Planning and Environment Committee meeting, Oct 28, 2008

I sat in on this meeting today. In particular I was interested in the discussion and vote on the Hospital Lands Area Plan and the proposed zoning by-law amendment.

At the start of the discussion Councillor Clive Doucet asked for a deferral of this item to the next meeting as he had only received the report the previous day and needed time to review it with community groups. In his usual arrogant style Councillor Peter Hume "Chair" noted that the report had been available for over a week and this was sufficient reiew time.

Doucet noted that one of the reasons that review time is needed is that the hopital lands conceptual design assumes that the AVTC is in place, so it is important to review the report with his community. Hume indicated that community associations in his ward support the plan and that he would present letters of support from them to council when they are asked to vote on it. He also suggested that Doucet would have time for a review within his community before the next council meeting. no other committee members would agree to a deferral, notwithstanding that the plan and the report have taken years to get to this point. Doucet noted that there are "thousands" of people in the Alta Vista community who are opposed to current transportation plans (AVTC, Browning, etc.).

Speaking as a member of an RPCA committee on planning issues Francois Allard noted that many Riverview Park residents are opposed to the plan as well as the AVTC and the proposed Browning Rapid Transit Corridor both of which are assumed to be in place as a basis for the plan. He noted that Hume was on record as opposing the Browning corridor, so it was "mind boggling" that he wanted to proceed to approval without these issues being addressed properly. People do not easily make the connection between a planned community development and the transit/transportation implications. Hume said the City made every effort to inform the community and to encourage comments.

Doucet believes this is a "rogue" plan; the concept of building a $62M, 1.8Km hospital link and later following through spending staggering amounts to bridge the Rideau River in later stages of AVTC construction will make the $62M look like "child's play." Doucet said he will abstain from voting on this issue today.

Hume noted that the report is a "land use plan" only, for use in the future. In other words, what is in the plan will not necessarily be implemented, that will be up to the developers! The plan was carried with one abstention. Several people including Diane Holmes and Gordon Hunter were absent from this session.

I'm Back!

The election is over, it was hard work and quite rewarding. We didn't get quite the share of votes we had hoped for, but not too bad considering the numbers whom apparently "voted strategically" whatever that really means. We increased the Green Party vote share in Ottawa South significantly and I am sure we will do even better next time.

Anyway, back to community and municipal government issues for a while:

The pending Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Browning Avenue section of the eastbound transit link has been an issue lately. Peter Hume has supported the community in having the scope of the EA expanded to encompass alternative options. But I can't help thinking that the whole thing is a red herring to distract Riverview Park residents who oppose construction of the hospital link section of the AVTC.

Clive doucet is promoting a Rail Row initiative that proposes Carling Avenue as a key link for westbound light rail. I think this is a great idea. It has never been given serious consideration by council to date. It's time they took a serious look at it! Today I emailed Peter Hume, asking if he supports Clive's initiative. I will let you know his answer.

I was very sorry to see that David Chernushenko resigned from the Green Party. Although he denies it, I still believe it is "sour grapes" and I hope he will reconsider. However, every cloud has a silver lining and this one is that David is considering entering municipal politics in 2010.

It has been suggested that he might run in Capital Ward, presumably with Clive Doucet's blessing? I would prefer that Clive stay on for one more term and that David run against Peter Hume in Alta Vista Ward. It's time we had a viable candidate to run against Hume. If Hume decides to run for mayor, the seat could be wide open for David, he would do great things in this ward and on council generally.

I will be attending council and committee meetings over the next couple of weeks and will report my views and findings on this blog.