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The purpose of this memorandum is to update Planning and Environment Committee of past commitments by staff at the September 22, 2009 Planning and Environment Committee meeting to provide further information pertaining to the rezoning application (File # D02-02-08-0106) for 1357 Baseline Road.
At the September 22, 2009 Planning and Environment Committee meeting it was noted that the applicant had conducted an Origin/Destination (O/D) survey to analyze the degree of cut-through traffic through the neighbourhood in the northeastern quadrant of the intersection of Baseline Road and Clyde Avenue (known as Copeland Park). A concern was raised with respect to the time of year that the O/D Survey was undertaken.
During the meeting, Councilor Monette asked about a local resident’s assertion that Algonquin College was not included in the traffic study. Staff indicated that in fact there were two studies completed, the Community Transportation Study and an Origin/Destination Survey. The delegation was referring to the former which looked at existing cut-through traffic. Staff confirmed that the Origin/Destination Survey was not undertaken when Algonquin College was in session and that is why the implementation strategy had yet to be approved by staff. Staff also confirmed additional counts and surveys to ensure that a complete picture would be required prior to approval of the implementation strategy.
At the October 14, 2009 Council Meeting, By-Law No.
2009-348 was enacted to establish a Holding Designation over the subject lands
until certain works were undertaken:
Holding Provision Condition #20 (f)
·
the
Owner(s) agreeing through the site plan agreement to work with the City to
prepare an implementation strategy to the satisfaction of the City for the
recommendations of the O/D Survey Study that has been completed by the Owner(s)
and that has identified community traffic issues including but not limited to,
cut through concerns in certain adjacent neighborhoods and possible imitative
measures.
Subsequent to the passing of the By-law, a second Origin-Destination
Survey for the Copeland Park, Bel Air Heights and Braemar Park area was
completed. The survey was conducted on
Wednesday, October 28, 2009. Thirteen
intersections were studied. Traffic counts were taken in the early morning,
noon hour and supper time period. The study identified and analyzed cut through
volumes on a number of local streets within this existing neighbourhood.
The City can, through its
Transportation Impact Assessment Guidelines, require a developer to complete a
Community Traffic Study beyond the limits of their development lands to gain an
understanding of the existing traffic environment. The O/D Survey(s) have identified an existing cut-through condition(s);
however, this cut-through condition(s) is not a result of the proposed
development, rather, it is a pre-existing condition. As such, the City cannot
reasonably impose a condition which would compel the developer to correct the
existing cut-through condition(s). The findings of the O/D Survey(s) have been
forwarded to our Area
Traffic Management Group.
Through traffic in this area has in fact been
reviewed previously by the City and various measures are already in place to
discourage such activity. Finding
further solutions will require community involvement and further investigation
of available options, as most, if not all of these options, are likely to
impact not only travelers attempting to cut through the community, but also
community residents themselves. Such a
process would be similar to that utilized for conducting area traffic
management studies, as described in the Council approved Area Traffic
Management Guidelines.
At the Council
meeting on April 28, 2010, a “Lifting of the Holding” application
(D07-07-10-0002) was approved by Council which amended By-law No. 2008-250 of
the City of Ottawa to remove the holding symbol from the property known
municipally as 1357 Baseline Road.
Staff will meet with the Community Group in this area to discuss options available to pursue their concerns and have them consider submitting a request to the Area Traffic Management group to incorporate the need for further studies into their work plan and confirm to the community the priority and funding levels available to complete this work. Of note, however, in accordance with the Council approved Area Traffic Management Guidelines, all requests for studies made to the Area Traffic Management group are prioritized based on severity of the identified problem, and on available budgets and staff resources.
Original signed by
Richard Kilstrom
for/John L. Moser
c.c. Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, ISCS
Michael Wildman, Manager, Development Review (Suburban), PGM