Comments and Recommendations on Ottawa 2020: Charting a Course

The Ottawa Forests Advisory Committee (OFAC) applauds the City's recognition that sustainability and environmental protection from degradation are desirable goals to be attained. The importance of these concepts is clear in that they are continually mentioned throughout Ottawa 2020: Charting a Course. 

Nevertheless, we strongly encourage the City to go beyond simply mentioning these concepts to recognition that environmental sustainability is the cornerstone to a healthy and vibrant community.  This will be accomplished through portraying a continuous, strong commitment to existing environmental protection policy in Ottawa's new Official Plan.

Historically, we have witnessed countless examples of the destruction of forests and other significant natural features due to flexibility in the wording of the regional and municipal Official Plans within the former Region Municipality of Ottawa Carleton. This kind of wording is often chosen due to the general nature of Official Plans, but past results are a warning that generalized objectives do not translate well into practice. If we are serious about growing and developing our city in a sustainable way, this objective must be clearly stated in this guiding document, Ottawa 20/20.

This is not to say that we should move away from planning restrictions, but instead that we should openly recognize the limitations these restrictions may place on developing innovative solutions to land use problems and work to alleviate these limitations. OFAC strongly recommends that the City work cooperatively with developers and planners to seek out new approaches that will meet the objectives of reducing our consumption of land and natural resources and limiting the City's “ecological footprint."

Clear statements of intent must be made regarding the City's commitment to wise, sustainable land use and tree protection through the development of specific goals and the inclusion of sustainable development principles in implementation documents. The intent of wise land use policy must be understood and respected by all stakeholders if we are to move forwards the goal of a sustainable future.

In Table 1, OFAC has compiled comments, some suggested sources of information regarding other cities' best practices, and recommendations associated with specific sections of Ottawa 20/20. The intent is to reinforce positive directions, express concerns, provide examples from other jurisdictions as models, and propose solutions for the improvement of this strategic document. 

As a statement of policy, the Ottawa 2020 document is an admirable first step to recognizing the potential downfalls of the projected population and industry growth.  We only need to consider the experiences of countless other cities within North America that have experienced this type of growth to understand the necessity to manage future growth early on, and with a new attitude. 

We are fortunate in that we have the opportunity - if we choose - to learn from the mistakes of others.  The great challenge will be in translating the vision of balance stated in Ottawa 2020 into a cohesive plan that will enhance our city's future sustainability and livability, and establish unequivocally the importance of trees and natural areas as part of that future.  Indeed, the features that draw our people to our city and make it a wonderful place to live are the abundance of natural places and spaces and the associated health and vibrancy of our communities:  we must strive to protect them.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ottawa Forests Advisory Committee recommends that:

• Ottawa develop and adopt a comprehensive and detailed vision for 2020 that builds upon, and is consistent with, the principles of sustainable development.
• Ottawa develop its vision for 2020 in consultation with its citizens, and that Ottawa encourage the former municipalities, the heritage districts and neighborhoods/communities to develop secondary official plans that set out local goals and objectives that are consistent with this vision.
• Ottawa explicitly recognize the value-added role that the natural environment, trees and forests within our community fulfill in enhancing quality of life, attracting new businesses and supporting tourism.
• Ottawa clearly recognize the irreplaceable ecological services provided by trees and treed ecosystems, and commit to their preservation and enhancement within the Official Plan and in Second Plans.
• Ottawa revise policies and develop design criteria for developments and roadways to include requirements for the preservation of natural areas, older trees and local biodiversity, the avoidance of introductions of invasive exotic species, and the use of native species in tree plantings unless there is no suitable native species for the location.
• Ottawa commit to the development of inventories and strategies for the protection of landscapes, views, historic features, heritage trees, natural areas and endangered, threatened and/or rare plants and animals.
• Ottawa's rural forests explicitly included in the vision for the countryside, and that their preservation and management be given priority within the Official Plan and Secondary Plans, including requirements for the revision of existing Forest Management Plans and the development of management plans for City forests that currently do not have a plan in place.
• The Official Plan include provisions for the acquisition of key properties that contribute to and/or that have the potential to contribute to increasing and enhancing the extent of and benefits from Ottawa's rural forests.  
• Ottawa conduct a study/studies to determine: the economic value costs of services provided by trees and the urban forest; appropriate replacement values for standing trees when removal is considered/required for development; and, targets for optimal tree cover within the City Centre, suburban, industrial and rural areas.
• The development of a comprehensive Forest Plan to accompany the development of the Official Plan and Secondary Plans, which specifies management targets for tree and forest cover in Ottawa's urban and rural areas.
• Ottawa's vision specifically recognize trees, wooded areas and forests as key components of our green spaces.
• Ottawa recognize the importance of ‘measuring the vision' by establishing indicators related to the achievement of forest-related targets and implementing a system of environmental monitoring.
• Ottawa continue to foster partnerships with other land managers in and around Ottawa to establish and implement common goals and objectives for sustainable forest management.
• Ottawa evaluate and utilize alternatives to road salt so as to reduce negative environmental impacts.