Ecology Ottawa

News Clippings

City sticks to its guns on Wellington condo project

Ottawa & Region

News

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By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, January 22, 2015

It all comes down to "fit." Would a 12-storey condo complex on Wellington St. east of Island Park Dr. fit into the fabric of West Wellington? The Ontario Municipal Board on Thursday heard the final evidence and closing arguments on Mizrahi Developments' appeal to build a bigger building than what the planning rules allow at 1445 and 1451 Wellington St. via City sticks to its guns on Wellington condo project | Ottawa & Region | News | O.

Fear of fire hazard causes removal of thousands of smart meters - Toronto - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, January 22, 2015

Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority is directing local utilities to replace a certain model of smart meter "as a preventative step" after reviewing reports of problematic metres in Saskatchewan. Last summer, the Saskatchewan government ordered SaskPower to remove more than 100,000 newer model meters that had already been installed after reports of nine fires related to the equipment. via Fear of fire hazard causes removal of thousands of smart meters - Toronto - CBC News.

NCC to begin emerald ash borer control in Hampton Park

Ottawa Citizen

By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen, January 22, 2015

The now-common sound of chainsaws and wood chippers will be heard next in Hampton Park as the National Capital Commission begins removing more dead and dying ash trees. Nearly 400 trees will be cut in the area of Island Park Drive and Merivale Road beginning Tuesday, Jan. 27, and continuing until Feb. 3. The NCC says the Hampton Park dog-walk area won’t be affected, although park users should watch out for heavy equipment working. via NCC to begin emerald ash borer control in Hampton Park | Ottawa Citizen.

Time-of-use rates failing Ontario’s energy policy: report

By Steph Willems, Ottawa Community News, January 21, 2015

Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner is giving the province’s time-of-use electricity pricing a failing grade in his most recent report. In his findings, published as Conservation First Needs More Work, Gord Miller said the province is failing to meets the conservation goals, with time-of-use pricing being a major culprit. Conservation is a key part of Ontario’s long-term energy plan. via Time-of-use rates failing Ontario’s energy policy: report.

LRT, infill, traffic top issues at Kitchissippi forum

By Steph Willems, Ottawa Community News, January 20, 2015

The top issues discussed at Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper’s quarterly forum won’t come as much of a surprise to long-time Kitchissippi residents, given the ward’s reputation as “ground zero” for many of the city’s most prominent development projects and policies. Increasing pressures caused by traffic congestion, intensification and infill, and looming disruptions caused by construction of the city’s LRT system are all weighing on the minds of Kitchissippi residents. via LRT, infill, traffic top issues at Kitchissippi forum.

City announces plans to improve Rideau, Laurier area

By Michelle Nash, Ottawa Community News, January 17, 2015

The city has announced plans to give a facelift to an area between Rideau Street and Laurier Avenue. The plan is part of the larger redevelopment of several ongoing projects between Rideau to the north, Laurier Avenue to the south, Colonel By Drive to the west and Waller Street to the east. Those projects include the construction of the Confederation Line light rail project, the revitalization of the Rideau Centre, the Ottawa Art Gallery expansion and Arts Court redevelopment and ongoing development at the University of Ottawa campus. via City announces plans to improve Rideau, Laurier area.

NCC board gives conditional OK to Windmill’s Chaudiere Falls development

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, January 21, 2015

The National Capital Commission’s board of directors has unanimously approved the high-level plans to redevelop the old Domtar lands. Windmill Developments has an ambitious plan for the 15-hectare site known as the Islands near Chaudiere Falls that would see three million square feet of new building — largely residential — and would include condos as high as 15 storeys, numerous parks, a hotel, stores, restaurants and loft-style offices, and a developed waterfront on the Gatineau side of the project. via NCC board gives conditional OK to Windmill’s Chaudiere Falls development | Ottawa Citizen.

Randall Denley: The Ontario Municipal Board has its uses

Ottawa Citizen

By Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen, January 21, 2015

The public has an image of the Ontario Municipal Board as a place where city staff make righteous arguments in the public interest, only to be stomped on by a developer-friendly board. At least when the city is facing off against a developer and his band of experts, it might be considered a fair fight. That certainly wasn’t the case at a recent hearing where the city took a homeowner to the OMB to defend a policy that either doesn’t make sense or is beyond the ability of city staff to explain. via Randall Denley: The Ontario Municipal Board has its uses | Ottawa Citizen.

Chianello: NCC board acquiescence to political masters could ruin the Hill

Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, January 21, 2015

We are a little past the halfway point in Mayor Jim Watson and Foreign Minister John Baird’s 100-day truce on the very public disagreement the city and the federal government’s National Capital Commission have been waging over a tiny part of the proposed route for the western LRT expansion. So far, so good. via Chianello: NCC board acquiescence to political masters could ruin the Hill | Ottawa Citizen.

Wynne calls for more infrastructure spending

Ottawa & Region

News

Ottawa S

By Corey Larocque, Ottawa Sun, January 20, 2015

Premier Kathleen Wynne is using the looming federal election to turn up the heat on Prime Minister Stephen Harper, urging him to pump billions of dollars into Canada's aging roads, sewers and bridges. They give Canada its "competitive advantage" in the global economy, she said. via Wynne calls for more infrastructure spending | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa S.

Letter: Area under threat of development

Ottawa Citizen

By J.C. Sulzenko, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, January 20, 2015

Re: Meteor strike may have caused ‘Bermuda Triangle of the North,’ Jan. 19. Artist Andrew King’s story is excellent. The South Shore of Prince Edward County is rich with history, from shipwrecks to rum-running, and alive with unique and sensitive ecosystems, amazing bird migrations (Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory) and species at risk. via Letter: Area under threat of development | Ottawa Citizen.

Let fallen logs lie, study shows cottagers

Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, January 20, 2015

A drought in Wisconsin’s lake country has reinforced a lesson that’s easy to forget: Fallen logs that get in the way of cottagers also give life to a lake. Jereme Gaeta and his research group at the University of Wisconsin were studying what biologists call coarse woody habitat — trees that die and fall into the water near shore, where they become waterlogged and sink. via Let fallen logs lie, study shows cottagers | Ottawa Citizen.