Lanark County moves forward with Climate Action Plan
By Perth News, InsideOttawaValley, July 27, 2020
Since adopting its Climate Action Plan in January 2020, Lanark County has
taken some decisive actions toward achieving goals for sustainability.
Protecting and enhancing the natural environment is a core strategy in the
county’s 2005 Strategic Plan, and council established “climate and
environment” as one of its top five priorities for this term.
“We need a holistic approach with a multitude of strategies in order to reach
a level of sustainability in our county,” explains chief administrative
officer Kurt Greaves. “Climate change and environmental degradation are
defining challenges of our time.”
A work plan outline set goals for this year and includes strategies related to
grant research and applications, homes, forests and farms, industry, waste
diversion, transportation, municipal buildings, and public engagement.
(...)
Currently, a Transportation survey is being conducted to gather information on
the current level of greenhouse gas emissions. The public is asked to help by
completing the survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019LCTravel.
Homeowners can get involved in reducing emissions related to heating and
cooling with the “Insulate Lanark” program, which piggybacks the existing
“Renovate Lanark” program. Low-income families can apply for funds to help
insulate their homes.
...On Wednesday, city councillors will address whether the city should move ahead with its bid. The property is owned by Taggart Miller Environmental Services Inc. and is being put up for sale in a confidential bidding process.
wo weeks ago, the city disclosed through a report to its finance and corporate services committee that it made a "non-binding" bid to Taggart Miller.
Now the city is seeking councillors' blessing to get deeper into the bidding process.
The bid's opponents, including some residents who live near the site, as well as a number of city councillors, have raisedenvironmental and traffic concerns. They've also expressed reservations about the compressed timeline leading to Wednesday's council vote.
By Randy Boswell, Ottawa Citizen, November 24, 2023
The City of Ottawa’s auditor general has slammed municipal officials for mishandling a major housing development in Barrhaven that involved extensive alterations of the Jock River floodplain to accommodate a sprawling new subdivision with nearly 1,000 new homes.
Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon has released a scathing, 14-page report detailing her team’s investigation into the project after allegations of mismanagement were made through the city’s fraud and waste hotline. The report has been tabled for discussion at the city’s audit committee meeting on Monday.
...The plan involved cutting away more than 100,000 cubic metres of soil along the north shore of the Jock and depositing more than 400,000 cubic metres of soil on adjacent land immediately to the north so houses could be safely built there, beyond any flood risk.
By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen, November 25, 2023
In a head-spinning move that has angered some community groups, Ottawa is asking the province to reverse its decision to override the city’s official plan on building heights.
A motion, approved by council this week in a 19-2 vote, instructs city officials to ask Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra to reinstate rules allowing higher buildings heights along minor road corridors. It’s something the city’s planning committee rejected two years ago, when it approved Ottawa’s new official plan.
At the time, city staff had recommended higher buildings, but council bowed to pressure and limited buildings along minor corridor roads to four storeys.