ARAC & Additional Infrastructure Improvements

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Photo from the ward: This photo was submitted to the MVCA's 'Going to the Dogs' photo contest. Dude, a 3 year old Bernese Mountain Dog, loves David Bartlett Park, especially in the winter!

Photo from the ward: This photo was submitted to the MVCA's 'Going to the Dogs' photo contest. Dude, a 3 year old Bernese Mountain Dog, loves David Bartlett Park, especially in the winter!

To begin this week, I would like to thank residents for taking the time to attend the open house last week for the proposed roundabout at the intersection of Barnsdale Road & Prince of Wales Drive. The feedback was quite positive to the rationale and design. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in 2019 pending budget approval. Staff will now move to detailed design. For more information, please visit www.rideaugoulbourn.ca/barnsdaleroundabout. Any comments may be sent to Kunjan Ghimire via email at [email protected] or by phone at 613-580-2424, ext. 21685.

While at the open house, many residents also asked about the intersection of Prince of Wales and Bankfield Road. You may recall that I had been working on a plan for 2018 to implement turning lanes on Bankfield Road. Through further discussion and examination, staff have come back with a more comprehensive plan that also brings in the required upgrades to the First Line Road and Bankfield Road intersection. The plan is still being finalized and I will share that when it is available. What we are now looking at are new turning lanes in all directions at Prince of Wales and Bankfield in addition to signalization of the First Line Road intersection. Staff are currently working toward a spring 2019 timeline for construction.

Previously, the City approved plans for a roundabout at Prince of Wales and Bankfield as well as a realignment of First Line Road into a new roundabout 300m south of Bankfield on Prince of Wales. While still the plan for the future, it simply is not affordable in the short term. Through the next Development Charge By-Law review, staff will recommend these projects for inclusion in that by-law so that all future development in Manotick is paying into the plans for those improvements.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee

The March 1st meeting of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee has only two items on the agenda. Both affect Rideau-Goulbourn. The main item will be the Engineer’s Report on the Cranberry Creek Municipal Drain, in North Gower and Kars. The second item is an amendment to the Zoning By-Law for the Caivan development at 6350 Perth Street in Richmond. That report just fixes the various zoning boundaries within the development to align with the blocks and lots within Phase 1 of the subdivision.

The Cranberry Creek Municipal Drain item dates back to 2012 and beyond. After a very wet spring in 2012, landowners on this Municipal Drain (MD) raised concerns about the maintenance of it. As of approximately 1991, the MD actually lacked a pump and dyke system that allowed it to operate as per the approved Engineer’s Report. In essence, the MD has not been properly functioning since that time.

The drain itself was originally constructed in 1895 but the pump and dyke were installed following an updated Engineer’s Report in 1969. That system remained in place for over two decades but it was considered insufficient based on the volume of water it could handle. An updated report in 1991 recommended upgrades to the pump and dyke at that time but it was not accepted by Rideau Township and the landowners at that time. As mentioned above, the matter resurfaced nearly six years ago leading to our current report.

In September 2014, the City appointed Robinson Consultants to update the Engineer’s Report and bring forward a plan to have the MD function as was intended and also to clean it out to its original depths. This report brings that forward. Landowners assessed by this MD received the Engineer’s Report in recent weeks which outlines the proposed works as well as the assessment values. Being a significant watershed, there are many properties affected by these drainage works.

While the Cranberry Creek MD Engineer’s Report comes to our Committee for approval, it is actually the Drainage Act that outlines the process. I understand that the assessments can create undue burden on affected landowners and I have committed to doing what I can to find some financial assistance to lower those assessments. That work will likely continue right through into April when this matter returns for the Court of Revision process.

The purpose of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee meeting will be to discuss the Engineer’s Report. Andy Robinson, Drainage Engineer, will be presenting to the Committee. For those wishing to appeal assessments, that opportunity comes during the Court of Revision, which is scheduled for Monday, April 23rd at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre in North Gower.

The Thursday, March 1st meeting of ARAC takes place at 10:00am at Ben Franklin Place.

2018 Additional Infrastructure Improvements

During the 2018 Budget deliberations, City Council was made aware of a $10M surplus, which was then directed to infrastructure renewal. At the Finance & Economic Development Committee of February 5th, staff brought forward a report on how the $10M would be spent in 2018. I am pleased to report that nearly $2M of that amount will be spent in Rideau-Goulbourn.

Approved at the February 14th meeting of City Council, the report includes pavement preservation projects on Eagleson Road (Perth to Brophy), Old Richmond Road (Fallowfield to Hope Side Road) and Dwyer Hill Road (Fallowfield to Highway 7).  The report also includes the resurfacing of Potter Drive and the portion of Barnsdale Road, between Moodie Drive and Twin Elm Road. On that, I have asked staff to take a second look and determine whether it would be more beneficial to resurface a portion of Barnsdale Road east of Moodie Drive instead. They are currently looking into that.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

City of Ottawa's Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund, TD Park Grant and Other Updates

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Rideau-Goulbourn was home to multiple Winter Carnivals including Fallowfield Village's Annual Winter Carnival, Manotick's Shiverfest, Munster Winter Carnival and North Gower's 56th Winter Carnival. Thank you to Grace Thrasher from the Manotick Village & Community Association for the photo from Shiverfest and to Jessica Breckenridge from the Munster Community Association for the photo from the Munster Winter Carnival. For more photos from Winter Carnivals in Rideau-Goulbourn, visit: www.facebook.com/rideaugoulbourn.

Rideau-Goulbourn was home to multiple Winter Carnivals including Fallowfield Village's Annual Winter Carnival, Manotick's Shiverfest, Munster Winter Carnival and North Gower's 56th Winter Carnival. Thank you to Grace Thrasher from the Manotick Village & Community Association for the photo from Shiverfest and to Jessica Breckenridge from the Munster Community Association for the photo from the Munster Winter Carnival. For more photos from Winter Carnivals in Rideau-Goulbourn, visit: www.facebook.com/rideaugoulbourn.

The City of Ottawa is asking residents to weigh-in on how to spend more than $450,000 in the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund. Residents can have their say by completing an online survey. The Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund Consultation Questionnaire is available on ottawa.ca from January 24 to February 16.

Money in the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund is generated through a voluntary surcharge paid by private transportation companies (PTC), such as Uber Canada. The surcharge was implemented because many PTCs cannot currently accommodate persons who use mobility devices including power wheelchairs and scooters.

Money from the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund will be spent to support accessible transportation in the city of Ottawa. These programs and services may include:

  • accessible transportation services provided directly by wheelchair accessible vehicles such as OC Transpo, Para Transpo and taxis
  • City and community-based programs and services that support or enhance the ability of persons of all ages with physical disabilities who require the use of a mobility device to move around the city regardless of the mode(s) of transportation used

In order to receive funding from the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund, programs and services must also be:

  • accessible
  • safe
  • available
  • affordable
  • timely
  • sustainable

An information package that includes background, details and definitions of all these terms can be found on the public consultation page of ottawa.ca. Please note that I have encouraged Rural Ottawa South Support Services to seek funding through this Fund to help with their transportation efforts. Similar suggestions from residents in the rural area would go a long way.

Barnsdale Road & Prince of Wales Drive

As a reminder, there is an open house upcoming to discuss plans for a roundabout at the intersection of Barnsdale Road & Prince of Wales Drive. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in 2019 pending budget approval.

The open house is scheduled for Thursday, February 15th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and will be held at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority building at 3889 Rideau Valley Drive. For more information, please visit www.rideaugoulbourn.ca/barnsdaleroundabout. Any comments may be sent to Kunjan Ghimire via email at [email protected] or by phone at 613-580-2424, ext. 21685. Comment on this open house should be submitted by Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

TD Park Grant

The TD Park People grant program was created to support community groups to host events in urban parks or public green spaces. Through this grant, TD hopes to lay the groundwork for long-term sustainable community partnerships in parks across each of the selected cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa). Groups who demonstrate the ability to successfully organize and host events, as well as sustain their group beyond this grant cycle, are encouraged to apply.

Their expectation is that successful applicants host at least three events between April and December 2018 with each event open to all members of the larger community. Eligible groups include volunteer-based park groups, local agencies, resident associations and non-profits that are active in their local parks.

Eligible expenses include honoraria for volunteers, event materials, supplies and equipment, printing of promotional materials with provided templates. Essentially, any reasonable event expense can be covered by the grant.

To apply, visit https://parkpeople.ca/parkgrants/. Applications are due by the end of the day on March 5, 2018. Funding decisions will be made in April, with cheques sent in May.

Richmond 200 Events

Richmond is currently celebrating its bicentennial. A variety of exciting events have been planned for 2018, including but not limited to:

  • Major Events Weekend (June 15-18, 2018)
  • Richmond’s Got Talent
  • Canoe Race
  • Curling Bonspiel
  • Historical Display
  • Genealogy Workshop
  • Car Rally/ Scavenger Hunt
  • Fashion Show

I am also currently working with the Potsdam Junior Hockey Association and Richmond Munster Minor Hockey Association on celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the original Silver Stick Tournament that was held in Richmond in February 1958. Games are tentatively scheduled between the two clubs for Sunday, February 25th between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm followed by the Richmond Royals Junior B game vs. Winchester Hawks. We are still confirming which teams will be playing.

For more information on these events, please visit: richmond200.ca.

Community Dancing in Manotick

 Interested in a fun, interactive session of dance, laughter & music? Join the Ever Hopeful Stringband and caller Pippa Hall for a family-friendly, alcohol-free evening of community dancing, including circles, squares and contras on Friday, February 23rd from 7:00pm to 9:30pm at the Manotick United Church. Each dance is taught and the whole family is invited. The evening begins with simple dances, followed by dances that build on skills as the evening progresses. Adults are $10, children aged 12-18 are $5 and anyone under 12 is free. There is a family max of $20. For more information, please call 613-692-4576 or visit http://dance.manotick.net.

Shrove Tuesday

On February 13th, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre, come and enjoy a hearty supper of pancakes and syrup, ham, sausages, baked beans, fruit salad and homemade pies, with coffee, tea, juice or water. Cost is just $10 per adult, $5 children 6-12, and children 5 and under free. This supper is hosted by Holy Trinity Anglican Church, North Gower. For more info, call 613-489-2207.

Munster United Church 7th Annual Spaghetti Dinner

The Munster United Church invites you to their 7th Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, February 24th between 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Your spaghetti dinner includes a Caesar salad, rolls, ice cream, cookies and coffee or tea. Gluten free pasta is also available.

There is no charge for the dinner but the church will be accepting donations. Take out is also available. The Munster United Church’s youth group will be on hand collecting tips for Big Sky Ranch.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

First ARAC Meeting of 2018 & Other Updates

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ARAC.jpg

The first few months of 2018 promise to feature busy agendas for the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, including many items that affect our Rideau-Goulbourn ward. The first meeting of the year is coming up on Thursday, February 1st at our usual time of 10:00 am and our usual location of Ben Franklin Place. Agenda items for this meeting include:

Zoning By-Law Amendments

  • 2403 Huntley Road
  • 4534 Loggers Way
  • 5130/5208 Ramsayville Road
  • 4139 Moodie Drive
  • 2026 William Hodgins Lane
  • Manotick Area-Specific Development Charges
  • Cassidy Municipal Drain Improvements

The two local zoning by-law amendments are 2403 Huntley Road and 4139 Moodie Drive. 2403 Huntley Road is a property on the northeast corner of Huntley and Fallowfield Road, directly across from Karter’s Korner. 4139 Moodie Drive is halfway between Barnsdale Road and Brophy Drive and adjacent to the proposed Alottawata Water Park.

The 2403 Huntley Road application seeks to rezone the property from Rural Countryside to Rural Commercial in order to increase the commercial uses on the property. However, the uses will be limited to amusement centre, artist studio, convenience store, office, personal service and retail store. During consultation with residents along Kimini Drive, the use of gas station was raised as a concern and will continue to be prohibited on this property.

The applicant on 4139 Moodie Drive is Proslide Technologies, also the proponent for Alottawata. This application seeks to permit ‘research and development centre’ as well as ‘office’ as permitted uses on the property. The intent is to build an R & D centre and office building to support the water park project. The neighbouring property, 4221 Moodie Drive, is already zoned for a water park. The proposed facility will facilitate the design and testing of new water rides and emerging technologies.

The report on Manotick Area-Specific Development Charges just cleans up something that was missed when the charges report was approved a few years ago. Unfortunately, two development areas were not included at that time. The affected addresses are 1086 Antochi Lane and 5721, 5731, 5741 Manotick Main Street. The approval of this report will ensure that development on these properties is charged the appropriate amount regarding connection to the existing water supply and sanitary service.

Full reports on all of the above items are available online at Ottawa.ca.

Planning Advisory Committee

The City is establishing a Planning Advisory Committee (PAC). The mandate of the PAC is to advise on the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department’s policy priorities and its annual work plan and may also include other matters as they arise.

Several positions are available including two members from the rural area of Ottawa. They will join counterparts from the urban and suburban areas as well as specialists in the fields of architecture, planning and landscape architecture. The PAC will also include the Chairs of Planning Committee, Built Heritage Sub-Committee and the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, which happens to be me. Members of the Planning Advisory Committee will be required to prepare for and attend meetings. It is anticipated that the PAC will meet twice per year.

For more information on eligibility, roles and responsibilities and the application process, please visit ottawa.ca/volunteer or contact Eric Pelot at 613-580-2424, ext. 22953 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or by email at [email protected].

Barnsdale Road & Prince of Wales Drive

In a recent column, I announced plans for a roundabout at the intersection of Barnsdale Road & Prince of Wales Drive. An open house has now been scheduled to discuss this project and the proposed design.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in 2019 and is subject to change depending on availability of funding. At this open house, you will be able to:

  • Review plans displaying the recommended design;
  • Identify potential issues that may have not been addressed; and,
  • Provide comments on the recommended design.

The open house is scheduled for Thursday, February 15th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and will be held at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority building at 3889 Rideau Valley Drive. For more information, please visit www.rideaugoulbourn.ca/barnsdaleroundabout. Any comments may be sent to Kunjan Ghimire via email at [email protected] or by phone at 613-580-2424, ext. 21685. Comment on this open house should be submitted by Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Winter Carnivals

No matter which part of Rideau-Goulbourn you live in, you are never too far away from a winter carnival. Shiverfest takes place in Manotick on Friday, January 26th and 27th and features a number of events including chili cookoff, curling, bingo and trivia. On the other side of the ward, the Munster Winter Carnival takes place on the same weekend. Munster will also feature a number of events aimed at families taking place at the Community Centre and Munster Elementary School. To learn more about these events, please visit our Rideau-Goulbourn website’s Events page.

The following weekend, North Gower will host its 56th Winter Carnival at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre. You can come out on Friday, February 2nd for the Kemptville Players Murder Mystery dinner theatre and then come back on Saturday for a full schedule including a pancake breakfast, bake sale, snowmobile rally, buffet dinner and talent show. Information on this will also be available on our events page.

Isle in the River Theatre Company

This year, ITR is going to do something a little different for Valentine's Day. They will be holding an Afternoon Tea at Vibration Studios (5488 Osgoode Main St.) on February 10th and 17th. ITR has selected Norm Foster's two act play Wrong for Each Other to entertain you.

“A chance meeting in a restaurant, after four years apart, sends a couple flashing back through the highs and lows of their courtship and marriage. It is a hilarious and often heart-breaking look at the rollercoaster ride of a relationship.”

Tickets are $28 per person (includes the afternoon tea) and are now on sale at www.itrtheatre.com or by calling 613-800-1165. There are only 50 tickets available per show.

As always for IRT’s Valentine's shows, proceeds will go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. 

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Prince of Wales Drive Construction Plans, North Gower Recreation Association AGM and the Scott Moffatt Golf4Youth Classic

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Prince of Whales Drive Under Constructin.jpg

While local resurfacing projects on William McEwen Drive, Shea Road and Bleeks Road are slated to commence shortly, another resurfacing project will likely have a significant impact this summer on Rideau-Goulbourn residents. A Commence Work Order has been issued for the resurfacing of Prince of Wales Drive. Construction along Prince of Wales Drive, between Strandherd Drive and Hunt Club Road, is scheduled to begin June 5th.

The Contractor will maintain a minimum of one lane of traffic in each direction along Prince of Wales during daytime hours (5:00am‐7:00pm).  The staging and sequencing of construction will on occasion require sections of Prince of Wales to be left as compacted granular material, but the distances for these granular surface areas will be limited, and the length of time which these areas have a granular surface will be restricted to 1-2 days, weather-permitting, before the asphalt can be placed.

A nightly detour of Prince of Wales northbound traffic, from Strandherd Drive to Fallowfield Road, was permitted under the Contract in order to complete the project this construction season while minimizing impacts to commuting motorists. The proposed nightly closures of northbound Prince of Wales Drive, from Strandherd Drive to Fallowfield Road, are currently scheduled to begin the evening of Sunday, June 11th. The nightly closures of northbound traffic, between 7:00pm and 5:00am, will last approximately two months.  Overnight works are scheduled from Sunday night to Friday morning of each week. There are no proposed weekend closures of Prince of Wales scheduled at this time.

The signed detour route for the northbound closure will be to direct traffic west along Strandherd Drive to Woodroffe Avenue, north along Woodroffe to Fallowfield Road, and east along Fallowfield to Prince of Wales Drive. The City will be installing digital messaging signs along Prince of Wales Drive to notify commuters in advance of the nightly closures. Cyclists will be encouraged to use alternate routes during construction and a cycling detour route will be signed.

North Gower Recreation Association

The Annual General Meeting for the North Gower Recreation Association takes place on June 19th at 7:00pm at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre. The NGRA has oversight for the Alfred Taylor Centre and the Gerry Lines Bowling Alley. They also run events such as Christmas in the Gower and Canada Day in the Gower. All are welcome to attend the AGM.

Richmond Heritage Mural RFP

Artists are invited to submit a bid to enter into a contract with The Richmond Village Association (RVA) to commission the 7th mural in the Richmond Heritage Mural Gallery. Richmond was founded in 1818 as a British Settlement and is the oldest village within the current City of Ottawa. In 2018, Richmond, Ontario will celebrate its 200th anniversary. A variety of events will happen throughout 2017 and 2018 to honour Richmond’s past, celebrate its’ vibrant present and look forward toward the future. To commemorate Richmond’s Bicentennial, the Richmond Village Association is undertaking to add the 7th mural to The Richmond Heritage Mural Gallery on the Richmond Memorial Community Centre. The mural is to be completed and installed so that the unveiling of the mural can take place on Friday, June 25th, 2018. 

The mural should:

  • Evoke a sense of neighborhood
  • Historical reference is key
  • Promote excitement and interest for the community as a whole
  • Celebrate the identity and rich heritage of the neighborhood
  • The design concept shall be compatible with the design of the existing murals

Bid evaluation will be carried out by the RVA and will be based on a combination of artistic merit, quality of previous work as provided in your portfolio, quality of material offered and price. To obtain the complete RFP Package, email David Proulx, President RVA at [email protected].

Scott Moffatt Golf4Youth Classic Presented by Caivan Communities

Join me on July 7th for the Scott Moffatt Golf4Youth Classic Presented by Caivan Communities at the Canadian Golf & Country Club. It promises to be a fun day for the whole family with all proceeds going directly to the Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA) and the Richmond Youth Centre (RYC). I would love for you to participate!

We are also acquiring sponsorships and silent auction donations. If you are a local business and want to be involved in this event, please contact me and we’ll find an exciting way to get you involved.

For more details or to register, visit www.golf4youth.ca. Hopefully we can make this a successful event that will benefit kids and families all across Rideau-Goulbourn.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

 

Get Ready for Construction Season!

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With the snow finally behind us (I think), it is now time to look ahead to our other season in Ottawa: Construction. Once again this summer, there are a number of road projects that will impact Rideau-Goulbourn. I would like to take this opportunity to list those projects here.

Since 2012, the City has made an increased commitment to resurfacing roads throughout the City of Ottawa. The total contribution to infrastructure renewal has increased year over year during that time. For 2017, our rehabilitation program has just been awarded to Cavanagh Construction and will include the following Rideau-Goulbourn roads:

  • Shea Road (Hemphill Street to Fernbank Road)
  • William McEwen Drive (South of Brophy Road)
  • Bleeks Road (Dwyer Hill Road to 80m East of Munster Road)

Road resurfacing projects are to be carried out between April 24th and October 24th of this year. I will have more specific details on timelines in the coming weeks as the contractor presents their schedule. Another project that could have significant impacts for Rideau-Goulbourn residents will be the resurfacing of Prince of Wales Drive from Hunt Club to Strandherd Road.

Gravel road resurfacing will be carried out on Bleeks Road, Bowrin Road, Conley Road, Goodstown Road, McLinton Road, O’Neil Road, Rushmore Road and Woods Road in Goulbourn. In Rideau, residents can expect to see gravel resurfacing on Callendor Road, Flood Road, Gilroy Road, Harbison Road, Mackey Road, Paden Road and Weedmark Road. This work involves the addition of new gravel, a reshaping of the crown of the road to ensure proper drainage and a calcium application to reduce dust. Gravel roads have a lifecycle of four years. The roads listed above were last done in 2013, except for McLinton Road, which was done in 2012.

As for gravel roads being upgraded from gravel to hard surface, 2017 will see the completion of work on Mackey Road that begun in 2016. Additionally, Gallagher Road, from Mackey Road to Malakoff Road, will be upgraded from gravel to a hard surface. Pavement preservation projects will be carried out on Third Line Road (South of Lockhead Road), McCordick Road (Donnelly Drive to Mackey Road), Harnett Road and Donnelly Drive (Merlyn Wilson Road to the City boundary). Pavement preservation is generally a microsurfacing of the road which sees a layer of asphalt added to add life to the road at a fraction of the cost of resurfacing. These works have been awarded to Miller Paving with works scheduled to be carried out between April 24th and August 11th.

5514 Manotick Main Street Update

Over the last year, I have spoken about the Falls House at 5514 Manotick Main Street in this column and also during the November 15th Town Hall meeting in Manotick. Since last fall, the property owner has been working with an architect on the proposed building. Since last winter, the owner has also been consulting, through my office, with several community leaders. Having said that, the owner has submitted a zoning by-law amendment to the City prior to sharing this with our ad-hoc consultation group. The application and the proposed design are now available for public comment.

The property is zoned VM9 which is a mixed use zone specifically for villages in which commercial and residential is permitted. The 9 refers to the prohibitions imposed through our recent Manotick Secondary Plan Review, such as gas bar, townhouse dwelling, funeral home, automobile service station and so on. In terms of height, it is the village standard 11 metres, or three storeys.

As mentioned, a zoning by-law amendment (ZBA) has recently been submitted for this application. The main part of the amendment only applies to a small portion of the property. Recently, the property owner was approved for a lot line adjustment between 5514 Manotick Main Street and 1157 Maple Street that was necessary for access purposes. 1157 Maple is zoned Village Residential so that portion needs to be rezoned to make it consistent with the balance of the property. However, the ZBA also seeks to change the building height from 11m to 12.5m as well as some other less significant proposals on setbacks.

Ultimately, we all know this intersection is changing with the plaza having approved an expansion, the former McNeil Motors property for sale and the demolition of the Falls House. The good news for the village is that the owners of 5514 Manotick Main Street are from the village and have shown a strong willingness to work with the community since the initial acquisition in 2015.

More details and information are available at www.rideaugoulbourn.ca/fallshouse. Your comments are welcome.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

2017 Draft Budget and Future Projects in Rideau-Goulbourn

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The 2017 Draft Budget was tabled on November 9, 2016. As part of the pre-budget consultation process, Councillors conducted information sessions from mid-September to mid-October, providing information on the municipal budget process to residents and getting views and ideas on the priorities for this draft budget. With the 2017 Draft Budget tabled, there are still opportunities for residents to offer comments and input before the final Budget goes to Council for consideration on Wednesday, December 14th.  Information on the 2017 Budget is available at Ottawa.ca/budget2017 and you can submit comments via email at [email protected].

The draft budget includes a predictable 2% increase in keeping with the previous three budgets. It takes into account recent changes in the bureaucracy at City Hall that created an annual operating savings of approximately $18M. It features more money for roads, snow maintenance and parks. It also features the introduction of a low income transit pass.

In Rideau-Goulbourn, residents can expect to see a continuation of our commitment to infrastructure renewal with the resurfacing of William McEwen Drive, Shea Road and Bleeks Road. Outside of the ward, Prince of Wales Drive will also be resurfaced between Strandherd Drive and Hunt Club Road. The hard surfacing of Mackey Road will be completed this summer and pavement preservation treatment projects will take place along McCordick Road (South of Mackey Road), Third Line Road and Harnett Road. The City will also be microsurfacing Donnelly Drive between Merlyn Wilson and the City of Ottawa boundary, just west of Burritt’s Rapids. Residents on the north end of Long Island in Manotick will see the renewal of the McLean Bridge near the entrance to David Bartlett Park.

When it comes to sidewalks and cycling projects, the Federal Government has provided some funding that will go toward improving cycling in the rural area in the form of paved shoulders. These projects are not yet determined. There is also federal money that will be spent on exploring opportunities to improve cycling along Bridge Street. The primary focus will be the two bridges. With bridge reconstruction still several years away, planning now will feed into that work down the road. The 2017 Budget also identifies upgrades to the Beaverwood sidewalk, between Manotick Main Street and Ann Street. This will bring the sidewalk up to current standards.

There are several Parks & Recreation projects around the ward as well including two previously funded projects; the Manotick Arena expansion and the Remembrance Park in Dickinson Square. There is also design and construction on two parks in Richmond; King’s Grant Park and a new park on Nixon Farm Drive which will be named Sarah McCarthy Park. These two were also partially funded and announced in the 2016 Budget. In addition to the expansion at the Manotick Arena, there will also be lifecycle works completed at the same time in the form of roof replacement, septic system decommissioning, fire alarm system replacement and new flooring. Design work will also begin on replacing play structure equipment in Blue Rock Park in Kars and Richmond Lions Park.

As mentioned earlier, more information on the budget is available at www.ottawa.ca/budget2017. Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Snow Go Program

Need help clearing your driveway and/or walkway during the winter? The Snow Go Program can help you. This program is divided into two parts to match your individual needs to the appropriate service. The two programs are as follows:

The Snow Go Program provides a matching service for seniors and people with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways. Residents who participate in this program are responsible for paying the individual or contractor removing the snow.

The Snow Go Assist Program provides financial assistance to eligible low-income seniors or persons with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways.  Approved participants may be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of snow clearing per event, up to a seasonal maximum of $250. Rural applicants, who pay excessively high costs for snow removal, as defined by staff, are eligible up to 50% of the cost of snow clearing for their private driveways and walkways per event, up to a maximum of $450 per term.

Check ottawa.ca/snowgo to find the agency that services your neighbourhood.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.