Great News Regarding Scott Street!

In our last two posts, we informed our readers that the City was exploring the possibility of widening Scott Street, between Island Park Drive and Ross Avenue, from the south side of the street. The WVCA strongly opposed this widening and met with Councilor Leiper and City staff members to discuss. 

We're very pleased to inform you that Jeff met again with City staff to request not to proceed with the widening and they agreed not to proceed. 

Please stay tuned for details regarding a public information session being organized by the City regarding the Sewer and Watermain Rehabilitation Project (Scott Street between Island Park Drive and Ross Avenue). 

Updates for the week of January 13

Hello Wellington Village neighbours,

There's a lot to report on this week.

Scott Street:
We met with Jeff Leiper and city staff to discuss the WVCA's opposition to the widening of Scott Street (see post from last week). We were informed that the City is exploring the possibility of widening the street (Island Park to Ross Avenue) since it will already be undergoing construction this Spring. As a result of the construction, there will be an eastbound lane closure and a detour (projected for June to December 2020). The City has hired a consultant to work on the lane closure/detour and has been tasked with providing a cost analysis for the widening of the street. The city staff's rationale for widening the street is to accommodate a high amount of traffic on the "worst day" during the Stage 2 LRT bus detour. All of this will be discussed at an upcoming public consultation, tentatively scheduled for early February. As soon as we receive more information about the public consultation we will let you know. As always, please contact the president@wvca.ca if you have any questions. 

Infill Development:
The WVCA also met with community members and the owner and Project Designer for 9 Gilchrist Avenue to discuss their proposed development. The proposal includes demolishing a single family home to build a three storey triplex; requesting variances on lot width and area. It was adjourned at the Committee of Adjustment and is scheduled to be heard on January 22nd. 

Transportation Master Plan:

You have until January 24th to sign up on Engage Ottawa to provide comments on the Transportation Master Plan. Now is your chance to tell the city what's important to you about how our transportation system works. 

https://engage.ottawa.ca/transportation-master-plan

Residential Fourth Density (R4) Zoning Review:

The City has extended its deadline for commenting on the R4 discussion paper. You now have until February 21st. Although the vast majority of Wellington Village is zoned R3 or R1, much of Hintonburg and Mechanicsville are zoned R4 which allows for up to low-rise apartment buildings. Please take some time to read the discussion paper and provide your comments here:

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-engagement/projects/residential-fourth-density-r4-zoning-review

Also, you can check the zoning in your area (and more) at GeoOttawa: http://maps.ottawa.ca/geoOttawa/

Community Events:
Thank you party for Constable Dawn Neilly- Saturday, January 18th, 1-3pm, Hintonburg Community Centre, 1064 Wellington St. W. 
Champlain Park Winter Carnival- Saturday, January 25th, 12-3pm, Champlain Park
Westboro Beach Winter Fun- Saturday, January 25th, 1:30-3:30pm, Westboro Beach
Mechanicsville Winter Carnival- Sunday, February 2nd, 2-4pm, Laroche Park
Fisher Park Winter Carnival- Sunday, February 9th, time to be confirmed, Fisher Park 

Scott Street Sewer and Watermain Rehabilitation Project

The WVCA would like to inform our readers and the community that we have received the following information from the City of Ottawa about construction, and a subsequent temporary road closure, on Scott Street, scheduled to begin in Spring 2020. 

Please note the highlighted section in the 4th paragraph that mentions how LRT staff have requested the widening of Scott Street from the south side. It goes without saying that this will negatively impact a large number of residents and is of great concern to the WVCA. We are committed to doing what we can to stop the City from moving ahead with these plans. We want to hear from you. Please send your thoughts and concerns to: president@wvca.ca

"As you may be aware, LRT Phase II is proposing to detour Transitway busses to Scott Street, from Tunney’s Pasture to Churchill Avenue, beginning as early as late-2021.  LRT will begin intersection modifications in 2021 along Scott Street to accommodate the detour.  The City’s Asset Management Branch reviewed the infrastructure beneath Scott Street within these limits, and identified a number of ageing sewer pipes and watermains that were in poor condition. The purpose of the Scott Street Sewer and Watermain Rehabilitation project is to replace the infrastructure that is in poor condition prior to detouring the Transitway busses onto Scott Street.

The Scott Street Sewer and Watermain Rehabilitation project involves the replacement of existing local sanitary sewer and watermain along Scott Street, from Island Park Drive to Ross Avenue, as well as the installation of a deep storm sewer crossing Scott Street, just east of Island Park Drive.  Localized sewer spot repairs at various locations along Scott Street will also be completed, including replacing the local sanitary sewer from Clifton Road to McRae Avenue. The current project schedule is for construction to begin in Spring 2020, with completion in late-Fall 2020, in order for LRT’s Contractor to begin their roadway and intersection modifications to Scott beginning in early 2021.  A Public Information Session is being planned for late-January or early-February 2020 for residents to review the project design, and to ask questions to City Infrastructure Services and LRT Staff. 

In order to safely allow the work to proceed as part of this project, the City’s Traffic Management group has approved a temporary road closure of eastbound Scott Street, between Island Park and Ross Avenue.  The City preferred the westbound direction be maintained throughout the corridor for the duration of the closures.  The proposed construction is not expected to significantly affect the existing Multi-Use-Pathway (MUP) adjacent to the Transitway.  In fact, it is expected that the existing MUP will be widened to improve active travel operations for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the duration of the construction projects.

Regarding the reinstatement of Scott Street following the construction, the original proposal was to reinstate the roadway to existing conditions and lane configurations.  During the design period, staff from LRT requested that our design consultants complete design for additional roadway widening on the south side of Scott Street within our project limits.  The roadway widening would permit a 4-lane cross section to be used along Scott Street during the future LRT Phase II Transitway detour, in an effort to improve and transit service reliability during the detour.  We are still in early stages of this design, but additional information should be available over the next few months."