Planning and Environment

Special Study Area

RED - Areas that should be preserved (NEA)

BLUE - Areas that might be developed

YELLOW - Unresolved highland area (might be zero if TFE shifted)

• The highland that might be destroyed in the worst case (the Yellow triangle) is only a small portion of the total highland area that we would like to preserve
• If Terry Fox Drive were shifted NW then the Yellow triangle would shrink, possibly to zero (implying no loss of highland)
• Note that there is a substantial amount of land (within the Blue line) that might be developed without the need to destroy any of the highland forests
• All of the forest area south of the "compensation land" would be destroyed if the Committee approves the staff recommendation

Contour map of the same area

• With the alignment shown (not yet approved) the 55 acres proposed for development by Balys would mostly be on lowland but some of the highland area would have to be blasted to provide sufficient space
• However, if Terry Fox alignment is moved into the adjacent valley, or just swung further west, there would be ample space for 55 acres of developable lowland without the need to destroy the highland
• The decision re. the alignment of Terry Fox Drive has not yet been determined by the Transportation Committee (It was deferred until Oct 6), reportedly because of uncertainty about the "nature" underpass, which might be more economically constructed with the alternate route
• Brunton's recommendation follows the tree line rather than the highland contours, so it does not illustrate the lowland area that could be developed, and that is of little recreational or ecological significance
• The central (dark) area is wetland (including the proposed "compensation land") that is not suitable for development, and consequently does not need to be urban
• The Richardson forest (right-centre, bottom) is very densely covered with trees, and is very rugged land, well suited for recreational purposes, and is a large forest area that is important to the Carp River and a significant part of Ottawa's urban forest, which is important to our air quality.

Differences from staff recommendation

• The staff recommends development of the Richardson forest, even though no evidence whatsoever of a public need for this development was presented at the Special Study workshops

• Other developments in Kanata North are achieving the Kanata Official Plan growth objectives, especially considering the substantial cutback in employment in the area

• The most recent Ottawa growth projections do not indicate that there is a substantive need for expanding the urban boundary, although a modest increase could be realized without serious consequences if the Kanata Highlands (Balys) proposal were accepted

• The Brunton NEA outline includes the lowland part of the Balys property, which is partly covered with trees, but that in our view is not an important element

• The rationale is advanced by staff that although the Richardson forest is presently designated NEA, and that it currently still deserves that designation, this forest will eventually be damaged because it is sandwiched in between  Terry Fox Drive and the Richcraft development to the east. However, this road is not scheduled for construction for many years into the future, and it may never be put in this location (a link to Huntmar would be more logical). Destroying this forest on the basis of a purely speculative projection of what might happen in the distant future would in our view be irresponsible. There will be ample time to determine what action is appropriate in future five year reviews of City boundary expansions. In the meantime, protection of a significant natural heritage feature is more important, together with the need to retain forest cover to protect the Carp River and Ottawa's air quality

Similarities

• Both concepts recognize the importance of maintaining a link between the South March Highlands and the connectivity belt running across the KNL lands to the Trillium Woods

• Both recommend basically identical protection for the northern highlands, both within the Special Study Area and in the Extended Study Area, but if the Balys proposal is accepted it offers the important advantage that the City will actually own that land, which is a substantially better means of protecting it. Moreover, citizens will be able to use this very important recreational land, with its stunning views and outstanding trails potential

Recommendations

• The Committee should direct staff to enter into negotiations with Kanata Highlands on the basis of their proposal, but also considering the potential for improving the route for Terry Fox Drive (in association with the Transportation Committee)

• Since the City would as a consequence own the high land through which Terry Fox Drive will run it will be more economical (and more flexible) to plan and build that road

• The City should extend the urban boundary to encompass the SSA within the Kanata Highlands land since that can be achieved in a way that is consistent with the objective of preserving the NEA land

• The City should retain the existing NEA designation for the Richardson forest because that land still qualifies for such designation, and will continue to do so for many years to come

• The City should NOT extend the urban boundary to encompass the "compensation land" (since there is no point in doing so) or to encompass the NEA land of the Richardson forest since that would neither be necessary nor desirable