Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North Maintaining Our Communities

One of the reasons that I was so attracted to Kanata when our family decided to move here in 1968 was the vision of creating an entire city from scratch. Bill Teron had put together an area of about 3300 acres to create a city of 60,000 people. At the information office there was a model showing how this city would be developed. Beaverbrook was the first community that was under construction at the time. The concept, that we've called the Kanata Concept, was to build a city with a number of communities, each with its own character and each created separate from each other. These communities would group around a town centre with retail and employment opportunities. Additionally a business park would provide more jobs. As a complete city Kanata would provide not only the homes found in the growign suburbs of the day, but would be a place where you could live, go to school and church, shop and work. As a teacher of urban studies the concept struck a bell with me and I quickly became involved in the community association and a year after later was elected to the March Township Council (which was the municipal structure at the time). Although Kanata changed over time, adding parts of Goulbourn (Glen Cairn and Hazeldean) and Nepean (Bridlewood) Townships, and with an increased population threshhold of 100,000, the conept remained with the new areas becoming additional communities, each with its own characteristics. In 1978, with the formation of the City of Kanata all of the urbanizing area to the west of the greenbelt became part of a single municipal jurisdiction. The Kanata North Business Park was developing to provide jobs, the 40% open space agreement was negotiated to protect some of the environmental lands and plans were in place for a unique town centre. Later Councils changed the town centre plans, with the centrum replacing the indoor mall planned to span the Queensway. Now, as part of the new City of Ottawa, concern has been expressed that the unique character of each community in Kanata could face significant changes. This has been of particular concern in Beaverbrook, but it is also important for the other existing communities and future communities also deserve to have their unique features. Beaverbrook was designed as three neighbourhoods (Leacock, Varley and Penfield - all of the street names are Canadian) centred on a core where local stores and services were available. Each neighbourhood was centred on an elementary school and park and linked to the centre by a series of pathways through park strips. Homes were designed in clusters, each with a unique name, with at least one side of the cluster backing onto parkland. Homeowners on purchasing their home agreed to join the community association which initially ran all of the recreation programs. They also agreed to a series of covenants that were

registered against the title of their property and designed to maintain the character of the community. Recently, Bill Teron, the founder of Kanata, spoke to the Beaverbrook Community Association about the future of the community. With policies that set standards across Ottawa and fail to take local conditions into account there is a fear that the community will lose much of its character. The new uniform zoning bylaw that will be discussed by Council in June is of particular concern. What is needed is a means to protect community characteristics within the new City. There is no particular mechanism available at the moment to achieve such protection so my challenge is to work with staff to develop such mechanisms. These could be used in communities across Ottawa, many of which have similar concerns to those expressed in Kanata. I have undertaken this challenge and will see what could be done with Beaverbrook as a test case. If a process can be developed then it can also benefit other communities in Kanata and elsewhere in Ottawa.

West Transitway Extension

The design for the West Transitway extension from Pinecrest to Bayshore has now been developed. The open house was on April 19th. You can obtain information and submit comments and suggestions until April 30th to Brian Wadden, 613-5802424, ext 21738, email brian.wadden@ottawa. ca. Construction will consist of underpass bridges at Richmond road and the two 417 interchange ramps, a new transit stop with pedestrian access to Dumaurier Avenue, storm sewers, retaining walls and an upgraded sound barrier wall. Work will begin in summer 2007, pending approvals and be completed in 2009.

A Coming Events
April 15- May 15, Spring Cleaning the Capital April 23rd, Child Care Committee for Kanata North April 30th, Kanata North Ward Council, Kanata Senior's Centre, 7-9 pm April 30th, Dog and Cat License renewal date. Apply at Client Service Centres Working for the residents and businesses in Kanata North To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion you can contact me at City Hall at 613-580-2474 or by email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca