KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North CORRECTION

In an earlier column, I indicated that a reason for the excess water in the Beaver Pond was climate change, a comment that had been made to me some time ago. Staff have informed me, that the increases (which very much exceed previously approved targets) in peak-water levels and outflows from the Beaver Pond are not related to climate change. Rather, the Phase 1 report demonstrated that previous studies completed by the developers consultant used inaccurate information with respect to the storage available within this facility. This does not change the need for further studies and solutions, to ensure that adequate water storage and outfalls are in place, so that properties are protected from flooding.

2 THE PARKWAY
There seems to be some confusion over my role in zoning issues. What I have always done with zoning, and will continue to do with the zoning at 2 The Parkway is to ensure that the public has every opportunity to present their views. I will also ensure that those views are given very serious consideration, and that the values of the community are considered and protected. I do not make the Citys recommendation on any zoning issue that is done by staff but if a position can be determined by the community from dialogue between me and impacted residents then that position has a strong possibility of being accepted by staff. Ive done this for several other zoning issues and the affected residents have accepted the results. This normally takes a number of meetings and certainly involves ongoing dialogue. I have had an excellent discussion with Bill Teron on this zoning and have asked the community association for a meeting to get the dialogue moving. Simply putting in a report that says they want to keep the same zoning (which was designed for a post office) will lead to staff making a recommendation that probably will not be acceptable to many in the community and could lead to costly appeals. This may not be necessary if we work together for a solution. You may not know that Bill Teron has not been involved in the development of Kanata (except, more recently, for the Rockeries) since 1969. In 1970, I was given the task, as a newly elected Councillor, of developing a way to deal with planning issues. On January 1 that year, Campeau had taken over the

development of Kanata. As a teacher of urban studies, and since the Township could not afford planning staff, my job was to create the means of ensuring that Terons vision of a garden city was maintained. A Planning Committee of dedicated residents, chaired by myself, took on the challenge to make sure that happened. More than 200 residents participated in our KanPlan workshops and developed the concepts and tools that created the Kanata of today. So what you see and like in Kanata, including much of Beaverbrook (it was completed by Campeau) was something in which I was deeply involved. I was able to get support from hundreds of residents in the community to move development forward in a manner which was widely supported. I haven't changed in that commitment. The developer of 2 The Parkway has agreed to an extension of time in which the City must respond to his request. So the community has an opportunity to put forward alternative recommendations. I will be setting up a workshop-type meeting, at which suggestions can be put forward and debated. I encourage all interested residents to attend and provide your views. Check my website for details.

COMMUNITY REMINDERS
Planning Primers: Want to know how the planning system works in Ottawa and how you can be involved in planning within your community? Then register to take the planning courses that the City offers at no charge. The course called Primer 1 must be taken first, followed by Primer 2 and then various issue based courses can be taken. Primer 1 is being held on Sat. Jan. 21 or Mon. Jan 23 and Primer 2 on Sat. Feb 11 or Mon Feb 13. Details are at ottawa.ca or email primer@ottawa.ca if you have questions. Green Bin Tips Having problems with freezing of your green bin contents to the inside of the bin? Ottawa.ca has loads of tips to deal with this. For example, spray the inside with cooking oil like Pam; put crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the bin, use a leaf waste or other paper bag in the bin; wrap material in newspaper or flyer papers before putting in the bin and more. We do this at my home and have had no problems with winter freezing or insects. Community Meetings Over the next few months I will be organizing meetings to deal with zoning issues, radon gas, traffic issues, plans of the recreation complex, and library expansion demands. I have also arranged for the Mayor to come to a ward council meeting to speak about City-wide issues. Check my website for details on the time and place. . Contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca, or visit www.mariannewilkinson.com to keep up to date on community matters.