This week at City Council I brought forward a motion to attempt to strengthen the holding provision for 2457 Regina Street.
The concern for this development, even from the very beginning stages, has been about the connection to Lincoln Field’s Station.
The motion stated the following:
WHEREAS the Staff report for 2475 Regina Street provides a holding provision to the zoning that cannot be lifted until the pedestrian connections are ‘explored’; and
WHEREAS the provision of all-season pedestrian connections is of prime importance to the community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the wording of the holding provision be amended to replace ‘Exploration of options for enhanced active transportation connections to’ with ‘Securing of enhanced active transportation connection(s) to’;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff be directed to find funding to ensure all year active transportation connections for pedestrians and cyclists be created to the Lincoln Field’s transit station by the end of the first phase of the development of 2475 Regina, or December 1st 2025, whichever is earlier, which will include proper lighting and winter maintenance. This should include discussions with staff in Policy Planning working on the Lincoln Fields Station Secondary Plan, Stage 2 LRT and the National Capital Commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to subsection 34(17) of the Planning Act, no further notice be given.
We need a reliable direct all year winter maintained safe connection for residents in this community. The holding provision stated by staff asks for this to be explored, and the motion created asked for this to be secured.
As I have said all along, this connection is crucial to the development and the neighbourhood. The application relies on this connection, it is assuming a 400 meter radius from the station , but without the connection it will be upwards of 1.2 kilometers.
The report from staff states the development will help to reduced private automobile ownership, and encourage new residents to use public transit. It will do this through reduced parking minimums, but we need to support those reduced minimums through direct transit access.
People will not want to walk 1.2km to the station, especially in winter.
I support and advocate for transit-oriented density, as well as infill high density urban development- this will be less costly to us all in the long term to build housing near already established services. In regard to this development, I will continue to push for the city to work with the NCC, Stage 2 LRT, and any other necessary groups to ensure a direct easy access is created and maintained for the community. I will also continue to advocate for traffic calming and better pedestrian infrastructure for Regina Street.
Ottawa city council approves high-rise development near Lincoln Fields
“This project relies very heavily on that NCC path. If it falls apart, I don’t know why we’re approving this plan,” Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh said while bringing a motion that would delay Windmill approval until the issue was resolved.
Other items from this week…
Council approved changes to curbside waste collection that will take effect in 2026, with the City’s next collection contract.
The new contract will include some service changes. Residents will need to set out leaf and yard waste separate from the Green Bin, but on the same day. The collection schedule will change from five days a week to four (Monday to Thursday) to prioritize both service to residents and collection efficiencies.
The City will also divert up to 60,000 tonnes of garbage per year from the Trail Waste Facility landfill by using private landfills in the east and west. This will extend the life of the City’s landfill by at least two years. The five current collection zones will be consolidated into to three larger zones to improve efficiency, reduce the impact of increasing costs and ensure daily service levels are met. The City will inform all affected residents before changes take effect.
Council received the Audit of the Prevention of Workplace Violence and Harassment. The Auditor General made nine recommendations that the City agrees with and is in the process of implementing. All nine recommendations will be implemented by the end of 2024.
The City is following best practices and is consulting with departments to update the governance of workplace violence and harassment, with a focus on prevention. Work is underway to improve policies and procedures in a holistic way and to develop training suited to the specific needs of departments and groups. The City will centralize complaint investigation to ensure a consistent approach across the organization. In line with the Audit’s recommendations, the City has also established timelines for sharing reports with complainants and respondents after an investigation is complete.
Council approved a zoning amendment and application to alter 352 Somerset Street West, the designated heritage building better known as Somerset House. The building partially collapsed in 2007 during renovation and has remained vacant and in a deteriorated condition ever since. The proposed development includes the restoration and stabilization of the historic building and the construction of a three-storey addition at the back of the existing building.
Council also approved designating the Highland Park Lawn Bowling Club under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. Located on Golden Avenue in Westboro, the property consists of a one-storey clubhouse built around 1914, along with outbuildings and lawn bowling greens. As one of the few surviving greenspaces and lawn bowling clubs in the area, it has served as a community sports hub for over a century and has become part of the City’s sporting heritage.
Council approved a new by-law for outdoor clothing donation boxes in Ottawa, including a mandatory permit system and regulations, to come into effect January 31, 2024. Clothing donation box owners will need a City permit and will need to follow regulations around box placement, signage, safety and maintenance. The proposed annual permit fee is $500, plus $150 per box operated by the permit holder. The by-law will help the City address common concerns about outdoor clothing donations boxes, including items left outside of boxes, waste and debris, locations, incorrect or misleading information on boxes, boxes placed on private property without consent, theft, vandalism and illegal dumping.
