Minutes
– Glebe Annex Community Association (GACA)
Board Meeting – Wednesday, September 8, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
Held Via Zoom
Present:
- Annalisa Salonius
- Cathy
- Carrie Bolton
- David Perkins
- Gabrielle Dallaporta
- Joanne Benoit
- Laurent Carbonneau
- Robert Logie
- Paul Sarrouf
- Scott Templeton
- Sue Stefko
- Jonathan McLeod, (Assistant, Office of Shawn Menard, Councillor, Capital Ward)
1. Call to Order and Approval of the Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. and the agenda was approved.
2. Approval of the June 1st Minutes
The minutes were approved.
3. Business Arising from the Minutes of June 1st
3.1
The proposed bike lanes on Carling have been installed.
3.2
Our board meetings have been changed to the second Wednesday of the month. The only challenge we may face is if we go back to physical meetings at the Glebe Community Centre – we are not certain if there would be room available starting in January. If all goes according to plan, we will be moving our meetings to the JHS building in April.
4. Councillor’s Office Update – Jon
4.1 Proposed Development at 774 Bronson
Jon and Councillor Menard met with city planners on this development application. The developers are applying for a 9-story podium on Bronson and a 26-story building which is more than it is zoned for. They have not done sufficient transportation planning, and ignored the impact on Frederick, which a lot of the traffic would use to cut through. There will be a shadow effect caused as well. The councillor’s office will be having a meeting with Katasa, the developer, soon.
4.2 TimeLine for Civic Hospital Process
The City has canceled consultations and the stakeholders meeting on the new hospital. The area MPP held a meeting on the hospital and the City did not send anyone. A public meeting was to be held on October 1st; it may also be cancelled. The hospital approval vote is going to Council on October 13th. The councillor’s office is not happy with the site location, but they think the location will not be moving. If the City were to make more effort, the current plan could be improved upon. The councillor’s office hopes to see some of the trees saved and changes to the parking plan. On Oct 5th, the NCC will be having a meeting where they will discuss the hospital site. They may ask for some improvements. Jon will be attending.
4.3 New Official Plan
The Official Plan is going to Planning Committee on October 14th; if it passes, it will go to Council on October 27th. There have been some improvements and it looks like a good plan overall. There is going to be a public open house on Wednesday, September 29th. Details will be in the councillor’s newsletter.
4.4 Gateway Speed Zone
Today council approved the gateway speed zone for the Glebe Annex. Currently each city street has its own speed limit sign, and where there is no signage, the default speed limit is 50 km/h. The gateway speed zone means that there will now be signage on every street entering an area, and the limit would apply to every street in the surrounding area. Implementation timelines still need to be determined.
4.5 Pedestrian crossing at Bell and Henry
Pedestrian traffic studies indicate that this pedestrian crossing is warranted, and the crossing has been approved. However, there is a delay on implementing it due to city staff saying the costs should come from the councillor’s traffic calming budget. The councillor’s office feels that the city should be making it part of its permanent traffic plan, and so pay for it. This would also free up the councillor’s budget for other things.
5. Cleaning the Capital – Fall Clean-up:
The campaign dates are September 13th – October 15th. Like last time, Sue will drop off the bags and gloves to participants and give individuals their routes – we choise September 18th with a rain date of September 19th. If anyone would like to take over the organizations of the fall clean, please reach out to Sue.
6. General Update
6.1 Pollinator Garden – Sue
The pollinator garden was installed, thanks to Gabrielle, her husband and their friend. Sue and David also worked on the install. Some flowers are now blooming, and pollinators are present. The garden is over budget, largely due to the cost of lumber. GACA approved $300.00 and the Councillor is planning to contribute some funds. Sue may come back to the board to cover some additional costs.
6.2 Federal Election Public Debates
The Glebe, Centertown and other areas of Ottawa Centre are holding a federal debate on September 16th from 7 to 9 p.m. They have asked for our support – they are not asking for any contributions, just for us to promote it. There is also a Westboro area debate being organized with more western area associations of the riding.
6.3 New Official Plan – Laurent
Laurent has done a study of the new official plan. Revisions occurred in late July. The overall aim on intensification and the promotion of active transport and transit is positive. There are big commitments on emission reductions and zero-emission buildings by 2030. The somewhat controversial transect approach is going to be here to stay. The word regeneration was changed to intensification. Economic development considerations will include a more holistic view on development. Disappointingly the new version has removed ‘walkable’ from the 15-minute neighbourhoods – the walkable neighbourhoods are now indicated as more aspirational. There is not much of a commitment to affordability. Sue mentioned that she had hoped that the one thing that would change is moving the Glebe Annex out of the downtown core transect to the inner urban, which is less targeted for intensification.
6.4 Development – 774 Bronson at Carling
This lot has been vacant for several years. This is the fourth proposal, and the highest proposed, at 26 stories. GACA provided comments on this development in the pre site plan application phase, raising concerns such as cut-through traffic in the Dow’s Lake neighbourhood and shadowing/the canyon effect. These have not been addressed. We will let the DLRA take the lead on any comments as it is in their neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the shadow effect on residents will mostly impact our neighbourhood. Scott will further investigate this application.
6.5 Civic Hospital
The public have raised a number of concerns regarding the number of trees to be destroyed, the above ground parking garage (when an underground one had been promised), and some are unhappy with the site itself. The Dow’s Lake Residents’ Association (DLRA) is trying change the location. GACA’s main efforts have been regarding improving the current plan.
6.6: Canada Lands Corporation (CLC)
299 Carling was supposed to go in front of the Urban Design Review Panel in September, but it has been pushed to October. This is just for zoning approval – the eventual site plan(s) will be put forward by the developer(s). This will be some time down the road.
6.6 John Howard Society 289 Carling
The construction is moving along well, the expected completion date is March 2022.
6.7 Katasa Development 275 Carling
The majority of trees have been ripped out. Blasting will be starting the middle of this month and continue until January/February. It is expected to be quite disruptive.
6.8 Development at 7 Maclean
Development has been delayed. Sue spoke to the owners recently and they are hoping to restart this project soon.
6.9 Booth Street Complex CLC
CLC has been unavailable to provide any updates – they are still marketing the property to developers.
6.10 GACA Board Meetings
Everyone agreed with continuing with Zoom meetings on the second Wednesday of the month.
7. Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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