The WVCA shares items of local neighbourhood concern

Good day,

As you may be beginning to notice, the WVCA has begun using our website platform and newsletter tool more actively. It is our intention to share predominantly Wellington Village-based information and updates. You'll see that the information we shared yesterday (on the proposed embassy row in Mechanicsville) and the two items below relate more to neighbouring CAs. We have shared these updates not only to offer support to our community group colleagues, but because we feel it is important for the residents of Wellington Village to be aware of these issues, in part because it could (and likely will) be things we will be dealing with soon too. 

So I trust you won't mind receiving the occasional just-outside-Wellington Village update, when our board feels it is important to share. 

Thank you, and I do hope you'll take a moment and read the important information below.

Dave Allston

President, WVCA

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The WVCA shares some of the concerns raised in a letter we received today. regarding the Westboro Infill Study. The full content of the email can be seen at the link below. It begins:

"This Thursday, February 11, 2021, the City Council’s Planning Committee will make a decision that could radically transform much of Westboro’s residential neighbourhood.   

City staff have finalized their proposals to revise the zoning for the area of Westboro covered by the Interim Control Bylaw (Byron to the north, Dovercourt to the south, Tweedsmuir to the east, and Golden to the west).  And, in his most recent newsletter, Councillor Jeff Leiper has indicated that he will be supporting the proposed bylaw amendments that will enable developers to pursue more intensive infill development in Westboro.

If you have concerns about the impact of the intensified infill development that will be authorized by the new zoning provisions (or if you support the proposals for increased intensification of our neighbourhood) now is the time to speak up."

Full text of the letter HERE

The Planning Committee Agenda can be found at this link: HERE  (The Westboro Infill Study appears as item 4, on page 5).

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The WVCA supports the great efforts of the Westboro Residents Group, an informal network of neighbours, who are fighting a City bylaw amendment that will allow Domicile Developments to build a massively overs-scaled mixed use condo/retail building. 

They wrote to us recently:

"As you may know, we appealed the City's decision before the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal, and we expect to get a decision this Spring or Summer.  Unfortunately, the challenge cost more than twice our initial estimate by the covid -19 pandemic. The pandemic has also made fundraising very difficult. We need to raise $18,000 to pay professional fees resulting from our appeal."

They have shared a letter (click HERE) and a notice (click HERE) which I would encourage you to read, and consider supporting them in their battle. 

The WVCA has a modest budget which does not afford us the ability to contribute on behalf of the association, but we are certainly happy to spread the word for them, as their work is admirable and impressive, and is to be absolutely applauded.

Solidarity with Mechanicsville CA: Diplomatic precinct threatens rare neighbourhood greenspace

We have been following with great concern the proposed 'diplomatic precinct' or 'embassy row' along the north end of the entirety of the Mechanicsville community. In effect, this will eliminate some of the rare greenspace in our neighbourhood (including 55 trees), while also creating a wall between the community and the Ottawa River; a high, electrified fence that will block in the six embassies and a large number of parking spaces.

The Mechanicsville Community Association is joining up with a growing number of other organizations (including notably Big Trees of Kitchissippi) to oppose this NCC development.

Here is some information shared to the WVCA today, including a link to an online forum being held this coming Wednesday night (February 10th):

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Please write to the NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum (c/o assistant Sarah.Skrzek@ncc-ccn.ca) to indicate your solidarity with a call by the Mechanicsville Community Association and Big Trees of Kitchissippi to withdraw its plan to build diplomatic offices and parking lots on prime greenspace along the Ottawa River. Consider participating as well in an online forum on the development hosted by Councillor Leiper (numbers matter, even if you don’t speak).

Here is a link to the joint press release issued by Mechanicsville CA and BIG TREES on Sunday: https://www.mechanicsville.ca/news/2021/2/7/media-release-mca-urges-ncc-to-withdraw-plan-for-embassy-row

BACKGROUND:  Here's a brief description of the embassy site project: 

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ncc-seeking-city-approval-for-diplomatic-precinct-along-sjam-parkway-in-mechanicsville

Here is an opinion piece on the project:

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/buckles-an-embassy-row-along-the-ottawa-river-is-a-very-bad-idea

Jeff Leiper is hosting an online webinar/forum on Weds. Feb. 10 to raise questions about whether city of Ottawa should allow the NCC an official plan amendment and a rezoning of the land to build "embassy row." https://kitchissippiward.ca/content/1-and-19-sir-john-macdonald-parkway-official-plan-amendment-and-zoning-law-amendment-open

Here is the City of ottawa site where the NCC proposal and supporting documents appear:

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/__BIZUT4/details   (To see the supporting documents, scroll down the left side of the page.)

Show your support for an alternative vision of this important greenspace:

-       Open woodland offering peace and quiet to nearby residents in a neighbourhood rapidly transforming into a high density hot spot.

-       Habitat for rare Great Horned Owl and Peregrine Falcon, along with more than 100 other bird species on this internationally recognized bird migratory route.

-       Invest in housing options by making effective and rapid use of federal lands at neighbouring Tunney’s Pasture, rather than building unnecessary, ostentatious high security buildings for elite offices and parking.

-       Avoid excavation of toxic soils a stone’s throw from Ottawa’s main source of drinking water (Lemieux Island).

Wellington Village Community Association Update - 7 February 2021

Hello to all our local residents and friends,

The Wellington Village CA continues to work for you. Despite the ongoing pandemic, our board still meets every month and converses daily on issues affecting our local residents. We are looking at things like the City's Official Plan, Tunney's Pasture redevelopment, and other developments and applications across Wellington Village. 

Our next board meeting is Monday February 8th. Though our meetings are virtual, just as when we had our meetings live in person (which we hope to be able to return to someday soon!), members of the community are welcome to sit in on any board meeting. The link is available on the front page of our website. We also post the minutes of each meeting on our site as well under the "Meetings" header.

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For breaking neighbourhood news and conversation in the community, the best place to go is to our Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/theWVCA) or our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WVCAOTTAWA)

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ICYMI: This past week saw the snow removal trucks arrive in our neighbourhood in full force. An exciting day for the kids! Here is a classic Wellington Village shot of the show trucks from January 1947, heading north on Gilchrist past Spencer. No snow removal here, it just got sprayed on to your lawn!