Scott didn't get a chance to finish up his Twitter project, where every day for a year he thanked the many people whose work, support and friendship he appreciated during his 12 years as a Councillor in the City of Ottawa. He finishes the project here in our final episode, devoted entirely to thank yous.
This week, we dig into Draft Budget 2022 which will focus on affordability. The overall municipal tax increase is capped at 3 per cent, as directed by Council – worth an estimated $56.1 million. This would see the average urban homeowner pay an additional $119 per year, while the average rural homeowner would pay an additional $91 per year. Scott talks about how COVID has affected the City's bottom line. He also touches on tax bills, your water bill, local projects in our Ward, and some of the notable City-wide projects.
Scott follows up on Episode 45 today by discussing more about the City's New Official Plan, the very large document that will guide Ottawa's growth for the next 25 years. In this episode, Scott focuses more on the impact the Plan will have on our Ward, a primarily rural party of the City.
This episode is part one of our discussion of the City's New Official Plan, just approved by City Council last week (October 27th, 2021). This is the document that will guide development and growth in the City of Ottawa for the next 25 years. Along with being our Ward Councillor, Scott is Co-chair of the Planning Committee and gets into some of the "bigger picture" elements of the New Official Plan – the Urban Boundary, Tewin, Secondary plans and more. Make sure you check out Episode 46 (coming soon) as well. That will be Part two of our discussion on this subject, as we focus on the plan's specific local impacts on our Ward.
In this episode, Scott discusses three important issues on our Ward: Wind turbines, the busy truck traffic in the villages of Manotick and how to handle things at David Bartlett Park.
Scott discusses a busy lively Council meeting on October 13th. Council approved the new Parks & Recreation Master Plan, the Master Site Plan for the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital, an extension and expansion of the Automated Speed Enforcement in school zones program and a new Small Business Property Tax Subclass. Locally, approval of the zoning for Mattamy’s Richmond Meadows community was provided. This is the development in the Western Development Lands on either side of Ottawa Street. Council also supported Scott's opposition to a Zoning By-Law amendment that would have seen a new pit on Fernbank Road. The area is already saturated with properties zoned for pits and quarries and this application was unnecessary, in Scott's and the community’s opinion. Also impacting us locally, Council approved the final ward boundary update which included the new ward names for the 2022 municipal election. As reported previously, our ward will become Rideau-Jock. Back in September, Kanata North ward Councillor Jenna Sudds was elected to Parliament leaving that seat vacant. Council voted 20-3 to approve an appointment process to fill the seat. Council will now accept applications and conduct interviews before selecting the next Councillor for Kanata North. Scott says he found that option undemocratic and was one of the three to vote against an appointment. Scott also touches on the decision Council made regarding our LRT troubles and specifically, the Stage 1 procurement process.
Along with being Ward 21's Councillor, Scott is the Chair of the Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management. On June 17th, he held a technical briefing on the Solid Waste Master Plan. Staff provided an overview of the Phase 2 report, which includes the proposed vision statement, guiding principles and goals for the Solid Waste Master Plan, a 30-year plan that will guide how we manage solid waste, increase waste diversion and extend the life of the landfill. In today's episode, Scott gets us up to speed on this week's briefing and where the City goes from here in its waste management plans.
This week, Scott gives us info and background on the City's CIP program which has come under recent scrutiny because of a Porsche dealership on Montreal Road.
Today, Scott talks about his recent series of virtual town hall meetings, including the one for Manotick, which we focus on today. It was all about Manotick development - current and future.
In this episode, we dive into the exhilarating world of municipal drainage with special focus on the Cranberry Creek Municipal Drain in North Gower. Regulated by the Drainage Act, there are over 700 municipal drains throughout Ottawa.
In this episode of Scott Moffatt's Twenty One Podcast, Scott discusses the North Gower Secondary Plan, a guide for the long-term development of North Gower, taking into account its unique rural setting.
This week, Scott discusses the Public Meeting that was held March 9th about the proposed plan of a Richmond subdivision. The Owner, Caivan Limited, is proposing to develop a 554-unit residential subdivision, in a mix of detached and townhouse units. The proposed subdivision is laid out in three separate areas as identified in the accompanying location map, with roadway connections to Cedarstone Street, Mira Court, Perth Street and Queen Charlotte Street.
The City’s Finance and Economic Development Committee and the Community and Protective Services Committee this week approved a long-range financial plan for housing at a special joint meeting. The Committees also approved a two-year work plan for the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The Committees approved the Housing Services Long Range Financial Plan to fully fund the City’s portion of capital and operating contributions. This plan would support the Council approved objectives set out in the City’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan by committing $198.4 million over the next 10 years to fully fund the City’s share of 5,700 to 8,500 new affordable housing options and provide the stability of a 10-year outlook for the funding that Housing Services needs to deliver its programs and services.
In this episode, Scott discusses the Chateau Laurier's design choices for its proposed addition, none of which are going over very well with the general public. Scott outlines the history of the building and everything that's led up to where we are now.
When Council adopts a new Official Plan before the end of the year, it will extend Ottawa’s urban boundary – the line that divides suburban and rural Ottawa – to include 1,281 hectares of land for new neighbourhoods. On Wednesday, Council approved where those lands would be located, along with policy direction to help protect sensitive lands from future urban expansion. Those lands for new neighbourhoods include 445.35 hectares in a new satellite community called Tewin. In this week's episode, Scott provides his thoughts on this latest step in the process.
Following up our last episode, Scott provides an update and some thoughts on the Urban Boundary Expansion, some unexpected decisions and the new, proposed Gold Belt.
The City’s Planning Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will meet jointly on Monday, January 25 to consider which lands should be brought inside Ottawa’s urban boundary, in line with the growth management strategy that Council adopted in May 2020. Today, Scott discusses the urban boundary and current recommendations, which include adding 1000 hectares, creating a new community and further protection of agricultural lands. Using Council-approved evaluation criteria, City planning staff scored blocks of land to accommodate new neighbourhoods, prioritizing those next to existing communities. Selected lands were further validated to encourage growth near existing commercial areas and existing or planned transit hubs. The report recommends approving 1,011 hectares of category 1 lands – those deemed to best meet evaluation criteria. The report lays out several options to identify an additional 270 hectares from parcels initially rated category 2 or 3, although such lands would need to meet certain conditions before they could be brought within the urban boundary in the future. The report also recommends adding to Ottawa’s supply of vacant lands to accommodate industrial-related jobs. Staff recommend adding 140 hectares near Highway 417 at Carp Road and near Highway 416 at Barnsdale Road. The amount of land being considered stems from the Provincial Policy Statement, which requires we maintain enough land to accommodate residential growth for at least 15 years. Staff review the City’s land supply annually and would report back to Council no later than 2026 to ensure supply remains compliant. The Committees will discuss further protecting agricultural lands by establishing a Gold Belt outside the urban boundary – similar to Ottawa’s cherished Greenbelt. Named to reflect harvest colours, the proposed Gold Belt includes agricultural resource lands, natural areas and mineral aggregate resource areas. Together, they create an additional boundary for communities like Barrhaven, Riverside South, Stittsville and Orléans. With more robust intensification goals and rules requiring minimum densities, this Gold Belt would be an additional policy tool to limit outward growth in Ottawa for the rest of the century. Leapfrogging over the Gold Belt would be prohibited. Existing lands between the Greenbelt and the Gold Belt meet Ottawa’s immediate growth needs. If approved, the Gold Belt would be established in the new Official Plan to help contain future urban expansions until the end of the century. Members of the public can provide written submissions through the Committee coordinator(link sends e-mail) and can also speak for up to five minutes at the Monday, January 25 meeting. Those interested in speaking during the meeting should refer to the process outlined as Annex A of the agenda. Quotes “City Council approved a Growth Management strategy to deliver a measured expansion of our urban boundary and to enhance the formation of 15-minute neighbourhoods across our city. Later this year we hope to approve a New Official Plan for the City, which will position Ottawa for success over the next quarter century.” - Mayor Jim Watson #Manotick #Richmond #North Gower #Munster #Kars #Fallowfield #Ashton and #Burritts Rapids
In this week's episode, Scott discusses the proposed North Gower warehouse distribution centre at Roger Stevens Drive. He provides a detailed background, shares his thoughts and provides residents with updates.
Today, Scott looks back at his 2020 social media timeline, remembering the Top 5 issues through the year that garnered the most replies and feedback. Of course, that includes COVID, mandatory masks, and urban boundary discussion...along with some light-hearted moments as well!! Happy New Year, everyone!
Today, Scott looks back at his 2020 social media timeline, remembering the Top 5 issues through the year that garnered the most replies and feedback. Of course, that includes COVID, mandatory masks, and urban boundary discussion...along with some light-hearted moments as well!! Happy New Year, everyone!