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We have been advised by Councillor Hobb`s office that this summer Kirkwood Avenue from Clare to Geoffrey will be re-paved. This is expected to help alleviate some of the vibrations that adjoining residents have been concerned about. As well, a full traffic light is to be installed at the corner of Clare and Kirkwood.

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Phase 2 and 3 of the Churchill Avenue construction will commence in the late summer. A Public Information Session is scheduled for Thursday, 24 May 2012, 7 -9 pm at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre, 411 Dovercourt Avenue. For further information, please go to

http://ourkitchissippi.ca/construction/churchill-avenue-construction/

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There were a number of interesting developments at the Mayor’s Summit on Planning.  Both the Mayor and Peter Hume reiterated that the planning process in Ottawa was broken and that there was a need for a major overhaul to insure that there was greater certainty, transparency and predictability in how planning and development would occur in the City.  There was a need by both communities and developers to have an improved process in Ottawa.  The Mayor stated that the planning summit was just the beginning of the process.  The Mayor said that the City is going to be proceeding with a number of key initiatives at this time;

• to develop a review of very tall buildings in the City, including where they should be located and the criteria for their approval;
• the development of a SWAT team to deal with the public on major developments; and
• a review and fast tracking of key Community Design Plans and Secondary Plans so that they can be completed within one year of start.

The City also plans to review some key Secondary Plans that are perceived to have problems.  This has great significance for Hampton Iona as the Westboro/Richmond Road CDP was cited as one of the Secondary Plans that will be reviewed and modified.

It was not clear, however, as to the exact timeframe for this review or whether the intent of updating the Westboro/Richmond Road CDP and Secondary Plans was to fix the problems that have become apparent and tighten the zoning or merely to clarify the wording so we will know better as what to expect.  As many of your remember, major issues arose during the Soeur de la Visitation convent development approval process such as what 4 to 6 stories meant, or what “south” of the convent building meant.  It is not clear as to whether the CDP fix being proposed by the City is to provide us with greater clarity as to when 4 to 6 stories can really mean 9 stories or to make sure that 4 to 6 stories really means 4 to 6 stories.

As more information comes out of City Hall as to the proposed process and intent of the CDP review, we will continue to update the website to keep the community advised.

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Don’t forget…grab your rakes and gloves and meet the Hampton Iona Community Group at Iona Park this Sunday morning, 10:00am, to help clean up the park as part of the Clean Up the Capital initiative. We will be continuing on to Hampton Park afterwards. Only takes about an hour but the more hands we have the quicker it will go.

See you there!!!

(Iona Park is between Hilson Ave and Island Park)

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As many people in the neighbourhood will have observed, Ashcroft has started work on the Soeur de la Visitation  site.  The site plan approval that Ashcroft  currently has in place is only for the construction of the buildings along Richmond Road.  While some site clearance has occurred on the Byron side of the property, Ashcroft does not have site plan approval to begin construction on the south side of the property.

That being said, we have been told that by the City that Ashcroft will be seeking approval to access the south side of the property.   We have been advised by Doug James of the City’s Planning Department, that Ashcroft will not be seeking to build a road through the Byron Linear Park to Byron Avenue.    We have been advised, however, that Ashcroft will be seeking construction access through Shannon Street and will be applying to the City’s By-laws, Permits and Inspections Unit. The City contact looking after this property and access request is Peter Grunstra who  can be reached at 613-580-2424 ext. 30082 or peter.grunstra@ottawa.ca if you have questions or concerns.

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From Hilson Public School.

Hilson Avenue Public School is one of ten national finalists in the 2012 “Majesta Trees of Knowledge” Outdoor Classroom Competition! We are the only Ottawa area school in the running to win $20,000.00 from Majesta Canada to implement our outdoor classroom plan as part of our school yard greening project ~ now we need your votes to win!

The competition depends on the voters! Here’s how it works:

Any person in Canada of legal voting age (18+) can do a quick registration at www.MAJESTA.com, then vote for Hilson every day!

The campaign runs from Wednesday, March 28th to Friday, May 11th. One vote for Hilson per day per email registrant is allowed. So please register at www.MAJESTA.com and start voting for Hilson on Wednesday March 28th!

And … as a qualified voter, YOU have a chance to win $10,000.00 from Majesta just for placing your votes!

Please spread the word to EVERYONE you know! And VOTE FOR HILSON every day!”

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From Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee:

Act locally, think globally. You can do this by taking part in the “Ottawa Tree Canopy Mapping” team.

Who: Initiative by Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee, with City assistance

What: Find out how much of your neighbourhood and the rest of Ottawa is covered by trees

Why: We need better info on our trees (both public & private) to help the City plan for the future

Where: Kickoff session at the Colonel By Room at City Hall

When: Friday April 27 at 7:00 pm

To be a part of the team, you will be spending a little time at home on your computer with data provided by us. It’s not difficult, we will explain how it works at the session.

If you plan on attending this session, please send email to eric.jones086@sympatico.ca so we’ll know how many people to expect. Thanks!

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Cleaning the Capital one park at a time!!! Join the Hampton Iona Community Group as we join the city initiative and clean up our local parks. We are starting at Iona Park at 10:00am on Sunday, April 29th and continuing on to Hampton Park . If you have an hour we could use your help. Bring your family and give us hand to keep these areas beautiful. Coffee and goodies will be supplied. Hope we see you there!!!

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We have been approached by the NCC regarding the off-leash dog park in Hampton Park. The NCC is concerned that a number of dog owners are allowing their dogs to be off leash in Hampton Park, outside the designated off-leash area. This has resulted in several complaints by park users and nearby neighbours.

The NCC has asked that we remind the community that dogs are to be controlled at all times in the park and should only be off-leash in the open field by the Queensway. The NCC has received a number of complaints about dogs being off-leash in leashed-areas, venturing onto adjacent properties and owners not picking up after their dogs. The NCC advises that if this behaviour continues the NCC may be forced to apply more rigid mechanisms to ensure users conform to park rules and regulations.

If you wish more information on this issue, please contact Emily Keogh of the NCC at (613) 239-5315 or emily.keogh@ncc-ccn.ca

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Ottawa Police Service is launching a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and is now accepting applications.  Until March 23, 2012, young people under 24 can apply online at ottawapolice.ca/yac.

YAC will bring a youth voice to policing and give youth a chance to share ideas and work with police on decisions and projects that matter to Ottawa youth.  YAC members will also meet new friends, build skills and resumes, and be provided with food, bus tickets and other perks.

YAC comes straight from ideas and suggestions from youth at last fall’s Let’s Chat Youth Café co-hosted by the Ottawa Police and the Ottawa Police Services Board.

For more information or to apply please visit ottawapolice.ca/yac.