OSCA PRESIDENT'S REPORT

BY JOHN GRAHAM

UPDATE ON PATTY'S PUB

s I reported last month, the owner of Patty's Pub on Bank Street is proposing to add a patio on the former used car lot directly north of the pub. The province's Alcohol and Gaming Commission is now considering this proposal and it is likely that the proximity of the proposed patio to residential housing will require City approval as well.

At our June meeting we hope to hear the decision of the Commission as to whether it will organize a hearing on this matter. Glenn Elder, chair of OSWATCH, reported residents in the area appear to be actively organizing to respond to this proposed development. More on this matter will appear in future columns.  Should there be a hearing, OSCA plans to make a presentation.

NEW DEVELOPMENT AT CHURCH HILL

The OSCA Board heard a presentation by Robert Wallingford, the new owner of the property on Sunnyside Avenue immediately to the east of St. Margaret Mary's Church. (Children for years in Old Ottawa South have tobogganed on this hilly terrain, known as Church Hill.)

Accompanied by his architect, Mr. Wallingford presented plans for three row houses of approximately 2,000 sq feet over three storeys (asking price not yet determined.)  The row houses will be set back approximately 40 feet from the street, permitting a carport for each unit to be 'buried' in greenery.

OSCA Board members appeared to like the design. Some, however, cautioned that the sharply sloping terrain will mean that the rear façade of the full three storeys plus the basement will appear massive unless properly treated. The architect, John Donkin, appreciated the potential problem and had some suggestions for minimizing it.

To proceed, the proposed development will require a re-zoning to R3J, which is typical of the neighborhood and a variance to accommodate the lack of garages.  The developer promised to consult with neighbors of the property. I'll come back to this proposal in future columns.

WINDSOR PARK

Mayor Jim Watson intervened on behalf of OSCA on the Windsor Yard issue. Thanks to his efforts, the City not only tore down the building but also took away the fencing, removed the asphalt and planted grass. Up to that point, the City had been asking OSCA to contribute to the rehabilitation of the yard.

Councillor Inez Berg also deserves our thanks for contributing funds from her own budget so that the City was able to remove a small stretch of roadway extending from Windsor Avenue into the park to join the former City yard. Many thanks to both Jim and Inez for restoring much needed park land to the neighborhood.

TRAFFIC ON RIVERDALE

City official, Rob Dworkin, presented the Board and several interested residents the results of a number of initiatives designed to research traffic problems on Riverdale Avenue. Highlights of the presentation and ensuing discussions follow:

• Response by residents to a questionnaire evaluating the speedhump on Riverdale was disappointing, only 24 individuals in the Riverdale neighborhood responded. A consultant expert in traffic safety will analyze a)these responses; b)technical data on traffic flows and speeds recently collected and c)ramifications for OC Transpo and emergency vehicles. The consultant will then make recommendations on these traffic calming measures as well as others across the City (including the raised intersection at Grosvenor and Sunnyside.) No date for receiving this report has been established.
• From Mr. Dworkin's perspective, the addition of new stop signs on the street does not appear viable as there is no obvious place for a new sign (poor compliance might result), the street is an important bus route and finally, the City does not want to discourage cyclists.
• Stepped up traffic enforcement from January 1 to May 5 resulted 119 tickets ranging from speeding, failing to obey a stop sign, documentation issues (e.g. expired driving licence). Residents who observe traffic violations can continue to report these (it is important to include the vehicle's licence plate number) to Don Cummer (738-9082 or dcummer@magi.com). Don will pass these on to the Police, who will contact the vehicles' owners and issue a warning.
• Recent monitoring of vehicle speed on Riverdale indicates it is typical of other streets in the City having a 'runway' affect to them. The long term solution is to reconstruct the street, an option that does not appear viable within the next decade, given current City maintenance plans.
• The OSCA Board will return to this issue at a future meeting to consider the consultant's report on traffic calming measures as well as the Main Street traffic study, due within the next month or so.

OSCA BARBECUE

I hope to see all of you at the annual OSCA barbecue at Brewer Park Tuesday June 20. As usual, the quality of the hamburgers and hotdogs will be surpassed only by the incessant teasing of the cooks and the chatter of neighbors having a good time.