by Archie Campbell
Apologies to Buzz readers for the lack of a DCA report last issue. I’ll try to cover the highlights of our last two meetings and report anything I missed in the next issue.
New Executive
The community association elected its 2012-13 executive officers at our May meeting.
Eric Darwin, our president for the past two years, steps down to become our new Vice President, switching places with Michael Powell, who becomes his successor.
David Seaborn and Zsofia Oroz stay on as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
Community Design Plan Proposal
Last month the board agreed to begin lobbying the councillor and city staff to have the planning department conduct a study of the area west of Bronson not covered by the ongoing CDP study for LeBreton Bayview.
Bronson Avenue Road Work
Board members agreed to support the work of the Dalhousie Safety Committee to beef up law enforcement to deal with a growing street solicitation and panhandler problem occasioned by slowdowns and frequent stops of the vehicular traffic on Bronson Avenue during the construction work this year.
There have also been numerous examples of vehicles using detours inappropriately (high speeds and wrong way driving on one-way streets) which board members have reported to the city and/or police department. Readers are encouraged to be vigilant and report these abuses as well.
More High Rises
Neil Malhotra of Claridge Homes (along with consultants Ted Faubert and Jeff Polowin) gave a presentation at our June 6 board meeting on the firm’s proposal for a 42-storey, mixed-use high-rise development at the corner of Preston and Carling.
The building would have 250 apartments – mostly one- and two-bedroom with some three-bedroom depending on market demand – along with seven levels of underground parking for 263 cars and 130 bicycles.
The current zoning allows for eight storeys, so the rezoning will have to be approved by planning committee – probably in late fall.
The DCA Planning Committee will discuss this proposal later this month.
Problems Near Somerset and Bell
Safety Committee members, along with St. Luke’s lunch club volunteers and concerned residents, have met with the local constable to discuss the recent growth of drug dealing and street prostitution near the garage entrance to the Sersons-Clarke apartments.
Possible solutions included removing the street benches at night and installing more lighting near the garage.
Good Food Market
The DCA will write a letter of support for this volunteer-run produce food market which would sell to bicycle and pedestrian customers at the Nanny Goat Hill community garden (Laurier and Bronson) on two days this summer (end of July and end of August.)
Heritage Committee
A new member of the board, Wendy Hunter, has kindly offered to start a heritage committee which will report to the DCA board but whose membership is open to any interested residents in the area.
The group’s first meeting will be sometime in September.
Abolish the OMB (at least in Ottawa)
Ottawa City Council will be debating a resolution similar to the “Abolish the OMB” resolution passed by Toronto City Council earlier this year. Consequently, the DCA approved a motion to remove the Ontario Municipal Board from any planning appeals approved by Ottawa Council or the Ottawa Committee of Adjustment.
I should add that Kathleen Wynne, the minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has invited yours truly, along with 29 other “stakeholders” for a chat in her office about the future of the OMB later this month on June 19.
Look for my report along with other DCA news next time.