NCC - General Updates

[SL123]

The former Chapter on Rideau is also not part of the agenda. I thought i read somewhere that the NCC was going to say more about that purchase in April.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by SL123

The former Chapter on Rideau is also not part of the agenda. I thought i read somewhere that the NCC was going to say more about that purchase in April.

Someone more knowledgeable than me pointed out that the Chapters Building file is not an NCC project to be voted on, but a commercial lease, so it would be included in the report on activities, not it's own item.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Someone more knowledgeable than me pointed out that the Chapters Building file is not an NCC project to be voted on, but a commercial lease, so it would be included in the report on activities, not it's own item.

Makes sense, Thanks!

[rocketphish]

NCC to close 1.2 km stretch of Queen Elizabeth Driveway to vehicles this summer

Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published April 23, 2024 2:50 p.m. EDT | Updated April 23, 2024 3:49 p.m. EDT

The National Capital Commission will close a section of Queen Elizabeth Driveway to vehicles seven days a week this summer, but only a shorter section of the road will be open for active transportation in July and August.

The NCC unveiled plans for its popular Weekend Bikedays and the summer active use program on Tuesday, saying there will be nearly 20 kilometres of car-free roads for residents and visitors to use.

Between May 11 and October 14, Queen Elizabeth Driveway, the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway and the Kichi Zībī Mīkan will be open on weekends for active transportation. The Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be open for active transportation on weekends between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street.



In July and August, Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be open for active transportation 24 hours a day, seven days a week between Somerset Street and Pretoria Avenue.



"This will allow the NCC to provide animation opportunities along this corridor, creating an ‘open street’ concept," the NCC said in a statement.

This summer's weekday bikedays on Queen Elizabeth Driveway will open approximately 1.2 kilometres of the road to active transportation.

Last summer, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and some businesses criticized the NCC for closing Queen Elizabeth Driveway to vehicles seven days a week between Somerset Street and Fifth Avenue.

Sutcliffe posted a video on social media calling on the NCC to only close the busy roadway along the Rideau Canal on weekends. The mayor urged the NCC to adopt a "balanced approach" to its active use program, saying closing the road during weekday rush hour "causes significant delays for emergency vehicles, congestion on neighbourhood streets, and increased commute times."

The NCC says a recent survey indicates that both residents and visitors are "highly satisfied" with the active use program.

Electronic counters on the parkways captured more than 240,000 visits last year, according to the NCC. Statistics show there were 133,000 total visits on Queen Elizabeth Driveway, with an average of 1,502 visits a day.

The National Capital Commission says it will launch a Rideau Canal parkway study this summer to explore the feasibility of installing bike lanes along Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Colonel By Drive.

"The objective is to determine the most effective way to provide permanent, segregated cycling space to ease the pressure on the canal pathways and enhance pedestrian safety while separating faster-moving cyclists from the limited pathway space," the NCC said in a statement. "This study will include consultation with community associations, stakeholders and the public."

Dave Robertson, the vice president of Bike Ottawa, told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron that the NCC is taking a step in the right direction.

"Having cars on what is some of the most valuable space in our city is unfortunate, but these types of steps are what we want to see," he said.

Robertson says multi-use pathways are not wide enough for all of the different types of users — walkers, runners, rollerbladers, cyclists, and others — and having separate lanes for cycling would be more effective.

"Those multi-use pathways are designed for recreation, not necessarily for moving people, and they're very congested in many parts of the city. There's a certain stress level when you get all those modes stuck into one little bit of small space. We'd love to see more space so that these different modes can move about safely," he said. "We're grateful that we have them in our city, but in the future we need to look forward to building segregated facilities that keep these modes separate so that it's more comfortable for people walking and people on bikes can feel more comfortable getting around."
NCC Weekend Bikeday Schedule

The Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway will be open for active transportation on weekends between May 11 and Oct. 14. The parkway along the Ottawa River will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. between the Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard.

The Kichi Zībī Mīkan will be open for open for active transportation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. between May 11 and Oct. 14. The westbound lanes of the parkway will be open from Vimy Place to Carling Avenue.

The Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be open on weekends from May 11 to Oct. 14 between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street. In July and August, the road will be open for active transportation seven days a week between Somerset Street and Pretoria Avenue.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ncc-to-close-1...iveway-to-vehicles-this-summer-1.6858748

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

NCC to close 1.2 km stretch of Queen Elizabeth Driveway to vehicles this summer

Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published April 23, 2024 2:50 p.m. EDT | Updated April 23, 2024 3:49 p.m. EDT

The National Capital Commission will close a section of Queen Elizabeth Driveway to vehicles seven days a week this summer, but only a shorter section of the road will be open for active transportation in July and August...

Of course those pesky little e-scooters are considered to be "active transportation", when they are just as passive as any motor vehicle.

But they are definitely greener, so perhaps the term should be "eco transportation".

[rocketphish]

NCC buys golf course near Gatineau Park for $3.9 million

Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published April 24, 2024 9:31 a.m. EDT | Updated April 24, 2024 1:09 p.m. EDT



The National Capital Commission has purchased the old Dunnderosa Golf Course in Chelsea, Que., as part of its plan to acquire private properties in Gatineau Park.

The NCC confirms to CTV News Ottawa it completed the purchase of the 41.8 acres of property at the corner of Notch and Kingsmere roads for $3.9 million at the end of March.

"This land is part of the Ecological Land Mass (ELM) and trails are currently used by residents," the NCC said.

"Adjacent buildings and a mini-golf are still in operations and are not part of this acquisition."

Dunnderosa Golf Course is adjacent to the Gatineau Park(opens in a new tab) boundaries in Old Chelsea.

The Gatineau Park Master Plan(opens in a new tab) includes a strategy to acquire private properties within the Gatineau Park territory. According to the plan, the NCC prioritizes land that supports Gatineau Park's conservation mission, ecologically and strategically.

The National Capital Commission's board of directors was told last week that 63 properties have been acquired since 2008, with a total of 269 hectares of land. The properties include meadows, mature forests, wetlands and aquatic environments.

Since 2008, the area of private lands within the Gatineau Park boundaries has decreased from 627 hectares to 357 hectares, according to the report.

A report for the board says the deciding factors for pursuing a land acquisition in Gatineau Park include ecological characteristics, real estate development risk and the asking price in comparison with fair market value.

Among the properties purchased by the NCC, 16 properties have been purchased on Meech Lake over the past 16 years.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ncc-buys-golf-course-near-gatineau-park-for-3-9-million-1.6859863

[rocketphish]

NCC's acquisition of former golf course raises problems for Chelsea, mayor says
The Crown corporation has acquired a parcel of 41.8 acres of land that was once the Dunnderosa golf course for $3.9 million.

Norman Provencher, Ottawa Citizen
Published Apr 26, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read

Chelsea Mayor Pierre Guénard says the acquisition of the former Dunnderosa golf course by the NCC raises a series of problems for the small town on the Gatineau River.

The Crown corporation said Tuesday that it had acquired a parcel of 41.8 acres of land that was once the Dunnderosa golf course for $3.9 million.

A popular mini-golf and dairy bar and other amenities at the corner of Notch and Kingsmere roads were not part of the deal.

“One of the main problems is that the purchase compromises (Chelsea’s) development and protection plans,” which are used for future development, the mayor said in an interview.

“When the NCC takes over a major property within the city of Chelsea, outside of Gatineau Park, it’s a big problem,” he said.

The municipality and the NCC have been in a court dispute for several years over land revenues from federal lands. The two parties do not agree on how to establish the tax rate for certain lands located in Gatineau Park. The municipality is claiming nearly $2 million in taxes from the NCC.

In 2023, the Federal Court sided with the NCC in the Crown corporation’s five-year tax battle with Chelsea. The decision is under appeal.

In documents released at an NCC board meeting last week, the agency said the acquisition is one of the largest private land purchases by the Crown corporation since 2008.

In an interview, Catherine Verreault, the NCC’s director of urban lands in Quebec and Gatineau Park called the agreement “important.”

During the period, the NCC has acquired 63 properties with a combined area of 269.26 hectares.

The acquisition of the Dunnderosa property had been one of Gatineau Park’s strategic objectives in the long term. NCC officials said they’ve had their eyes on the Dunnderosa property for 15 years.

Verreault said the deals are done at market prices and most of the time, it is the owners who approach the agency.

She said the Dunnderosa acquisition will increase the protection of the Chelsea Creek ecological corridors surrounding the park.

But Mayor Guénard insists the municipality was already doing its part to protect the corridor.

Since 2008, the area of private lands within the Gatineau Park boundaries has decreased from 627 hectares to 357 hectares, according to the report.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...e-raises-problems-for-chelsea-mayor-says

[J.OT13]

Ok, another bad take from the Ottawa Sun that can easily be refuted. Let's go.

EDITORIAL: NCC should get its houses in order
Author of the articleostmedia News
Published Apr 28, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read

The National Capital Commission (NCC), a largely unelected Crown corporation tasked with the management of some of this country’s most treasured assets, appears to have lost its way.

According to its website, the NCC “provides unique value in the Capital Region by fulfilling three specific roles: long-term planner of federal lands; principal steward of nationally significant public places; creative partner committed to excellence in development and conservation.”

Judging from some recent purchases, it is also heavily involved in real estate acquisition.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, in January the NCC acquired a building in downtown Ottawa for an undisclosed price, calling it a “Landmark property in the heart of the national capital.” It’s reported that the goal of the NCC is to lease it as an event space. As for the historical significance of the building, it housed a bookstore for 26 years.

I'll start here. The old Chapters building was leased by the book store for 26 years, but it has been around for more or less 80 years. I don't know about "historic", I don't believe the NCC used that term. (Local) Landmark I would agree. Who doesn't know the old Chapters?

A recent report by CTV News reveals the NCC has purchased more than 60 properties inside Gatineau Park over the past 16 years, including more than 40 acres purchased in March for around $3.9 million.

Why would an organization that’s an arm of the federal government, acquire more land when the properties it already owns are falling into disrepair?

So land in Gatineau Park is to, you know, expand Gatineau Park. Although some buildings could be included, it's about conservation, not the buildings. The NCC does have a goal to one day own everything within the Park. At that point, we may be able to make it a National Park.

Six official residences owned by the NCC currently need more than $60 million in repairs and updates, according to most recent reports. The Prime Minister’s official residence, 24 Sussex, is in “critical” condition and requires $36 million in repairs. Why is the NCC acquiring more property, instead of investing money on those they already oversee?

That's an issue on the political level. PMs refusing to renovate their "own" house or move out because it could look bad. Trudeau to his credit decided not to move in, but the NCC has to negotiate with other departments on plans and security. I wouldn't blame the NCC on this one.

According to CTV, the NCC’s board was told that 63 properties have been acquired since 2008, with a total of 269 hectares of land, for conservation and ecological purposes.

Again, yeah. NCC's job is in part to preserve ecologically sensitive land.

This is the same NCC that recently changed Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, named for Canada’s first prime minister, to Kichi Zibi Mikan, without giving an adequate justification based on historic facts.

Blame this one on Harper for painting the town blue, putting John A.'s name on more buildings and the Parkway even if it was already visible all over town, during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and after he apologized for the Residential School system. Harper was tone deaf. NCC has to respond to the heavy criticism. It was fairly easy renaming something that had had the name for less than a decade.

It’s time for the NCC to be more accountable to taxpayers. This group has demonstrated poor management of the properties it now oversees and should not be entrusted with more assets until it can show us a plan to restore or replace the buildings currently within its purview.

I for one am happy we have the NCC and trust them more than I trust any of our elected officials in making the right choices for the region. They've made mistakes in the past, but have made significant improvements to themselves and the City over the last decade.

https://torontosun.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-ncc-should-get-its-houses-in-order

[rocketphish]

Chelsea loses Gatineau Park tax fight to NCC in Federal Court of Appeal
Federally-owned land is not subject to taxation by municipal governments in Canada, but, like other federal landholders, the NCC makes payments in lieu of taxes.

Andrew Duffy, Ottawa Citizen
Published May 14, 2024 • Last updated 39 minutes ago • 3 minute read



Chelsea has lost a second — and likely decisive — court case to the National Capital Commission in their six-year fight over the municipal tax bill for Gatineau Park.

The Federal Court of Appeal recently dismissed Chelsea’s bid to overturn a ruling that said the NCC fairly and lawfully calculated the payments it made to Chelsea in lieu of taxes for its Gatineau Park properties.

Chelsea Mayor Pierre Guénard has said the NCC, by chronically undervaluing its property, has left an $800,000 hole in Chelsea’s $25 million-a-year municipal budget.

The NCC pays about half of what Chelsea says it should pay annually.

For its part, the NCC has argued its park properties should not be assessed like other residential properties since they cannot be developed and are used for conservation and recreation.

In its decision, the Federal Court of Appeal sided with the NCC and upheld a lower court decision in its favour.

“The residential development to which these lands could potentially be subject is purely hypothetical given the numerous constraints that affect them, as well as the historical context and geography,” Chief Justice Yves de Montigny wrote for the appeal court panel.

The vast majority of decisions issued by the federal appeal court are final. History shows few of its cases move on to the Supreme Court of Canada, the country’s highest court.

It means the long, fractious battle over the Gatineau Park tax bill is likely at an end.

Chelsea has already spent more than $300,000 in legal fees, and more court costs were awarded against it by the Federal Court of Appeal.

Guénard and the Municipality of Chelsea did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Chelsea and the NCC have been at loggerheads over the Gatineau Park tax bill since 2018. The dispute once became so heated that Chelsea taxpayers threated to disrupt access to the park.

In 2021, Chelsea went to Federal Court for judicial review of the NCC’s decision to override the recommendations of a federal advisory panel that said the Crown corporation owed the municipality $1.4 million for payment in lieu of property taxes for the years 2018 through 2020.

Federally-owned land is not subject to taxation by municipal governments in Canada, but, like other federal landholders, the NCC makes payments in lieu of taxes.

The NCC argued the system used to value its Gatineau Park properties was fundamentally unfair because it treated the land as if it had development potential.

It said Chelsea sought to impose valuation increases of 19-25 per cent on NCC properties when, during the same period, the average property valuation increase in the municipality was 3.9 per cent.

Chelsea argued the NCC was duty-bound to follow the recommendations of the federal advisory panel, known as the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Dispute Advisory Panel.

Federal Court Judge Peter Pamel sided with the NCC, ruling it was not bound by the advisory panel and could deviate from its conclusions if it believed they offended property tax principles. Pamel called the NCC’s approach “transparent, intelligible and adequately justified.”

The Federal Court of Appeal agreed.

The tax dispute has made it difficult for the two sides to cooperate on improving municipal infrastructure within the park, such as Meech Lake Road, which plays host to seven NCC parking lots. Road reconstruction has been estimated at $18 million.

With 2.6 million visitors a year, Gatineau Park is second only to Banff National Park in annual attendance.

Meanwhile, the NCC continues to buy more private property in and around Gatineau Park to better protect the park and its ecological corridors. Earlier this year, the NCC acquired the former Dunnderosa golf course for $3.9 million.

Since 2008, private land holdings within Gatineau Park’s boundaries have decreased from 627 hectares to 357 hectares, a recent NCC report said.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...-fight-to-ncc-in-federal-court-of-appeal

[J.OT13]

So Chelsea spent $300k to argue for an extra $800k a year. Just by having Gatineau Park, it probably brings them far more than $800k per year in economic prosperity. Without the Park, Chelsea would just be another unsustainable sprawly suburb. The value of the town is entirely thanks to Gatineau Park.

[rocketphish]

NCC River House opens swimming season ahead of summer
New this year: a water taxi, hop on-hop off bus and more bike parking.

Marlo Glass, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jun 03, 2024 • 1 minute read

The NCC River House is now open for the season.

Lifeguards are on duty for swimmers from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily, the National Capital Commission said on social media Monday afternoon.

Supervised swimming is open on a first-come, first-served basis.

A water taxi will run to the River House, at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, Tuesdays through Fridays from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Greyline Bus Tours’ hop-on, hop-off tour buses will also run to the River House, with buses running every hour from Monday to Thursday.

Additionally, there are two new bike parking lots and additional bike racks, the NCC says.

The century-old River House, which opened last summer after a $20-million makeover, has a bistro, two wraparound balconies with views of the Ottawa River, boat and kayak docks, and an enclosed area for free river swimming.

The NCC River House, previously known as the National Capital River Pavilion and the Ottawa River Boathouse, was designed by architect C.P. Meredith and constructed between 1914 and 1925 for the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (ONEC), according to the NCC.

The boathouse was designated a recognized federal heritage building in 2010 because of its connection to the history of canoeing in Canada, the NCC’s website states.

“Its architecture is a rare example of early boathouse design, and its unique setting on the river gives it special historical significance,” the NCC states.

The revitalization project began in 2019, including the conservation, repainting and reinstatement of the existing wood siding, a standard exterior wall assembly, the conservation of viable heritage windows and the installation of new windows that are compatible with the historic character, while providing the required thermal performance, the NCC said.

With files from Postmedia staff.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ncc-river-house-opens-swimming-season-ahead-of-summer

[rocketphish]

"A water taxi will run to the River House, at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, Tuesdays through Fridays from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m to 7 p.m."

From where?


"Greyline Bus Tours’ hop-on, hop-off tour buses will also run to the River House, with buses running every hour from Monday to Thursday."

From where?

[LRTeverywhere]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Lazy journalist and lazy NCC. We don't want to build parking to our completely isolated has no transit attraction because we are against driving. Instead people run across the near highway from the neigbhourhood. In response you can now take for $64 for a family of four a slow boat ride to go for a 30 minute swim. Response: Problem solved. If people don't want to take active transport that is on them.

There is a parking lot and the NCC also built a very nice crossing of the parkway to connect it to said parking lot and the neighborhood.

[vtecyo]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Lazy journalist and lazy NCC. We don't want to build parking to our completely isolated has no transit attraction because we are against driving. Instead people run across the near highway from the neigbhourhood. In response you can now take for $64 for a family of four a slow boat ride to go for a 30 minute swim. Response: Problem solved. If people don't want to take active transport that is on them.

It's right here - with a nice crosswalk: Google streetview link

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Lazy journalist and lazy NCC. We don't want to build parking to our completely isolated has no transit attraction because we are against driving. Instead people run across the near highway from the neigbhourhood. In response you can now take for $64 for a family of four a slow boat ride to go for a 30 minute swim. Response: Problem solved. If people don't want to take active transport that is on them.

There is some parking on-site and the swimming area at the River house is regularly at capacity so I don't think attracting people is an issue. Besides, there's more parking roughly 500m east of the site (I know many Ottawans deem a walk of that length as unfathomable but that's a different issue).

I'm glad the NCC has recognized that building acres of free parking just to cater to people's' laziness and aversion to exploring alternatives is unnecessary and often detracts from the site itself.

And calling a two-lane road with a 60km/h speed limit and a marked pedestrian crossover a "near highway" is a bit of an exaggeration.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

And calling a two-lane road with a 60km/h speed limit and a marked pedestrian crossover a "near highway" is a bit of an exaggeration.

There are no traffic lights or stop signs between the 417 and New Edinburgh and its only major intersection is fully grade separated. It isn't a near highway, it is a full-blown highway.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

I wish that they'd position themselves as more of a water-based public transit option instead, like similar operators in Vancouver and other cities. It could be a very convenient option for destinations along the Ottawa River and well as Rideau Canal (there are talks about permitting water-taxi operations along the Canal IIRC).

Agreed. Stops could be at the River House, rue Jacques-Cartier in Gatineau, Ottawa Locks, Hull Yacht Club, Richmond Landing and maybe Zibi (if currents permit). Another one could go between Britannia Beach and Parc des Cedres.

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Lazy journalist and lazy NCC. We don't want to build parking to our completely isolated has no transit attraction because we are against driving. Instead people run across the near highway from the neigbhourhood. In response you can now take for $64 for a family of four a slow boat ride to go for a 30 minute swim. Response: Problem solved. If people don't want to take active transport that is on them.

As mentioned, there's is parking, at the site and within walking distance. Maybe drivers are lazy if they don't want to make the walk. Do you propose we just pave the entire shoreline around the River House, because that will give the area a more "highway" look.

Originally Posted by acottawa

There are no traffic lights or stop signs between the 417 and New Edinburgh and its only major intersection is fully grade separated. It isn't a near highway, it is a full-blown highway.

It's not a highway, it's a parkway.

[Lakeofthewood]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Agreed. Stops could be at the River House, rue Jacques-Cartier in Gatineau, Ottawa Locks, Hull Yacht Club, Richmond Landing and maybe Zibi (if currents permit). Another one could go between Britannia Beach and Parc des Cedres.



As mentioned, there's is parking, at the site and within walking distance. Maybe drivers are lazy if they don't want to make the walk. Do you propose we just pave the entire shoreline around the River House, because that will give the area a more "highway" look.



It's not a highway, it's a parkway.

And it seems like the NCC's Sir George-Etienne Cartier Park Plan is attempting to address these issues too, at least as it relates to transit and high speeds. Numerous mentions of transit in the plan, as well as traffic calming and additional controlled crossings.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

It's not a highway, it's a parkway.

That’s just a meaningless bureaucratic word that just means there are no trucks or public transportation to slow down the cars.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by acottawa

That’s just a meaningless bureaucratic word that just means there are no trucks or public transportation to slow down the cars.

Not sure what point you're trying to make here. Ok sure it's a "highway". A highway with relatively low speeds and a marked, raised pedestrian crossover.

As a cyclist I'm way more comfortable on the SGEC Parkway than I'd be on roads (highways?) like Hunt Club, Eagleson, March Rd, etc.