OMB DECISION ON 310 STONEHAVEN RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL PROCESS

The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) ruling in September upheld the City Council decision not to allow development at 310 Stonehaven until traffic problems at Stonehaven and Richmond are resolved. This was good news, but the fact the issue was even at the OMB should worry people. The challenges the City faced show why changes are needed to the development process.

In this case the OMB accepted the evidence of traffic engineers who said the intersection of Richmond and Stonehaven is failing. Yet, in spite of the obvious problems at Stonehaven and Richmond, there was good reason to fear the decision could go the other way.

When the application to develop 310 Stonehaven was submitted, Urbandale was able to hire consultants to provide a report saying that traffic problems in Bridlewood were not serious enough to prevent the development from being built immediately. This study is why planning staff recommended Council approve the proposal.

When developers decide who will get hired to do studies on traffic or stormwater management it would be surprising to see studies identifying serious problems with potential developments. Developers are unlikely to decide to hire individuals or companies with a history of identifying serious problems.

In the last term of council I proposed that the City should hire the consultants doing the studies with developers funding the process. This proposal was defeated after considerable lobbying by the development industry. I will be bringing it up again in this term of council. Given the problems caused by bad development decisions, we need to have confidence in the information on which those decisions are based.

OLYMPIC TORCH IN KANATA DECEMBER 13

On Sunday December 13, the Olympic Torch will be coming in Kanata. The Kanata section of the Olympic Torch Relay is expected to start at 8:05 a.m. at Eagleson and Hazeldean. It is expected to finish at 8:54 a.m. by Palladium and Huntmar. The route the relay will take will be west on Hazeldean to Terry Fox, north on Terry Fox to Palladium and west on Palladium to Huntmar.

ADDITIONAL WORK TAKING PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT MEASURES TO PREVENT MORE FLOODING WILL DO THE JOB

After being told after the 1996 and 2002 floods that solutions to the problems that led to flooding had been found, residents want to make sure that there will not be another serious flood. To make sure every possible factor that may have led to flooding was investigated, I have been making sure staff doing the investigation received messages and comments on what happened before, after and during the July 24 flooding.

To make sure Glen Cairn residents do not have to go through more flooding, the investigation is one of the most detailed the City has conducted. After the phase two report is released this week, there will be a detailed assessment through the Glen Cairn Flooding Investigation study. I will be making sure money is set aside in the 2010 budget for work on recommendations to begin as soon as they are released.

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office), 580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca.