COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN OCTOBER 20, 2017 COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN 1 Councillor’s Column KEEPING YOU INFORMED SHAD QADRI – WARD 6 - STITTSVILLE The Future of Shea Road Woods at Planning Committee This week, I had the great pleasure of joining Mayor Watson, City Planning Staff, Tanya Hein (President of the Stittsville Village Association), Adrienne Charlton (President of the Blackstone- Fernbank Crossing Community Association), and other interested Stittsville residents on-site for a special announcement regarding the acquisition and protection of the Shea Road Woods. As it stands, the woods are a privately-owned natural area and could legally be developed without acquisition by the City. The woods are known by many as the unofficial dog park of Stittsville and are located south of Abbott Street East and east of Shea Road near Holy Spirit Parish. Working on retaining this property has been a priority project of mine for quite some time and with Stitttsville growing at the rate that it is, I understand how important it is to preserve our natural environment wherever possible. As such, I have continued to push in finding potential solutions in how to ensure that this area remains protected.
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COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN OCTOBER 20, 2017
COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN 1
Councillor’s Column KEEPING YOU INFORMED
SHAD QADRI – WARD 6 - STITTSVILLE
The Future of Shea Road Woods at Planning Committee
This week, I had the great pleasure of joining Mayor Watson, City Planning Staff, Tanya Hein
(President of the Stittsville Village Association), Adrienne Charlton (President of the Blackstone-
Fernbank Crossing Community Association), and other interested Stittsville residents on-site for
a special announcement regarding the acquisition and protection of the Shea Road Woods.
As it stands, the woods are a privately-owned natural area and could legally be developed
without acquisition by the City. The woods are known by many as the unofficial dog park of
Stittsville and are located south of Abbott Street East and east of Shea Road near Holy Spirit
Parish.
Working on retaining this property has been a priority project of mine for quite some time and
with Stitttsville growing at the rate that it is, I understand how important it is to preserve our
natural environment wherever possible. As such, I have continued to push in finding potential
solutions in how to ensure that this area remains protected.
COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN OCTOBER 20, 2017
COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN 2
This was one of the first items I brought forward to Mayor Watson’s attention when he resumed
office and I would like to provide my sincere thanks for his support. I would also like to thank
City staff and all engaged residents for their contributions in establishing this project.
On October 24th, Planning Committee will consider the first step in the long-term acquisition
and protection of Shea Road Woods. The report and recommendations to Planning Committee
seek approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the owners, CRT Developments
Inc., for purchase of the woodlot through a combination of cash and parkland dedication.
As part of all subdivision agreements, Ottawa requires each developer to design and build parks
on behalf of the City. As part of a subdivision adjacent to the Shea Road Woods, CRT
Developments had already planned a 3.28-hectare park. In exchange for the Shea Road Woods
property, the City will allow that land to instead be developed with low-density housing. The City
would pay cash for the remaining 1.72 hectares, at an estimated cost of $1,577,573. Funding for
that purchase would come from the Environmental Resource Area Acquisition Reserve Fund,
which Council established to help acquire and protect features like Shea Road Woods.
COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN OCTOBER 20, 2017
COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN 3
A final purchase agreement would be conditional upon the City obtaining permission from Hydro
One to relocate playing fields and other park facilities to a nearby transmission line corridor, so
that the community can still enjoy a full range of recreational, health, and fitness
opportunities. Such a move will require engineering studies and possible design measures to
ensure the community that health and safety will never be compromised.
This is great news for residents as the Shea Woods have become a popular natural feature in
Stittsville, providing our communities with beautiful scenery and nature walks. The area is
already frequented by many who walk their dogs and while the details of the future uses will still
need to be discussed, it is my intention to maintain the area to permit off leash dogs. I would
like to thank all staff who have contributed in bringing this project to the point it is at now for all
of their hard work. I would also like to send a sincere thank you to all of the residents of the
Stittsville community who have been engaged in this item throughout this process for sharing
their thoughts and their commitment to preserving Stittsville’s natural features.
If Planning Committee and City Council approves the MOU, then City staff will move quickly to
carry out the necessary studies and create a plan for the woodlot and park. Although challenges
remain to the final protection of Shea Road Woods, the City and CRT Developments are
committed to the principle of preserving it for future generations.
For additional background, you can view official report submitted to Planning Committee here.
Share your voice in supporting the City’s purchase of the Shea Road Woods
This item will be voted on at the City’s Planning Committee on October 24th
starting at 9:30
am. Residents can show their support by submitting comments to the Planning Committee
Coordinator, Melody Duffenais at [email protected]. Melody will ensure that all
comments are circulated to the members of the committee.
Residents are also welcome to attend the meeting and they can choose to register to speak to
the item for 5 minutes as well, however, there is no immediate necessity as I will be certain to
draw the committee’s attention to the written comments that have been submitted.
Complaints Report - Part V – Police Services Act: Third Quarter 2017
Legal Services Report: Third Quarter 2016
Board Monitoring Requirements Status Report: Third Quarter 2017
Outstanding Board Inquiries & Motions: October 2017
Letters of Commendation
Planning Committee – Tuesday, October 24, 9:30 a.m., Champlain Room
Park Development Manual, 2nd Edition (city wide)
Building Better and Smarter Suburbs and Infrastructure Standards Review: Arterial Road
Cross-Sections (city wide)
Memorandum of Understanding with CRT Developments Inc. Respecting the Acquisition
of Shea Road Woods Through Parkland Dedication and Cash (ward 6 – Stittsville)
Application to Alter 61 Park Road, a Property Located in Rockcliffe Park Heritage
Conservation District, Designated Under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act
Zoning By-Law Amendment – Part of 6211 Renaud Road (ward 2 – Innes)
Zoning By-Law Amendment – 1620 And 1636 Maple Grove Road (ward 6 – Stittsville)
o Richcraft is seeking a zoning amendment to permit a residential subdivision on the vacant lands at 1620 and 1636 Maple Grove Road. The developer proposes 945 units that include a mix of single-detached, townhouses, back-to-back townhouses, stacked townhouses and low-rise apartments. A school, a commercial block and three parks are proposed. For back-to-back townhouses, staff recommend permitting a maximum 12 units instead of eight, to help achieve desired densities. This approach has been used successfully in other Stittsville and Kanata West subdivisions. A holding symbol on a portion of the land along the Carp River can only be lifted once conditions related to Carp River restoration works have been met. The lands will be rezoned but the holding provision will be carried forward until conditions are met.