KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
This is the time of year when families get together to celebrate the Holiday Season, enjoy some time off work, and prepare for a happy and healthy New Year. It is a time to spend with your family, to enjoy some leisure activities or to take a vacation. We have just had the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year, so from now on each day will be a little longer. I will be spending time with my family and friends and preparing for a busy 2012. My offices will be closed between Christmas and New Years Day. During that time, emails will be monitored and responded to, but there may be some delays. For urgent items call or email 311.
BEAVERBROOK ZONING ISSUE
About 300 residents came out last week to hear more about the proposal from Morley Hoppner to change the zoning of 2 The Parkway to permit a 16-storey apartment building. Staff outlined the procedure that the City must follow according to the Planning Act, and the developer presented his plans for the site. Many residents expressed their concern with the height and density of the proposal and submitted their comments. These will be taken into consideration by the City Planner in coming up with a recommendation to the Planning Committee, which I expect will differ from the proposal. The present zoning is for institutional uses and permits a 5-storey height. I will be working with community representatives to come up with a plan for what the community would like to see on that site. Please continue to send me your input and suggestions. According to the timelines the City must adhere to, the application must be responded to by mid-February.
LIBRARY PRE-DESIGN INPUT
The addition to the Beaverbrook Library is now being designed. This project will transform the Beaverbrook Library into a District Library, designed to serve the west end of Ottawa, including Kanata, Stittsville, Goulbourn and West Carleton. Residents came out last week to provide feedback about what they want to see included in the District Library. The architects will consider these ideas when preparing several preliminary design concepts. These designs will be shown at a future public meeting, following which a final design will be chosen and detailed
plans prepared. You can still send your ideas by emailing westdistrict@biblioOttawalibrary.ca
BUS CHANGES IN JANUARY
Following many meetings with OC Transpo over the past 4 months, I am pleased to see that service changes to improve service in Kanata North will be in effect by Jan. 9th. These include changes to routes 93 and 169, adding an articulated bus to the 5 pm homebound route 60, and adding more service to the 96. In April, the 93 will serve Innovation Drive all day and provide a two-way service through Morgans Grant and Briarbrook. Ive been told that these changes are an interim step toward improved transit service in Kanata North. I will continue to work to reduce overcrowding and improve service. Please check the schedules on the OC Transpo website to see the changes to the routes that you are taking.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Statewood has now opened, as the traffic calming measures are in place. Further monitoring will occur to see if any further action is needed. The Goulbourn Forced Road opening was delayed until about Dec.21st but the traffic signals at Kanata Ave. are now in operation. The sod-turning for the Kanata North Recreation Complex was scheduled for Dec. 21st and construction work is starting on the site. Council approved the naming of the Richcraft Recreation Complex, Kanata as part of the Citys sponsorship policy. Richcraft is providing $500,000 to the community fundraising target for the right to have this name on the building for a 15 year period. The Ottawa Sustainability Fund is accepting applications from charitable organizations until Jan. 9th for grants of up to $5,000. Information is available at www.osfund.ca Contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca, or visit www.mariannewilkinson.com to keep up to date on community matters.
