What have we accomplished?
The BIA has been “in business” for six years. Over that period, there have been a number of successes along with continuing challenges to businesses and land development in the Corridor.
Deferral of a new rural stormwater tax: At the same time the BIA was being formed, the City was proposing a 2% tax levy on all rural property owners to pay for stormwater drainage. A few groups voiced concerns over the plan, how it was conceived and how it was proposed to be implemented. Corridor members provided lots of input reflecting back to better service levels before amalgamation and that drainage services were part of the road budget. The City shelved the plan … so taxes have been lower for the past six years. Unfortunately the City brought a similar program back to life in 2016 and while the BIA and many rural property owners participated in consultation, in 2017 the City will be assessing a property tax based levy.
Paving of Carp Road and Westbrook Road: Since formation the BIA has lobbied continually for drainage and road improvements in the area. Paving of Carp Road, Westbrook and Richardson west of Carp Road along with drainage improvements on Carp Road and Westbrook have been a benefit to all businesses operating in the Corridor.
Adding uses to the RC zoned property: Owners of existing development and new projects in the Corridor east of Huntley Creek – zoned RC – brought concerns to the BIA that their proposals to build warehouse or office space required expensive rezoning. The BIA brought these concerns to the City and, with rezoning completed in 2014, area owners can now develop their property at considerably lower costs.
Signaled intersection at Westbrook: The City is planning to 4-lane Carp Road from 417 to Hazeldean. The original City plan was to install turning circles at each intersection. The BIA along with a number of property owners participated in the public consultation process pointing out a number of concerns. The City changed it’s plan and will install a signaled intersection when road improvements move forward.
Official Plan Policies for Rural Employment Areas: The Carp Road Corridor is the only designated rural employment area in Ottawa. When formed in 2004 it was a new land use designation and there were no supporting polices in the City’s Official Plan. Lack of Official Plan policy was often a constraint to development in the Corridor where existing zoning focused on agricultural uses. In 2015 and 2016 the BIA provided input to City studies which have now put in place policies recognizing the importance of light industry sectors at 400 highway interchanges and that a dynamic approach to planning is needed to respond to economic development.
Other BIA files including water in the Corridor, transportation services in the Corridor and hydro rates/reliability continue to pose challenges to area businesses. The BIA will continue to work on these and other challenges towards improving business opportunity in the Corridor.
For information about the BIA, our work and plans for 2017, contact Roddy Bolivar at 613 314 7597 or roddy.bolivar@crcbia.ca
