Oct - Old Ottawa South

THE OSCARlOCTOBER 2013Page 13COUNCILLOR’S REPORTOfficial Plans May Not Seem Exciting,But They’re Extremely ImportantBy David ChernushenkoIt’s an especially busy autumn atCity Hall as we prepare to adopt anupdated Official Plan (OP), InfrastructureMaster Plan, TransportationMaster Plan (TMP), Cycling Planand Pedestrian Plan.Talk of official plans may makeyour eyes glaze over, but these documentsare very important, and that’swhy we revise them every five years.They contain policy directions andlists of priorities that will determinewhere and how your tax dollars arespent, whether a road is widenedor a rail line or bike lane is built,and when critical infrastructure getsrepaired or replaced.Following six months of inputfrom the public and Council, we gotour first view of official drafts in lateSeptember, with the TMP delayeduntil October. Next, Council memberswill formally review the plansand welcome public delegations atcommittee meetings, at which theplans will be debated and most likelyadopted, with or without changes.Here are a few major issues directlyaffecting Old Ottawa Southresidents:• Will there be changes to the OPpolicy direction that currentlypromotes intensification? Will itprovide specifics on acceptableheight and density, and just howmuch such intensification is goingto be promoted around newtransit stations (Transit OrientedDevelopment)?• Will the TMP go further topromote public transit and activetransit as the most efficient andcost-effective ways of movingpeople and goods? If so, will anymajor road projects be removedfrom the TMP or placed on thebackburner?• Will the proposed footbridgespanning the canal between Fifthand Clegg (currently in the detaileddesign phase) be listed as apriority project?• Will the Cycling Plan and PedestrianPlan propose new routes orinfrastructure for our neighbourhood,to address subpar linkagesfor walkers and cyclists alongour main roads and bridges?Much will have been revealed bythe time you read this, but the mostimportant consultations and debatesat Council are only just be gettingstarted. I welcome your questionsand feedback.Conversions updatePrompted by undesirable homeconversions on Aylmer and HopewellAves., I joined my Council colleaguesin passing an Interim ControlBylaw in April. This brought a temporaryhalt to single-family homesbeing converted into apartments, anddirected the planning department tostudy the most problematic aspectsof this type of infill, consult with thepublic, and propose modified rules.The City held a public consultationon Sept. 16 at City Hall, well attendedby residents of those communitiesalready being affected and some whoanticipate such projects coming theirway.I expect the report to be broughtto Planning Committee next Marchin conjunction with the Second InfillZoning Study. To follow this issueand provide input, visit ottawa.ca/conversions.Party timeWith the return of university studentscome the inevitable complaintsabout partying. Student parties arenothing new, but there’s a big differencebetween a gathering that’s alittle loud and boisterous, and a big,noisy bash that goes all night.Every year, I deal with complaintsabout party houses, and I offer thesame advice.Students (and other partiers), yourneighbours will probably tolerate anoccasional party if you give themadvance notice, keep the noise bearableand wrap it up at a reasonablehour. But if things get out of control,a visit from police or bylaw can beexpensive. Fines start at $300, andhosts can be charged for the actionsof guests.For other residents, if you witnessillegal or dangerous activities, call to911. If it’s simply an annoying situation,call 311 or email 311@ottawa.ca (feel free to copy me) as soon asyou’re uncomfortable with the levelof noise or size of crowd. The phonelines — and police — get busier asthe night goes on. And don’t assumethat someone else will call in yourstead.Speaking of noise …Many Old Ottawa South residentshave been inordinately disturbedby loud music lately, including theEscapade Music Festival at the RACentre, the Folk Festival at Hog’sBack, and the return of football atCarleton.In most cases, the problem isn’tnoise so much as vibration. Theubiquitous use of monster subwoofersmeans people can literally feel thedeep bass a great distance away, andcan’t escape it by closing their windows(not that they should have to).Last year, I questioned bylaw officialsabout their ability to accuratelymeasure and thereby enforce acceptablelimits. This year, they assuredme they had the necessary tools. Yetdecibel readings taken at at least onecomplainant’s house indicated levelswell within allowable limits, eventhough the house and its contentswere actually vibrating. This wasdeemed acceptable.I plan to actively pursue bettertools to ensure that concertgoers canstill have their fun, but without rattlingbones and disrupting residents’heart rhythms.Sunnyside calming projectWith funding approved for theSunnyside Ave. traffic calming plan,the City intends to implement a seriesof intersection and midblock narrowings,signage, pavement markingand on-street parking adjustments in2014.In addition, the City will pilot aGreen Street concept by installingbioretention measures instead of hardsurfaces within some of the narrowings.Because this means slightlymodifying the original 2012 plan, theCity will seek community input.There was an open house onWednesday, Sept. 25, at SouthminsterUnited Church.Councillor David Chernushenko,613-580-2487, David.Chernushenko@Ottawa.ca,www.capitalward.caSunnyside Avenue Traffic Calming andGreen Street TreatmentsIn 2012, the City along with residents in OldOttawa South completed a traffic calmingplan that included a series of intersection andmidblock narrowings, signage, pavementmarking and on-street parking adjustmentsalong Sunnyside Avenue. (Editor’s Note: Thisplan does not include Sunnyside east of Bank,nor Bank Street itself. See the OSCA web pagearticle that outlines the study and the final reportat http://www.oldottawasouth.ca).Funding has been approved for this project andthe City intends to implement these measuresin 2014. In addition, the City will pilot aGreen Street concept by installing bioretentionmeasures within some of the traffic narrowingsinstead of hard surface treatments. As thesemeasures will slightly modify the original planfrom 2012, the City will be seeking input fromthe local community.FIND “THE OSCAR” atwww.oldottawasouth.caYasir Naqvi, MPPOttawa CentreHere to help you!The first open house was on Wednesday,Sept. 25, at Southminster UnitedChurch.For more information, please contact:Justin Swan, P.EngPlanning and Growth ManagementCity of Ottawa613-580-2424, ext. 21636E-mail: justin.swan@ottawa.caCommunity Office109 Catherine StreetOttawa ON K2P 0P4T: 613-722-6414 | F: 613-722-6703ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.orgwww.yasirnaqvimpp.cafb facebook.com/yasirnaqvimpptw @yasir_naqvi