Any resident having an opinion about the planned change of McKellar Park from Kitchissippi to Bay ward must express that opinion before November 30th by contacting Mayor Watson with copies to Councillor Leiper and this community association.
An effective objection to this change of ward boundary should include practical reasons why it is important for McKellar Park to remain in Kitchissippi ward.
At the MPCA AGM on November 3, Damon Berlin, Stakeholder Relations Stage2 LRT, City of Ottawa spoke about the LRT construction at and near our neighbourhood. His slides are available here and his animation of the “cut and cover” tunnel construction process is below.
McKellar Park Community Association is holding its Annual General Meeting on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 7:30 PM by Zoom. Find out the latest on LRT2 in our neighbourhood. Jeff Leiper will be there. For details and to register see https://mckellarparkcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/mckellar-park-annual-general-meeting/ or contact mpca.communication@gmail.com
Note that the recommendation has McKellar Park shifted to Bay Ward.
The following is email received from the city:
 Good afternoon,As you may be aware, I am one of the consultants for the Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020, which has been tasked with establishing new ward boundaries for the City of Ottawa to use in the next three or four municipal elections. You are receiving this email because you signed up for project updates or are identified as a key stakeholder. This email includes updates and information regarding:The Round 2 public consultation results; andThe release of the Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020 – Recommended Ward Boundaries – Final Report, which recommends a realigned ward boundary system for the City of Ottawa Round 2 Public Consultation Round 2 public consultation ran from August 19, 2020 to September 25, 2020. During this phase, we engaged with residents and stakeholders and collected feedback on the six options outlined in the Options Report and the Supplementary Report. All Members of Council, including the new Ward 19 – Cumberland Councillor, were consulted. We also held additional meetings with some Members, particularly those in more impacted wards. As gathering restrictions continued due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public consultation meetings were conducted virtually through Zoom. Six public meetings and three stakeholder meetings were held, which included representatives from community associations, business improvement areas, school boards and advocacy groups. Residents and stakeholders were also encouraged to complete a survey available through ottawa.ca or, for those with limited or no access to a computer, by requesting a paper copy. In total, 2,150 surveys, 238 submissions and comments by email and telephone, and 16 Guest Book entries were submitted during Round 2, and 137 individuals and stakeholder groups participated in the public and stakeholder meetings. More details on the Round 2 public consultation process can be found in the Recommended Ward Boundaries – Final Report, which is described below in more detail. Release of the Recommended Ward Boundaries – Final Report The Final Report was released today on the City’s website and its recommendations are based on the following:The feedback on the six options for realigning Ottawa’s wards;Identification of a ‘preferred option’;Balancing the various components of “effective representation”; andPrevious Court and Tribunal decisions The Final Report will be considered by the Finance and Economic Development Committee (FEDC) and City Council during their December 1, 2020 and December 9, 2020 meetings, respectively. The report recommends a new ward boundary structure of 24 wards, with 12 urban wards, nine suburban wards and three rural wards. A new interactive geoOttawa mapping feature has been created so you can view how the recommended structure would affect you. PDF maps for each of the 24 wards are also available. If you would like to send a written submission to FEDC regarding the Final Report, or register to speak about the report at the meeting of December 1, 2020, please contact Carole Legault, Committee Coordinator, at CaroleA.Legault@Ottawa.ca or by calling 613-580-2424 ext. 28934. You must register to speak by no later than 9:00 am on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Presentations to the Committee are limited to five minutes and will be made through the virtual meeting platform, Zoom. To ensure timely receipt and distribution of written comments to Members of Council, communications regarding the report should be sent no later than 4:00 pm on Monday, November 30, 2020. Thank you for your interest in this project. Best regards, Beate Bowron, Project Manager, Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020 |
Recently we posted information about the proposed redevelopment of part of Byron Estates, bounded by Redwood, Killeen, Sherbourne and Byron. We asked that if you had concerns or comments that you advise the City and Jeff Leiper and copy the MPCA. Two residents have sent the following:
Reference Application #D07-12-20-0124
Date, 2020-11-15
1 Introduction
Reference: Application #D07-12-20-0124
https://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__B0BM3A
1.1 Rental Situation
1.2 Rental Issue
1.3 Consequence
1.4 Tenant Rights
Ref: Demoviction, Renoviction And Eviction: What Should You Do?
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/tenant-rights-demoviction-renoviction_ca_5e33589bc5b69a19a4ac723b
“If they intend to demolish the unit or convert it for non-residential use – a.k.a. a demoviction – you are entitled to at least three months’ rent or a similar rental unit that is acceptable to you. If the landlord just plans to renovate – a.k.a. renoviction – and you plan on moving back in when they’re done, you’re still entitled to that three months’ rent or the equivalent rent for the period the repairs are being done, whichever is smaller. If you don’t plan to move back in, you’re still entitled to that three months’ rent.”
1.5 Social Issue
1.6 Timing of the change
1.7 Summary
Appendix
References
About Affordable Housing in Canada
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/developing-and-renovating/develop-new-affordable-housing/programs-and-information/about-affordable-housing-in-canada
Demoviction, Renoviction And Eviction: What Should You Do?
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/tenant-rights-demoviction-renoviction_ca_5e33589bc5b69a19a4ac723b
Ontario Landlord’s Association
https://ontariolandlords.org/blog/rent-increase-2020/
Rent Control and Vacancy Decontrol
https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/rent-control-and-vacancy-decontrol.html
Vacancy Decontrol
http://www.tenant.net/Tengroup/Metcounc/May97/vacancy.html
What is Affordable Housing
https://affordablehousingonline.com/what-is-affordable-housing
The owner is proposing to build three low-rise apartment buildings within the existing residential complex known as Bryon Estates. To accommodate these buildings, two of the nine existing apartment buildings, along with all garages will be removed to accommodate the new development. The proposed buildings will be three storeys in height.
It appears that one of the buildings to be torn down is on Sherbourne behind the apartment building on Byron. The other building to be torn down is at Keenan and Sherbourne.
The complex will have a total of 100 dwelling units, including the proposed units and existing units that remain. Two of the new buildings will each have 24 units and the third will have 10 units. The new buildings appear to be on Sherbourne. A total of 68 parking spaces will be provide for residents and visitors with access from Redwood Ave. via the existing internal lane.
The proposed application meets the current zoning for this property, so no zoning changes are requested.
The complete proposal including a detailed drawing of the site can be found at https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/__B0BM3A/details
It also advises how to make comments or concerns known to the city. We ask that if you are providing comments that you copy Jeff Leiper at Jeff.Leiper@Ottawa.ca and the McKellar Park Community Association at MPCA.blog@gmail.com
The MPCA is running its Annual General Meeting virtually on Zoom this year. Please register to attend the meeting, find out what is happening, and be part of the McKellar Park Community!
When: Nov 23, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time
Note: Zoom opens at 7:00 PM. Meeting starts officially at 7:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting
Although the meeting is open to anyone, the MPCA is asking that you provide your name and address when you register to ensure that voting is limited to McKellar Park residents.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Note there is a phone option in addition to the computer video option. But be aware that the Zoom phone-in numbers are long distance Canadian.
Questions? Please contact mpca.communication@gmail.com
For those who want more info about Zoom, here are two Zoom Tutorials
Joining a Zoom Meeting
Using Zoom Controls
After many months the new play structure is open and from all accounts the kids are loving it.
MPCA’s thanks to Renee Proteau, planner, City of Ottawa Parks, Jeff Leiper for contributing some funds when the structure was in danger of having to be revised as it was over budget and Amy Richardson who liaised with everyone to get a structure the community would be happy with.
Public Advisory release from Ottawa Police Services:
(Ottawa) –The Ottawa Police reminds the community that the risk of thefts, and repeat thefts, of high-end Lexus and Toyota vehicles in Ottawa is still very present, particularly with larger SUVs, RX350, 4 Runner and Highlander. There have been 11 luxury vehicle thefts in the past week.
We remind car owners of the following tips to protect their vehicle:
Investigators have not yet seen the use of signal amplifiers in Ottawa. In the event that this technology makes its way to Ottawa, a simple line of defense is to consider keeping any vehicle with a proximity key fob inside a radio frequency shield device (RFS device). This will prevent the key fob’s signal from being amplified to the vehicle from inside the house protecting it from being driven away.
More safety tips are available online.
The City of Ottawa is currently in the middle of a consultation exercise that may change the size and shape of City Wards, including Kitchissippi.
Ottawa City Council is made up of a Mayor (currently Jim Watson) and 23 Councillors, each elected in a particular Ward.
Our current Councillor is Jeff Leiper, and the McKellar Park community is part of Kitchissippi Ward.
Every few years the boundaries of our City wards are examined to see if they are still right, in terms of population, economic development, and so on.
The last Ward Boundary changes were in 2005, and lots of things have changed since then.
A few months ago, the City hired a group of consultants to review Ward boundaries and recommend changes. The changes would go into effect for the 2022 municipal election, and for the 2026 and 2030 elections, and maybe for the 2034 election.
The consultants reported back with 6 options. The sixth option is the most likely to be adopted by Council later this year, but it is not yet set in stone.
It adds one Ward (so there will be 24) and changes the boundaries for many of the current Wards.
In particular, McKellar Park Community would be split off from Kitchissippi and attached to the Ward to our West.
We provided a bit of background on the Ward Boundary changes a few days ago, on our website.
Some may think these changes are a good idea, some may not, but the final report from the consultants to Council will be heavily influenced by what people in the community think, so if you have a preference please let them know.
Your Community Association, after some thought, is of the opinion that we should stay in Kitchissippi Ward. All of the other Community Associations in Kitchissippi think so too and have already let Councillor Leiper know.
Most people in our community think of themselves as living in a community on the edge of, but not quite, downtown. Most of us have strong ties to Westboro Village and we shop along Wellington and in Hintonburg. We use Dovercourt Community Centre.
All of these would be in a different Ward.
The Ward to the west of us is a suburban Ward. Our community would be on the eastern edge of it and represented by a Councillor who is focussed on suburban issues.
We have not heard from anyone who thinks that is a good idea, or that it will make our lives any better.
If you think McKellar Park would be better off in Kitchissippi, you will need to let the consultants know, so they can make changes to their recommendations before they are sent back to Council for a decision later this year. And time is short.
There are two ways to make your views known to the consultants. You can do both.
One is by filling out a brief survey to be found at the following link: Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020
This online survey will be available until next Friday, September 25. Please go to it and make your views know.
The other is to participate in any of the remaining virtual online public consultation sessions, the last of which is Wednesday, September 23, at the above link.
Please consider going online and taking part. Remember this will only be available for a few days.
Don’t be afraid to let them know what you think. The options are complex, with lots of population projections, but what they will be looking for from you is something much simpler – what Ward do you thing you should be in as we go through one of the most important decades in our history, with change and population growth everywhere.
You should also let your Councillor, Jeff Leiper know. He will be sending a report to the consultants on what his constituents think and will be reporting to Council as well.
He can be reached at Jeff.Leiper@ottawa.ca
Send a copy to the Mayor at Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca
