KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North Ward council on Monday to feature two major issues

The Ward Council meeting on Monday, May 17 in the Program Room of the Kanata Seniors Centre (2500 Campeau Dr.) will deal with two major issues in Kanata North. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be a presentation on the mitigation measures to protect and/or replace endangered species for the new section of Terry Fox Drive. An update on the project will also be provided. Questions and suggestions are welcomed. From 8 to 9 p.m. there will be a presentation on the issue of overhead vs. burying hydro lines on Kanata Avenue, followed by discussion. Work on Terry Fox is moving quickly, with the section by Morgans Grant scheduled to be open by this fall. Part of that work includes having the Goulbourn Forced Road end on Innovation Drive, next to the future site of the Kanata North Recreation Complex. The Richardson Side Road will be closed to all but construction traffic from Kanata Avenue to Huntmar from May 17 to Oct. 31 due to the heavy truck traffic required to complete Terry Fox. Hydro lines The situation with the hydro lines on Kanata Avenue is the result of the new City of Ottawa failing to ensure that the policies approved in Kanata since the 1960s, which required all power lines within the urban area to be underground except along the edge of the community, to be maintained. The City of Ottawa has not supported that policy while Hydro Ottawa has decided that all collector and arterial roads have overhead lines. These provide a less secure system when ice storms or high winds occur and also interfere with the trees that are a part of the Kanata scenery. To have one small section of Kanata Avenue with overhead lines while all the rest is underground makes no sense. Since the road is to be reconstructed starting this year, a decision needs to be made now on having the lines underground. Ive heard from some residents who dont want to pay anything for these, while others from all parts of Kanata North support this action. The citys Transportation Committee unanimously supported the levy required (starting at about $1.50 per month and reducing as further development occurs in the ward over a 10-year period), and council will deal with that recommendation on May 26, after you have had an opportunity to provide your feedback to me. Transitway issues As part of the work for the downtown tunnel, a total of 23 geotechnical boreholes and 15 environmental boreholes will be made along the tunnel location. This may cause some traffic delays in the downtown area.

Residents of Village Green can now view the study done for the West Transitway from Moodie to Terry Fox at the Beaverbrook Library. Although design work for this section will be undertaken later this year, construction is not planned for at least 10 years. There will be public meetings on the design, which will provide an opportunity to ensure no negative impact is placed on adjacent properties. Studies continue on the section of the Transitway from Bayshore to Moodie and from Lincoln Fields to Pinecrest. Information on these studies can be viewed on the Citys website. Keyrock Park The delay in the construction of Keyrock Park is because the landscape contractor is waiting for the services on the site to be located before beginning work. Due to all of the infrastructure projects underway this year, the locator firms are backlogged, causing a delay in the start of the project. Davis landscaping has indicated that they should be able to start on May 17 at the latest. Coming events May 15. Beaverbrook Wide Garage Sales May 16. Awards Presentations for Young At Art, 7:30 p.m., Mlacak Centre May 17. Ward Council, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Mlacak Centre. May 26. AGM for Kanata Food Cupboard, 7:30 p.m., St. Pauls Anglican Church, 20 Youngs Rd. June 5-6. Give Away Weekend in the City of Ottawa June 17. Town Hall Meeting for Tech Companies, Kanata Legion (70 Hines Rd.), from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Serving the residents and businesses in Kanata North To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion, contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca or through www.mariannewilkinson.com.