LAST CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT ON PROPOSALS FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED NEW HOMES ALONG STONEHAVEN

On Tuesday June 24, two applications for zoning changes for land along Stonehaven will be going to the City’s Planning and Environment Committee. Both proposals would see more houses built along Stonehaven, which in turns means more traffic on Stonehaven.

People can speak to city committees for up to five minutes about issues the committee is discussing. There is a lot of concern in the community about the amount of traffic on Stonehaven and the impact the construction of new homes will have. For members of the Planning and Environment Committee to have a clear picture of the problems new development will create people need to be at the meeting speaking out.

The committee meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday June 24 in the Champlain Room at Ottawa City Hall. You can arrange to speak by e-mailing Robert Tremblay, the committee co-ordinator, at Rob.Tremblay@ottawa.ca or phoning him at 613-580-2424  ext. 28828.

It is also possible to just show up and get your name on the list to speak, but it is first come, first served. If you are unable to be at the committee, you can e-mail comments to Robert Tremblay with a request that they be circulated to the committee. If you are e-mailing Robert Tremblay about appearing or with comments, please don’t hesitate to copy me so I can get any new information I receive to you.

310 Stonehaven is between Élizabeth Bruyere and St. Anne schools. 74 Stonehaven is between Steeple Chase and Pine Hill.

Currently the land at 310 Stonehaven is zoned holding. The proposed zoning change will allow over 200 detached homes to be built on land currently zoned holding.

Land at 74 Stonehaven is already zoned for development and detached homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses can be built. What is proposed is to add stacked townhouses to the types of housing that can be built there. At this site, Urbandale has reduced the number of units to be built from the original proposal. Single homes will be built to back on to singles and townhomes onto  townhomes. This is an improvement from the original plans.

AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT CONFIRMS TAXPAYERS SUBSIDIZING DEVELOPMENT

The Auditor General’s report found that the cost of the development approvals process was $4.3 million more in 2007 than what was collected in fees for development applications. When fees for development applications don’t cover the cost of development approvals it is funds from property tax revenues that cover the gap.

Development application fees that are too low is just one of the problems with the development approval process. The Auditor General also found that the process used to make it easier for developers to get projects completed means that the city is not collecting securities to cover the cost of potential problems with infrastructure, even though the inspection process may not be complete. Without securities the cost of fixing problems is funded through property taxes.

The Auditor General also found problems with how conditions in development agreements are enforced. As a result people in new homes are waiting for much longer than they should have to for things like sidewalks or streetlights.

Work to fix these problems has started. Increased development fees this year have reduced the gap between the cost of the development approvals process and what is collected from development fees. I will be pushing for the changes needed to get these problems fixed.

OTTAWA POLICE PROVIDE TIPS ON CRIME PREVENTION FOR CAR OWNERS

To address concerns about car thefts, thefts from cars or stolen license plates, the Ottawa Police Service has information on how car owners can prevent crime. The information can be found at http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/resources/safety_prevention_tips/crime_prevention_vehicle_owners.cfm.

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