May 7 Newsletter 2021

May 7, 2021 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

COVID-19 Eligibility Update 

Book your vaccine appointment as soon as you are eligible. Each person who receives their COVID-19 vaccine brings us one step closer to achieving “community immunity”. Until enough people are immunized against COVID-19 we must still follow public health guidelines: 

• Wear a mask 
• Stay home unless for essential reasons 
• Wash your hands 
• Practice physical distancing 

Please use this updated chart to determine vaccine eligibility and how to register: 

Manor Park Official Plan Amendment 
 
Manor Park Management has submitted an Official Plan Amendment for its land holdings and has proposed a new mixed-use neighbourhood of apartment buildings and townhomes. As we are in the technical comments stage of the proposal, I will first listen to the public, who will provide input concerning the proposal and then I will make wider recommendations on this application, based upon that input. 
 
While I have not made any final determination on this application, I will recommend to the builder that their application attempt to align with the height expectations of the community, as well as provide adequate greenspace and community amenities. An Official Plan Amendment must also be debated and voted on at Planning Committee, which will give residents the opportunity to bring delegations in front of the Committee. 

I am encouraging everyone to submit comments to Andrew McCreight, the Development Review Planner who is reviewing this file at [email protected] to express your views to both City staff and developer. 
 
The developers have also currently agreed to three public meetings, which will provide an opportunity for presentations, as well as for a resident question and answer period. All the presentations will be attended by the City planner, as well as myself, my staff and the developer and their team. The first meeting is intended for residents currently living within the areas to be re-developed, the second meeting is a presentation only and the third meeting is the companion question and answer period following the presentation, one week later. 
 
You may register for the meetings below: 

1. Meeting for Residents Only
   June 1, 2021; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
2. Presentation Night
   June 7, 2021; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm:
3. Community Q&A
   June 14, 2021; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

Meetings will occur after the initial comment period so that the applicant team can consider comments received to date.  Planning Committee is the statutory public meeting required by the Planning Act for this application, but this will not be scheduled until Staff are prepared to make a recommendation (approval or refusal). 

Bilingual event hosted by the African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO) 

The ACAO has invited the country's top black doctors to answer residents’ questions regarding COVID-19 Vaccines at an upcoming Vaccine Townhall on Saturday May 8th at 4pm. Ottawa's Medical Office of Health, Dr. Vera Etches, will also share the City's plan regarding vaccine distribution. This event will take place in English and French. 

• Event link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqdeyrpjkjE9UrbAr4tvqotZjO36Q-SvYv 

Upcoming Ottawa Public Library programming 

The Ottawa Public Library is hosting a series of events for Asian Heritage Month.  

• On May 17, tune in for a live moderated discussion with Asian-Canadian author Jen Sookfong Lee, brought to you in partnership with Ottawa International Writers Fest.  
• On May 20, enjoy a live demonstration of Japanese cooking with cooking instructor Emi Buzza and test out your cooking skills making salad rolls and teriyaki chicken rolls. 
• Love Instagram? Check out OPL’s Teen Instagram account @oplteens_adosbpo every day during the week of May 17-21 for guest posts from local Asian community influencers. They’ll be talking all things Asian culture! 
• On May 27, find a program takes us on an illustrated journey to the heart of the Silk Road. 

Community Emergency Management Tool Kit 

The City is seeking feedback on a draft Emergency Management Tool Kit and Response Plan Template to assist community groups in preparing for emergencies. This step-by-step guide is intended to help you and your community learn how to prepare for an emergency. We want to hear from you! Take some time to review the draft Tool Kit and then complete the survey from May 3 to May 28 to let us know what you think. 

Don Gamble Park Update 

Don Gamble Park will be under construction from May - August 2021. The project will include the demolition of the existing senior play structure, swings and gazebo and the installation of new, accessible, senior play structure and swings, the addition of accessible pathways, new Engineered Wood Fibre Fall surface in the play area and swings area, and new gazebo and benches.  

The construction fencing installation will begin Monday, May 3rd. Access to the playground may be limited at some entry points to the park. Demolition and Construction will begin in the going weeks.  The Contractor is hoping to have the new gazebo installation completed by the end of June in time for the wading pool opening. The play structure installation will be complete by end of July beginning of August if not sooner.  

Montreal Road Revitalization Update 

Please find below a two-week update (May 5 to May 14) for the Montreal Road Revitalization project. The work activities planned for the next two weeks will include: 

• Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection – Crews have started work at the south side of the intersection and will continue in the intersection for the duration of May. The work includes installing underground traffic signal infrastructure, reconstructing the median, and building the road box. Lane closures on Vanier Parkway and crosswalk closures are required. Three out of four crosswalks will be open to allow pedestrian movement around the intersection.    

• Vanier Parkway to de l’Église Street – Excavations are underway at Dupuis Street, Emond Street, Bradley Avenue, Hannah Street, Lajoie Street, Mona Avenue and Lafontaine Avenue. The work focuses on underground construction, including electrical ducts, sewer replacement and underground utilities. Some installation of underground tree soil cells will also take place. No watermain shuts are expected for the next two weeks. Any water shuts are communicated at least 24 hours in advance. 
• De l’Église Street to St. Laurent Boulevard – Excavations have started at de l’Église Street and the intersection is closed. Watermain work, including commissioning a 150 m section of pipe east of St. Laurent Boulevard, is underway. No water shuts are expected over the next two weeks.   
• Adjustments to bus and vehicle detour – Some minor adjustments have taken place and will continue over the next month along Montreal Road, the bus detour route as well as McArthur Avenue. The adjustments include reinforcing road closures at certain streets, additional signage, signal timing adjustments and pavement markings. Over the next month or so, we expect some congestion and cut-through traffic as residents and commuters navigate the detour and discover the numerous side street closures, as well as the closure of eastbound Montreal Road at all intersections. Once traffic patterns are established, we anticipate the majority of vehicle traffic will follow the detour or use an alternative route, such as Highway 417, to bypass Montreal Road.   
• Continued traffic impacts and road closures – Montreal Road is reduced to one westbound lane from the Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard. Vanier Parkway northbound and southbound lane closures will continue intermittently throughout the month of May. Expect delays. All streets are closed between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard, with the exception of Olmstead Street, Bégin Street, Marier Avenue, Granville Street/Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street. 

Traffic impacts 

• Highway 174 – The following Highway 174 ramps and lanes will close for Stage 2 LRT roadwork:  

• The eastbound on-ramp from Blair Road will close nightly from 9 pm to 5:30 am from Monday, May 10 to Friday, May 14 
• The eastbound on-ramp from northbound Montreal Road will close nightly from 9 pm to 5:30 am on Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7 and again on Monday, May 10 to Friday, May 14 
• The westbound on-ramp from southbound Montreal Road will close nightly from 9 pm to 5:30 am from Monday, May 10 to Friday, May 14 

• Vanier Parkway, between Presland Road and Donald Street, will have lane closures in each direction from Monday, May 10 to late June for sewer and watermain replacement work. One lane in each direction will be maintained for traffic and cyclists. Signed detours will be in place for pedestrians.