Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

Petition opposes tree cutting from South March Highlands

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Denise Deby, StittsvilleCentral, January 20, 2017

Trees are again being cut down in Ottawa’s South March Highlands. KNL is removing trees from 75-100 hectares of land in the Highlands, one of Ottawa’s most biodiverse areas, in preparation for construction.

They’re required to take measures to mitigate against harming species at risk (including Blanding’s turtles, Least bitterns and butternut trees) and other wildlife.Residents are concerned, though, that destroying the trees now will destroy hibernating wildlife and their habitat, including shelter and food sources. Some have started a petition, available here.

Nepean Point focus of design competition

Metro Ottawa

By Adam Kveton, Ottawa Metro News, January 19, 2017

Perhaps one of the best spots to view the Ottawa River, the Gatineau Hills and Parliament is now the focus of an NCC design competitoin. Located across the locks from Parliament, the spot offers impressive views of Canada’s seat of government and Gatineau.

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The NCC is looking for design ideas for a 2.5-hectare area, with the focus on Nepean Point, but with the art path south behind the National Gallery of Canada and part of St. Patrick Street included.

Designs could also include nearby land and possibly a pedestrian bridge connecting Major’s Hill Park. However that work would have to happen in subsequent phases of construction.

Library board member not swayed by opposition to LeBreton Flats location

Metro Ottawa

By Dylan C. Robertson, Ottawa Metro News, January 20, 2017

The city will likely build a new central library to Lebreton Flats, despite downtown residents complaining the new location sits outside the city core, said one member of the library board.

At least 200 people took to City Hall council chambers Wednesday night, and a show of hands had none supporting the city’s current plan.

Coun. David Chernushenko said roughly a dozen constituents told him they don’t like the proposed location, mostly Glebe residents who visit the main branch from their downtown workplaces.

Second phase of Ottawa's light rail transit plan gets green light from NCC

Metro Ottawa

By Adam Kveton, Ottawa Metro News, January 20, 2017

The second phase for Ottawa’s light rail transit has cleared another hurdle, with the NCC approving of the city’s construction plans on its lands in the west.

The rail crosses NCC land at the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway in Westboro, and south by Lincoln Fields to Baseline Road and beyond.One of the plan’s major features is to cut a tunnel below the eastbound lanes of the Sir John A. parkway, leaving only a quarter of the 1.2-kilometre stretch of rail above ground on the east side of NCC property.

Residents voice unanimous opposition to preferred central library site

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, January 20, 2017 Residents don’t want to close the chapter on having the central library branch in Centretown. About 200 people, largely from the city’s five urban wards, packed Ottawa city council chambers on Jan. 18, for a public meeting to weigh in on library board staff’s preferred location for a new central branch at 557 Wellington St. in LeBreton Flats. (...)

The area between Bronson Avenue and Rideau Canal came out the clear favourite on all counts during the voting process. Participants ranked it the highest for accessibility, public transit access, its proximity to cultural and administrative centres, and best for vulnerable populations. On top of that, 93 per cent of people felt even if the LeBreton Flats location was ultimately chosen, that Centretown should still have a branch.

Of the library’s current location at Metcalfe and Laurier streets, Graham Saul, executive director of Ecology Ottawa, said, “It’s hard to imagine a better location.”

Source: Residents voice unanimous opposition to preferred central library site

Freezing rain expected tonight; Outaouais transit job action begins for Friday c

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Sun, January 20, 2017

The Gatineau bus service said buses were moving normally Friday morning but warned riders to leave some extra time for their morning commute as drivers begin working to rule on a mild but misty morning.

After a risk of freezing drizzle early Friday morning, fog patches are expected to clear with a high of 2C.Environment Canada was forecasting a 60-per-cent risk of more freezing rain this afternoon, overnight and Saturday morning along with fog patches and a low of -4C. Saturday’s high is forecast to be 4C.

Open house on proposed library draws impassioned crowd

Ottawa & Region

News

By Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Sun, January 19, 2017

If libraries did as well as town hall meetings about them, we’d be building one on every block.

More than 150 impassioned citizens filled the council chambers at city hall Wednesday night to discuss plans for Ottawa’s new central library. The open house, hosted by councillors Catherine McKenney, David Chernushenko, Mathieu Fleury, Tobi Nussbaum and Jeff Leiper, attracted a crowd that skewed in the senior range.

Eighty per cent or more, judging by a show of hands, lived in McKenney’s Somerset ward, most arriving by foot, public transit or bicycle, with not a single person claiming to support the current recommended site at 557 Wellington Street, in LeBreton Flats just west of Bronson Avenue.

MIS-STEP: A list of mysteriously missing sidewalks

StittsvilleCentral.ca

By Glen Gower, StittsvilleCentral, January 19, 2017

The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study gives Stittsville a walkability score for of 54% for pedestrian infrastructure. That’s slightly above the city average of 50%, but it suggests there are a lot of places where we can do better.

Here’s a list of 10 spots in need of an upgrade for pedestrians.

There’s an OC Transpo bus stop along here, but to get to it you have to walk on the shoulder or the bike lane. That might work in the summer but it’s rather unsafe after a big snowfall. There’s no sidewalk to be found on either side of the road, despite being adjacent to homes and businesses. This would also be a handy route to walk to the Sobeys grocery store for people in West Ridge or Timbermere.

New Edinburgh says sewer project stinks

By Michelle Nash Baker, Ottawa Community News, January 19, 2017

Something stinks in New Edinburgh.And funny enough, it’s not the 15-metre deep sewer shaft about to be dug in the middle of Queen Victoria Street.

Construction of the Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel in New Edinburgh will begin in March.

Five-storey apartment building proposed for Hintonburg

By Melissa Murray, Ottawa Community News, January 19, 2017

For Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, a development proposal that fits Hintonburg’s current zoning is a refreshing change.

The city is accepting comments on a 25-unit, five-storey apartment building directly beside Parkdale Park until Feb. 10.The city received a site plan application to construct the apartment building where there’s currently a single-family home at 12 Hamilton Ave. The proposed building fits into the area’s current zoning, which allows for a maximum of 20 metres. The proposed building is 17.2 metres in height.

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The proposal also includes about 233 square metres of amenity space, including a 96.7 square-metre rooftop patio, rear yard terraces and balconies. There is no parking proposed except for 13 indoor bicycle parking spaces and some outside.

Cutting trees to protect turtle threatens other animals, say wildlife advocates - Ottawa - CBC News

By Idil Mussa, CBC News Ottawa, January 19, 2017

Conservationists in Ottawa are upset the work of a Kanata developer to protect one species of animal could end up threatening a whole host of habitats for wintering creatures.

Kanata North Lands Development (KLN) began felling trees earlier this month to make way for turtle fencing around an area slated for urban development in the South March Highlands.

The fencing is a permit requirement by the province before any construction can begin, a requirement aimed specifically at preserving the Blanding's turtle, a threatened species.

Rideau Valley drought now only 'minor,' says conservation authority - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, January 19, 2017

The ongoing drought in the Rideau Valley watershed has been downgraded to "minor" for the first time since last summer.

Rain and melting snow have caused flows in some of the watershed's streams to approach and even exceed historical averages, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) said in a statement Thursday.

The conditions are the wettest since June 2016, when the conservation authority declared a moderate drought in the region.