Presentation to Planning and Environment Committee

28 March 2006
Item 5 - Zoning 22 Grange Avenue

OFGAC regrets the loss of yet another small greenspace in Ottawa. Although at this stage, it is probably too late to reverse the loss of this park, this rezoning and sale process represents a real failure on the part of the City to live up to the community's expectations and desires. It also represents a failure to live up to the green-living principles outlined in the Official Plan. It is not just about densification and infill - our city is about providing small places for people to come together and sit in a pleasant environment.

Parks and leisure areas are land uses that support the daily life and functioning of a community. The loss of parks and leisure areas subsequently inhibit the daily life functioning of a community.

This zoning change represents the loss of a park - Grange Park. Mark Rowsell, an OFGAC member, contested the sale of this land because he believed it would have served the Kitchissippi community better as a pocket park. The residents in the area also protested the sale - to no effect. According to the staff report, their wishes in regard to the future of this small plot of land were ignored.

Absent a decision to save this park from development, Mark Rowsell would like the Councillors (Planning and Environment Committee) to consider recommending to the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee that revenue gained by the City through the disposal of parks and leisure areas like Grange park be utilized for acquisition, enhancement or maintenance of City land of the same land-use designation in the same ward from which the leisure/park area was removed. OFGAC would support that action.

For example, the $85,000 gained from the sale of Grange Park at 22 Grange Avenue would be used to enhance or maintain existing park and leisure areas or purchase new parks and leisure areas in this part of the city - using the Greenspace Master Plan that is soon coming as a guiding document.

Iola Price
Chair
Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee