Editor's Note: The Woodpark Community Association has encouraged our members and residents to communicate their thoughts and concerns regarding the Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan to both the City Planners and Bay Ward City Councillor, Theresa Kavanagh. With her permission, her response to the many emails has been posted below. If you comment on this post, please identify yourself at the end of your comment.
Dear Community Members,
Thank you all for taking the time to write to my office with your comments, questions, and concerns regarding the Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan.
Secondary Plans establish a land use plan for a specific area within a municipality, providing detailed policies such as those for parks, urban design, height limits, and public spaces. The City has numerous Secondary Plans, and previously approved plans can be reviewed here: Volume 2A - Urban Secondary Plans | City of Ottawa.
The increasing need for intensification requires a delicate balance between the demand for more housing and the preservation of usable green space and amenities in neighbourhoods. The secondary plan aims to outline future intensification near a major LRT hub station while preserving or possibly expanding usable green spaces. These plans align with the City’s Official Plan, which prioritizes density near transit. I share the concerns expressed by many of you regarding the lack of usable green space in Woodpark. City staff working on the Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan are aware of residents' concerns regarding the need for more usable space in Woodpark, and I am collaborating with them to address this issue within the Secondary Plan Report.
At present, the only viable option for creating more usable green space in Woodpark is through the purchase of land, which would involve removing existing housing to establish a park. However, the city has not allocated funds for such an investment. Nonetheless, other wards, including Somerset and Kitchissippi, have managed to finance land purchases through Development Charges from ongoing development and infill. Purchasing land is a costly endeavour and requires the cooperation of willing sellers.
I continue to support the community garden on NCC's land, and thus far, we have not received any comments regarding the Secondary Plan impacting this garden from either the City or the NCC.
Efforts to improve the Woodpark neighborhood include enhancing its walkability and ensuring the safety of residents, including the installation of much-needed sidewalks on Edgeworth and Anthony. We are currently collaborating with staff to implement traffic calming measures, which will begin to be implemented in the upcoming spring/summer/fall seasons.
Furthermore, I am working with the Woodpark Community Association on a new multipurpose community building in Woodroffe Park to serve the surrounding communities. These community buildings are becoming increasingly important given the evolving nature of neighbourhoods and the anticipated increase in residents due to transit hubs and expanded housing.
Some residents have expressed concerns about a potential affordable housing development by the NCC. I am supportive of the NCC’s potential future development for affordable housing. It is important to clarify that there has been a shift away from older models of affordable housing, which designated buildings solely for low-income residents. Today, the focus is on mixed-income housing. While supportive housing is still necessary for some residents, new buildings are increasingly adopting a mixed-income model. This approach, which the OCH has started using, has been demonstrated to have numerous benefits, including poverty alleviation, improved housing quality and services, promotion of economic diversity, and increased diversity of residents across all income levels.
For more information about the City’s affordable housing projects, please visit their website: Affordable housing | City of Ottawa.
Jocelyn, as the lead staff on the Secondary Plan, will be better suited to address questions regarding concerns about proposed heights and transitions for the plan and how they align with the City’s Official Plan of Hubs and Corridors. Regarding the decision for increased height on Edgeworth, my understanding is that there is also consideration of potential lot sizes. The lots on one side of Edgeworth are quite large and have the potential to accommodate larger buildings when combined. This, coupled with the proximity to the future LRT Station, influences the suggested height limit of 18 storeys, as the Official Plan mandates density to be concentrated near transit.
Traffic concerns due to increased density have also been raised by many of you. With density focused near transit, while it may be difficult to envision now, many individuals will opt for walking, biking, and using transit for their trips. The mixed-use buildings will bring more local retail, ensuring amenities are within close reach. The City's Official Plan (Section 2. Strategic Directions (ottawa.ca)) states, "By 2046, the majority of trips in the city will be made by sustainable transportation." Potential improvements on Carling Avenue, including the removal of the bridge, would facilitate safer movement for pedestrians and cyclists in the area, providing access to the Lincoln Fields area, including the pathway system and the LRT Station.
The proposed changes align with policy 4.1.1, which emphasizes providing mobility options for safe and equitable navigation throughout the city. With enhanced pedestrian and cycling facilities and the Stage 2 LRT, the goal of the majority of trips being made by sustainable transportation will become increasingly attainable. Car shares and bike shares are also being incorporated into many new buildings, indicating a shift towards more sustainable transportation options.
I want to extend my gratitude once again to everyone who has taken the time to share their comments and concerns. The development of the Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan presents an exciting opportunity to shape the potential future of Bay Ward, striking a balance between the ongoing need for housing for Ottawa's growing population and the provision of amenities. Together, we can work towards building vibrant, inclusive communities where residents are deeply invested in their neighbourhoods and welcome new neighbours.
Warm regards,
Theresa Kavanagh
Bay Ward Councillor | Conseillère quartier Baie
City of Ottawa | Ville d’Ottawa
613-580-2477