OSCA PRESIDENT'S REPORT

BY JOHN GRAHAM

LAND-USE ISSUES IN OLD OTTAWA SOUTH

hree land-use issues occupied the Board's attention this past month. Last month, I reported that Domicile Developments is proposing a 40 unit, three-storey townhouse development at the corner of Bronson and Sunnyside, current site of the former courthouse and detention centre. The major concern of Board members centred on potential traffic impacts on Sunnyside and Hopewell avenues. We plan to follow up with Domicile in early April to review the findings of a traffic study that they commissioned and to discuss what solutions might be available.

A second issue on which we spent considerable time centred on a proposal to Committee of Adjustment for several variances to the Home-based Business Bylaw by the owners of 93 Bellwood. Someone had circulated a one page flyer in the immediate neighbourhood, that appeared to be authored by the Community Association and that opposed the proposal, based on some erroneous information.

In any event, OSCA's Glenn Elder, chair of OSWATCH, made a written submission to Committee of Adjustment in mid-March with a recommendation that several conditions be attached to any approval of the proposed variances. I plan to return to this matter in my next column when we have the Committee's decision.

A final item that promises to catch our attention and that of the immediate neighbourhood in the coming months is a plan by the owner of Patty's Pub on Bank Street to add an outdoor patio area to the pub. This proposal will be considered by the province's Alcohol and Gaming Commission with April 22 being the deadline for any submissions on the matter. We plan to meet with the proponent and come back to the issue at our April Board meeting. As yet, we have few details what is actually being proposed. It is likely any outdoor patio area will require City approval as well.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

April is a busy month for the program side of the Community Association. An Appreciation Dinner for all of our volunteers early in the month will be followed by registration for the Spring Program with a number of exciting new offerings including a canoeing course. The OSCA program calendar is now posted on the Association's website along with other information including The OSCAR. Visit www.oldottawasouth.ca.

One problem area we are expecting is kids' soccer. Glebe residents will have no soccer fields available this spring because of City spraying of grub-infested soccer pitches. An obvious option is for Glebe parents to register their children in OSCA's soccer programs. This will cause an inevitable over-subscription problem.

WINDSOR PARK

Last month, I was remiss in not recognizing Georgina Hunter as one of the principal organizers behind the improvements to the park play structures. My apologies to Georgina. I was also not clear in explaining that this initiative consists of two separate projects raising money for a new pre-school age play structure and lobbying the City to move up the replacement date of the current school-age structure.

On the matter of the City Yard in the Park, we now estimate the cost of rehabilitating the site, once the existing building at the end of Windsor Avenue is torn down, at approximately $43,000. The Board approved a proposal by Pat Kealey to apply for a grant from an environmental program under the auspices of the Region to help defray these costs. We have several other sources of funds in mind, including the City itself, and do not expect to dip into our general revenues. Work on this project should commence in the fall.

OSCA INSURANCE

I am often amazed at how complicated operations of a relatively small community association can get. Take the matter of insurance. In an increasing litigious society, it is imperative the Association and its volunteer board be fully protected against a number of possible calamities, ranging from theft of its assets to possible civil suits from a disgruntled developer, fed up with what he or she might perceive as unwarranted interference from the Association.

Michael Lynch, a former OSCA president and current Board member, has just completed an admirable study of our existing insurance needs, a study that will help fill a few gaping holes in certain of our coverages and, at the same time, save some money in lowered premiums. This report should be a 'best-seller' among the many other community associations in the city. Congratulations, Michael, on a superb piece of work! For copies of the report, call Deirdre McQuillan at the OSCA office, 247-4872 or e-mail her at osca@cyberus.ca.

Speaking of other community associations, Michael Lynch is also playing an important role in attempting to develop a new city-wide federation of community associations, one that would encompass all of the new City of Ottawa. More on these efforts in future columns.

FIREHALL REDEVELOPMENT

Finally, the Board, at its March meeting passed a motion to 'donate' $25,000 of its existing funds to the Firehall Redevelopment Fund as a clear indicator of our commitment to move ahead on this project. Board members judged that such a commitment was necessary to attract donations from other sources. Should a new City government not be receptive to renovating the building, then the Association would have the option of redirecting the funds to another community-based project.

The Redevelopment Committee would welcome new volunteers with fund raising ideas. If you are interested, contact Deirdre McQuillan (see above).