a peek inside the fishbowl

[please note, this post represents my own views and not those of the Westboro Community Association, of which I am a member.] 

So.

Ottawa has something called a Community Design Plan (CDP). Here it is. It is (in the words of the City of Ottawa) a “Council approved guide to the long-term growth and development of the Richmond-Road/Westboro area. The Community Design Plan provides guidelines for the day-to-day decision-making on land use planning and sets out the community’s priorities for the future.”

Simple enough? Right?

There’s some development slated for 300 Richmond Road at Eden. Right now it’s a car lot. The developer applied to the Committee of Adjustment to build a dense 5-storey mixed use building with two levels of underground parking… basically filling the entire lot.

The developer’s plan was not in accordance what is laid out in the CDP, which is, if you recall, an official guide to development in our area, one that has been approved by Council.

The application was turned down by the CoA. The CoA was of the opinion that the developer’s proposal represented an “overdevelopment of the site in terms of building mass” and failed “to provide adequate buffering to minimize negative impacts on the abutting residential properties.” (You can read the PDF here.)

The developer filed an appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board. That hearing is this morning.

And I am interrupting my life to attend it. Why? It seems ridiculous, but the City is not sending anyone to uphold its own Community Design Plan.

The City of Ottawa needs to stick to their original design plan – one that was developed after more than two years of work by the City, ten different community groups, local property owners, architects and developers. They need to send a message to developers. They need to abide by the Community Design Plan.  

Here’s what the Westboro Community Association has posted about the issue.

Okaaaaaay. So I’m in Major Party Planning Mode. I need smallish plants for one of the crafties we’re undertaking during Sarah’s party. We’re decorating flower pots! I thought I’d swing by Home Depot and pick up a few icicle pansies or something – and guess what – It’s too early and there is nothing to be had. And I don’t want to buy nine pots of $5.00 African violets.

Anyone out there know of a local source for some pretty (and cheap) potted flowers? If I can’t find anything today I’m going break down and soak some sunflower seeds as a last resort… but I’d really prefer the flowers. 

Help!