Kelly: A busy, productive month

As we look forward to the warmer, greener days of May, it’s been another busy and productive month at the Ward 5 office.

Constance Bay Town Hall Meeting Coming Up This Wednesday

I’d like to remind everyone about the upcoming Constance Bay Town Hall, happening this Wednesday, April 30th, starting at 5:30pm at the Constance Bay Community Centre.

We’re expecting a strong turnout, and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please note that the venue has a capacity limit of 200 attendees, and priority seating will be given to Constance Bay residents and property owners. So, you’re encouraged to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

This town hall is the second step in my community outreach initiative for Constance Bay. Over the past few weeks, we visited homes in the community, sharing information about the Constance Bay Community Survey. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared your feedback.

Now that the survey is closed, this Wednesday’s town hall will be a chance to review the results together, discuss key community issues, and explore practical solutions based on what matters most to you.

Several city department staff will be at the meeting to answer questions and engage with the community. Additionally, our office is planning similar outreach events in other parts of the ward in the coming months.

Cleaning Water Pipes in the Village of Carp

On Wednesday, I met with City staff from the Infrastructure and Water Services (IWSD) department in response to the many calls and emails I have received from residents in the Village of Carp about the quality of the water and the issues it causes residents and homeowners. 

They have agreed to move forward with a plan to clean the village’s water pipes to remove the iron buildup in the system.

This work will likely begin in July and will take part in phases. It will result in some short-term interruptions to water services. There will be much more info in the coming weeks and residents will receive communication directly from IWSD staff with details on when their home will be affected and what they should do before and after the cleaning.

The photo below shows a small section of water pipe from Dunnville, Ontario, illustrating how iron can accumulate over time. While the pipes in the village of Carp aren’t nearly this bad, they could eventually reach this condition if we aren’t diligent about our maintenance.

City Rejects Plan to Expand Quarry

Last week at City council, I introduced a motion to reject a plan to expand the quarry at 4200 March Road, located between Upper Dwyer Hill Road and Burnt Lands Road. The site is located west and north of the existing West Carleton Quarry, owned by Thomas Cavanagh Construction.

City staff had recommended Council remove the green space and natural environment area designations on the site and rezone the area for mineral extraction.

As I mentioned at the Council meeting last week, I can’t think of a more significant zoning change that would impact our community. I’ve heard from numerous residents expressing concerns about the issues it would cause, such as noise, dust, heavy traffic, and pollution in the area. Moreover, this is land that needs to be preserved.

In my motion, I expressed to Council that if we are confident in the provisions of our Official Plan, we should stand by it and reject this application. If necessary, we can take the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal, using the reasoning I outlined in the motion.

I’m pleased to report that my motion to reject the quarry expansion passed by a vote of 13 to 11.

Thanks for your ongoing support and for taking the time to check out this update. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to me at Clarke.Kelly@Ottawa.ca or call our office 613-580-2475.

To read all Coun. Clarke Kelly’s columns, click here.