarah reemphasizing the GCA’s position on this item.

 

Board members discussed working with other community associations to engage in the mid-term review of Council.

 

COMMENTS / ISSUES FROM COMMUNITY

N/A

 

OTHER BUSINESS

N/A

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:01 pm. (Jennifer / Rochelle)