Monday, June 10, 2024

The 130-acre LeBreton Flats in 1983.

House of Commons Ottawa November 23, 1967 The Hon. George McIlraith (Minister of Public Works): "The LeBreton Flats are 4,450 feet from the Peace Tower, or less than a mile...The LeBreton Flats were envisioned as a western extension of the Parliamentary Precinct. Buildings on or near the Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower,"

House of Commons Ottawa February 23, 1965
The Hon. Mr. Cardin (Minister of Public Works): "Some time ago a decision was reached to construct the Department of National Defence Headquarters in the Lebreton Flats area. At that time it was decided that other government buildings should be located in the same area, forming a complex of buildings from Parliament Hill to the Lebreton Flats."

It is unconstitutional to build private residential towers and athletic arenas on the Flats: National Capital Commission Annual Report 1975/1976, page 9/52: The National Interest "Under the National Capital Act, the Commission is responsible for protecting and promoting the national interest in the Capital. The objectives and purposes of the Commission are set out in the Act: 'To prepare plans for and assist in the development, conservation and improvement of the National Capital Region in order that the nature and character of the seat of the government of Canada may be in accordance with its national significance.'

"It has been argued by some that only municipal authorities have the responsibility for promulgating and implementing region-wide planning in the National Capital Region. The Commission holds that this view is unconstitutional. Provincial and municipal authorities have responsibility for local concerns in their respective jurisdictions in the Region. But their responsibilities cannot be construed as representing the national interest. If Parliament had not wanted to see a national character for the Capital, it would not have created a national agency for that purpose."
The Dream Lebreton condos cannot be constructed because they are taller than the Peace Tower. And the Lebreton Flats are part of the Parliamentary Precinct. The high rise buildings are part of a private enterprise and not a federal organization like the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Lebreton Flats Park is now a parkette, 3.5 hectares. 

Friday, June 7, 2024

Just a few of the recreational areas in Canada's Capital.

Andrew Haydon Park

 
Andrew Haydon Park


The Greenbelt

The Greenbelt

Pinhey Forest Trail

Pinhey Forest

House of Commons Ottawa June 22, 1992 Mrs. Beryl Gaffney (Nepean, Ontario, Liberal.) "The greenbelt was established to control urban sprawl, provide beauty to the nation's capital, assist municipalities in local improvements such as the cycling paths, the Stoney Swamp, the Pinhey Forest and the Log Farm. They have all added to the enhancement and beauty of the nation's capital.
  The people of Nepean are most concerned that the NCC is moving away from that premise. Does this government plan on continuing the status quo with the Nepean greenbelt lands or do they plan on putting these lands up for sale? The majority of us in Nepean clearly don't want the greenbelt chipped away for residential or commercial development."

House of Commons Ottawa August 11, 1987 Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Liberal.) "It is the responsibility of the NCC to protect and maintain the Greenbelt."

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

The Dominion Observatory will be damaged if the Ottawa Hospital's Tower A is built. Reposting.

  •  Potential construction impacts. 
  • Isolation of the complex from its surroundings.
  • Obstruction or diminishment of significant views of the Dominion Observatory.
  • Obstruction or impact to views of the night sky from the dome.
  • Impact of the lighting plan. (Page 2/87, City of Ottawa Application #D07-12-22-0168.)
  • Impact to views from the Dominion Observatory dome to the sky - should a telescope ever be reinstated - will be irreversible and permanent once Tower A of the Hospital Building is realized. Also, light spillage and pollution can reduce the amount of stars and astrological features visible. (Page 8/87, City of Ottawa Application #D07-12-22-0168.) (The information is from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.)
"We are now in a phase where there is going to be a road and traffic study. Already the South Azimuth is getting in the way of road widening." (Point 27:36 minutes out of 32 minutes of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada YouTube video.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Ottawa prepares to hand over Historic Federal Farmland to corporate developers." January 21, 2017 video:
A Vimeo video that was filmed on Observatory Crescent.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

"The Central Experimental Farm will be Ottawa's Central Park."

"The Experimental Farm forms a central park within a residential area of the city of Ottawa." The Greber Report of 1950, page 167/395 and a photograph is included.