KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North TRANSIT PLAN

Last week the Joint Transit-Transportation Committee dealt with plans for a new transit system for Ottawa. After a long, intensive meeting the Committee recommended a two part plan. The Transportation Master Plan, which forms a part of the Official Plan, a network showing all major routes as LRT/Rail with no time given. The network to first be developed is to be Option 4 as amended by a motion that I put forward which was unanimously endorsed by the Committee. This motion extended the rail system to Scotiabank Place in the west and Trim Road along the Cumberland Transitway in the east. These extensions were subject to meeting four specific criteria - development of transit corridors inside the Greenbelt first; a business case supporting a return of rail investment (ridership, capital and operating costs); achieving density targets in the Official Plan; and availability of funding. These conditions are similar to the ones that staff will be using this summer to determine what work should be done first. We will be making decisions on the form of rail and a program of work for the rest of the term of Council at that time. Extension of the O train to Riverside South, which I support, will be debated then. For that reason I withdrew my original motion calling for replacing light rail to the south with the O train and replaced it with the motion for an east-west line. There have been some questions on what is meant by density targets. Staff have indicated that this means more intensive development near the future transitway stops, which in Kanata are located along the north side of the Queensway. Existing developments will not be changed. The former City of Kanata approved plans for the Town Centre lands north of the Queensway and west of the hydro corridor by Village Green that will meet any density requirements for residential and employment development. Kanatas town centre plans are being used now to determine development and there is no need for further intensification. Incorporating smart growth in Kanata, if well designed, will be an asset to the community and will also hasten the provision of light rail to Kanata and will be another factor in reducing congestion and pollution. The population in Kanata/Stittsville is expected to grow from 90,000 to 162,000 by 2031 with jobs increasing from 43,000 to 77.000 so the need for a better transit system should be obvious to everyone at City Hall.

BILLET TEENS FROM SPAIN

On Canada Day 35 students from Spain will arrive in Kanata to improve their English. More families are needed to billet these exceptional boys and girls aged 13-17 from Jul. 1-28. Room and board are paid to the host families by the school in the amount of $600/month. Transportation is also provided for the students. For more information on this exciting opportunity, please contact the Red Leaf Student Programs Coordinator, Carrie North at (613) 270-0023 or email ottawaredleaf@gmail.com for more information.

GARBAGE
Ive had complaints about people putting their garbage out at the curb in advance of their garbage day. The Citys by-law states that you can only put it out after 6 pm on the day before your pickup. Appliances are not picked up and should not be placed out until you have arranged for their pickup. Help keep your community pleasant by putting your garbage out for as short a period as possible. That will also help keep animals from getting into your garbage.

GIVE-AWAY WEEKEND
Dont put useful items into the garbage. Someone else may be able to use that leftover wallboard or outgrown skis. Put them out on the curb on Give-Away Weekend, Jun. 7-8 and let those items you no longer want be someone elses treasures. Just put a sign free with them to ensure that only those items are taken, put them at the curb either day, and bring any remaining items in at the end of the day. This also reduces what goes to landfill and the need to expand the Carp dump

Coming Events
Jun. 3 Intensification that Fits, Ben Franklin Place, 7-9 pm Jun. 78 Give Away Weekend Jun. 24 Ward Council, Mlacak Centre

Serving the residents and businesses in Kanata North

To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca or through www.mariannewilkinson.com.