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Summary of FHCA
Initiatives and Interventions concerning Local Issues
which have “Made a difference” over the last decade
Many of
these initiatives and interventions have been directly related to
proposed development plans. These plans come mainly from private
developers, but also from ongoing expansion plans submitted by the
Ottawa Hospital. Members of the FHCA executive have been vigilant and
vocal in ensuring that city plans and environmental standards are
maintained, and developer’s promises are kept.
This is an ongoing process. It is clear that focused
and coordinated community input into new development in our community is
essential. We can make a difference.
The FHCA does indeed have a credible track record of
active participation in the evolving plans for our area. However,
continued support and active participation is required. All are welcome,
both retirees and others who would be available in working hours and at
other times, and also younger people in the workforce who can bring
local issues which are important to them to the table.
Below are some examples where the FHCA has had some
influence on the outcome of events in our area over the last decade or
so.
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This is the area behind the Vincent Massey
Primary School on Smyth Road, bounded on the West by the
Hospital and on the East end by the new Seniors sheltered home.
It was originally owned by the province and was zoned by the
City as ‘Institutional’, meaning for public sector related
buildings.
At one point representatives from the Ontario
Lands Corporation, who administered the property, called for the
City to allow for more flexible zoning. There was a public
meeting of the appropriate Council committee where there were
presentations by FHCA members making the case for no changes to
the zoning.
The councillors voted unanimously to turn it
down the Ontario Lands Corporation request. This decision headed
off what would quite probably have been an extensive office and
retail development in that area.
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Riverside Drive - Hospital Link Road
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In the mid 1990's it was becoming apparent
that the traffic along Smyth road, as a result of the expansion
of the Ottawa Hospital, was becoming a major bottleneck. The
FHCA, along with other local CAs, campaigned for some relief, or
at the very least a moratorium on further development in the
area.
There was on the books at that time, a long
term plan to construct a road to be named the Alta Vista
Parkway, running from Conroy Road, to the Queensway at
Nicolas Street.
Thanks to the community campaign, the idea
took hold that a portion of that project from the Hospital to
Riverside Drive, would if implemented alone, mitigate the
burgeoning traffic problem on Smyth Road. The necessary
environmental assessment was funded and implemented with the
clear understanding that there would only be funding for the
portion that provided a link from the Hospital to Riverside
Drive.
The result gave the green light for the
construction of the link between the Hospital and Riverside
Drive. At the time of writing, this link is now being designed
and funds have been set aside for its construction.
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This development, which was completed recently was built on land
originally set aside for the Rideau Veterans Hospital which
occupied the land since the 1940’s. It was declared
surplus to requirements in the early 1990's and sold to the
Canada Lands Corporation, the federal agency responsible for
managing federal crown land. The land was subsequently put up
for sale and the successful developer tabled plans for its
development. The FHCA had many meetings and presentations in
attempts to lower the housing density, which the developer had
proposed. As a result of the lobbying, the developer’s proposal
was modified.
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National Defence Medical Centre Lands (NDMC Lands)
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The National Defence Medical Centre is a
hospital building and a large parcel of land adjacent to Alta
Vista Drive, that belonged to the Department of National Defence
(DND).
It was declared surplus some years ago and
was handed over to the Canada Lands Corporation for disposal to
the private sector. It was apparent to the FHCA that it would be
a mistake to allow this parcel of land, to be sold off for more
Office/Retail/Residential uses. The policies of both the Federal
and Provincial governments explicitly stated the need for more
long-term care facilities close to existing hospitals, and for
expanding the footprints of existing hospitals wherever
possible.
A letter was sent by the FHCA executive
addressed to Premier McGuinty and other Provincial, Federal and
Municipal elected officials, urging them to acquire the NDMC
lands and hold them in abeyance for future hospital use as the
current policies called for. Other Community Associations
endorsed this letter.
No direct reply was ever received, but the
upshot has been that the Province has now moved to take half of
these NDMC Lands for future hospital expansion.
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Billings Avenue Speed-bumps
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Traffic in the FHCA residential area, has
increased in the last decade. Billings Avenue presents an
attractive alternative to Pleasant Park road for rush hour
traffic, because it provides an exit to Alta Vista Drive without
a traffic light.
FHCA worked with the City to set up temporary
roadside speed display LCD screens. Councillor Hume indicated
that he would look into having speed bumps installed if enough
hard evidence was forthcoming that the speeding was considered
to be real problem.
Anonymous responses to a brief questionnaire
were invited from residents. The community response was
overwhelming and Councillor Hume decided that the problem did
indeed warrant a solution such as speed bumps and eventually
they were installed.
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Residents with
children recognized that there was a need for playgrounds at
locations well away from main roads. Members of the Executive
and parents worked on plans for each park with the City with
parents providing both fundraising and the manual labour to
install the playground equipment. The playgrounds are well used
and have proved to be a great success.
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Faircrest
Heights Memorial Park
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Members of the Board had been advocating for
a formal paved path running from Lynda Lane, diagonally across
the green-space to the traffic light at the entrance to the
General Hospital.
The idea of a Millenium Park, to encompass
the path, evolved as a way to celebrate the approaching
millennium, as it then seemed reasonable that it could be
completed by the year 2000. After a delay of many years, we are
seeing the result of this initiative, with the creation of the
FHCA Memorial Park. |
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