DALHOUSIE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 755 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 6R1 We hope that you have had a chance to review the two proposals for the redevelopment of Lebreton Flats. If not, you can view details of both online via the National Capital Commissions website until February 8th. The DCA will explore opportunities for hosting materials for review after that date. The official public consultation continues until February 8th online. The questions are straightforward, and they ask what you think about each of the proposals and general overall comments. Its important that you take the time to express your concerns and what you would like to see at Lebreton Flats through this process. It is the primary way that we can signal to the NCC and proponents what we are looking for in the eventual development. Remember: what weve seen so far are proposals, and may change a great deal even before a winner is selected. The DCA will not be advocating for one proponent or another, but does believe that the following issues must be considered and reflected in whatever proposal is selected. Below are elements that we will be highlighting to the NCC, the proponents, and other decision makers. If you are interested, please feel free to use this to help guide your comments. Need for Ongoing Dialog The NCC should require the successful proponent to establish a working group with relevant community stakeholders to address the integration and development of the area. This program will last decades. Engaging the community on an ongoing basis as it evolves will be part of its success. Treat Lebreton Flats as a Vertical Subdivision. Regardless of which proponent is selected, thousands of new units will be added to Lebreton Flats. Normally, when Ottawa considers a development of this scale, developers are required to include space for essential public services, like schools, community facilities, and greenspace. There needs to be space for all road users. Our belief is that the same requirements should be made for Lebreton Flats. It will be, in effect a vertical subdivision, and proponents should have firm commitments for each. The items below are a more detailed consideration of this larger principle. Community Integration

The development must include a substantial portion of affordable housing, meeting or exceeding Ottawas official plan target of 25%. This must include a mix of housing types and sizes to accommodate families and be a component during all phases of development. It is important that there be space for essential public services to serve residents of the development and neighbouring communities. This must include schools, including French Language schools. There needs to be better integration between the proposed development and neighbouring communities. There cannot be discontinuity between existing and new communities. This means making sure that there are sufficient and proper pedestrian and cycling facilities and that there are connections in sensible places that people actually and currently use. There should be proper transitions between the adjacent low-rise community and the denser neighbourhoods proposed on Albert St. The built form must be staged in such a way to provide appropriate height transition from lower neighbourhoods to the south. Lets avoid making Albert St. a canyon. Biking and Walking, Transit and Vehicle access The site should also improve connections to the Ottawa River, including reducing the speed of traffic on the Sir John A Macdonald Parkway and providing appropriate crossings for pedestrians. The site must favour pedestrians and cyclists over vehicular traffic, and any roads through it, including Preston and Booth, and be built to be complete streets. It should be easy to get to, and around the site on foot or bike. Use the growing pains of the Lansdowne Park efforts on this front to avoid similar problems. Traffic plans must reflect on the capacity of nearby streets and sidewalks. This means making sure that sidewalks and bike lanes on nearby streets can handle the demand that the development will attract. We are concerned about traffic flow to and from the site, as well as the impact that events at the site will have on street parking in our neighbourhood (or the unsuccessful search for it). Interprovincial rail connection is essential to both bids transportation plans, but is an unfunded element of two citys long-term transportation thoughts. Given that it is needed for this development, proponents should be expected to cover some of the costs associated with adding this capacity. The arena must not open ahead of Phase 2 of the Confederation line. Public Institutions and Retail Components Both bids have a library as a major public amenity, though it is far from certain that one will end up there. Should a library not be built, there should be a requirement that the space be used for a similar public activity, such as a community centre. Retail components should focus on what residents need. That must include a grocery store. Consideration should be given for preserving or restoring the heritage of the site. This includes the Aqueduct, which reflects a historic form of construction that has not been treated kindly by construction on Lebreton Flats. Restoring it to his historic form is an important contribution to remembering the history of the area and city. Green Infrastructure and Landscaping

No expense or consideration should be spared on making sure that greenspace is built to thrive. Planning for green infrastructure needs to take place at the scoping stage of the project. This means making sure that adequate space is provided below and above ground to allow trees roots and canopies to mature and sustain tree growth. Silva cells, or an appropriate equivalent, should be standard. Underground parking and utilities must be deep enough to accommodate this. Healthy, tall, mature trees make great public spaces. Similarly, consideration should be given to how landscaping is maintained in the long term. Too often gardens and planters look nice in the first year, but then become dead shortly thereafter. Buildings should be built to minimize the impact on migratory birds. Reducing Noise and Light Pollution Light pollution from the site should be minimized. Illuminating public spaces is important, but theres no need to light up the night sky. Consider how the site will generate noise, orienting public realm facilities such as band shells and squares in such a way that sound does not direct towards neighbouring communities when possible. Energy, Water, and Environmental Efficiencies The newly constructed facilities should use technologies that strongly reflect current environmental best practices, such as renewable energy sources, grey water use and storm water runoff reduction, garbage recycling and composting, and night time lighting reduction in commercial buildings.