Infrastructure

Connaught Park: Noise Mitigation and Landscape Plan for LRT

A noise study for LRT Phase II confirmed the need for noise mitigation through Connaught Park. It also found that the proposed berms would not be effective. It proposes a combination of three measures for the portion of the track from the fly-over to the tunnel: absorptive wall panels, a noise barrier wall, and rail dampers.

QTN members of the Public Advisory Panel continue to raise concerns about the adequacy of the noise study, particularly the lack of attention to the curve that goes to Baseline and the fly-over. We also continue to advocate for more sight mitigation in the landscape plan and increased attention to make it an attractive green space for the future.

If you want more information, copies of the noise study and related documents have been posted in the LRT section of QTNca’s Planning page.

In the meantime, choices are being made about the design of the noise wall and the plan for vines and tree-planting to make the wall more compatible with a park setting. The choice of materials for the noise wall will make a difference in how that space feels in the future. Quick-growing vines on the wall and planting trees for the longer term can help to maintain a park context. The landscape plan includes the use of small berms and a mix of types of trees to recreate a green space that is attractive and sustainable. Some residents want to have fruit trees included in the mix of trees planted, along with evergreens and deciduous trees. You can make your views known by completing a short survey (now closed) or send your views to the PAC group and OC Transpo via an e-mail to qtncommunity@gmail.com.

LRT in Connaught Park: Updated landscape plan, opportunity for feedback

Landscape plan for Connaught park showing walls around the train and small berms

re: Noise and Visual Mitigation in Landscape Plans for Connaught Park

QTNca has continued its advocacy for improvements in the LRT plans through Connaught Park, including paths and measures to reduce noise and visual impacts. Residents have an opportunity to provide feedback on a revised landscape plan now and a revised plan for connectivity is coming later this year.

In spring 2020, the QTN community was engaged in the consideration of berms proposed by KEV as a way to reduce noise and visual impacts for QTN residents (Letter to KEV regarding berms). Then OC Transpo announced that a noise study would be done; later we learned that it would include the whole LRT Phase II project, which took more than a year to complete. For Connaught Park, Councillor Kavanaugh and OC Transpo, in cooperation with QTNca, formed a public advisory committee (PAC) to facilitate community discussion about the plans to mitigate noise and visual impacts for this section of the LRT line.

The PAC met for the first time on September 21st and OC Transpo presented the following key points (click to view presentation, PDF):

  • The noise study showed a need for additional noise mitigation in Connaught Park.
  • Large berms will not be pursued for noise mitigation. Reasons given include: NCC paths require openings that reduce effectiveness for noise mitigation; insufficient space for large berms; and conflicts with underground utilities.
  • For noise mitigation, OC Transpo proposes three engineering elements: Absorptive wall panels, a noise barrier wall, and rail dampers (slide 6):
  • Design and colour of materials for the noise wall can be chosen to blend with a park setting and OC Transpo invites community suggestions on that.
  • Tree planting and vines will be used to “green” the noise wall; community input is welcome.

Members of the PAC raised several important questions:

  • Access to the noise study to read the analysis of noise impacts, the rationale for the decisions made, and the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. The presentation at the meeting did not include any quantitative or detailed analysis
  • Noise impacts and mitigation for other areas such as the fly-over bridge and the curves on the southbound train to Baseline. Current plans include noise dampers on the track over the fly-over but not a noise wall. Concerns about the noise around the curves include impacts for Woodroofe High School and Whitehaven as well as QTN.
  • More information from the perspective of residents, such as cross-sectional views and data from various locations along the route, e.g., north of Elmhurst.
  • Visual mitigation requires more attention. The study only considered noise mitigation, while both have always been raised by residents as important matters to be addressed.

Next Steps:

  1. We will share additional information as soon as we receive it
    • Based on a follow-up enquiry, the noise study will be available by the end of October.
    • Detailed analysis of noise impacts around the curves will be sent separately.
    • Additional drawings to show noise and visual mitigation from the perspective of residents.
  1. Feedback from QTN residents
    • OC Transpo is requesting feedback and suggestions on the appearance and colour of the noise walls, desire for vines, tree species (e.g., conifers, deciduous, fruit bearing), and overall landscape plan (see Slides 7 to 21). PAC members will compile community feedback and submit it to OC Transpo so it can be considered in development of final plans. Please submit your feedback to qtncommunity@gmail.com.
    • QTN residents may wish to provide other feedback and questions through the committee.  The committee will try to obtain answers to your questions. Questions/comments can be submitted to the QTN community e-mail at qtncommunity@gmail.com.
  1. A public Zoom meeting will be held later in the process.

Lincoln Fields Plan Delayed Again

We all know that Lincoln Fields mall and the surrounding areas will undergo major changes, especially as we get closer to the opening of the new LRT station in 2025. Revitalization could be positive or negative, and the difference is good planning. An integrated plan has been one focus of QTNca advocacy for three years now.

City Planning promised to develop what is called a Secondary Plan to provide guidance for development in this area. It was supposed to follow soon after the Official Plan. This week we learned that it will be delayed until 2023, after the next civic election.

Meanwhile, the Official Plan, to be adopted this fall, will facilitate intensification around the LRT stations and along Carling Avenue, with more flexible permissions for developers, higher towers, and requirements for residential densities of 200 units per hectare near stations. Developers will be able to make proposals without a more detailed City plan or an integrated approach to planning. When we name community issues, we are told those will be addressed in the secondary plan – but that is now delayed and major redevelopment proposals will be approved in the meantime. That means we will see more piece-meal development without serious consideration of context.

Lincoln Fields is an important strategic area for QTN residents and for the west end of Ottawa. Its strategic importance is comparable to Le Breton Flats because of its location, access to basic services, and connections between neighborhoods and also to the river valley. The Lincoln Fields LRT station will be a major facility, given the new plans for connections to Barrhaven. And while intensification is pushed for every lot within QTN, in the name of needed housing, a large, vacant parking lot close to a station is allowed to stagnate as an urban wasteland. This is short-sighted.

The lack of vision for what Lincoln Fields area could be is disturbing. Intensification requires confidence in City Planning. It is difficult to have that confidence when such short-sighted and reactive approaches to development are allowed to continue. QTNca is now working with other neighborhood associations to find alternative ways to put forward a vision for what Lincoln Fields could be.

If you have questions or suggestions, please send a message to qtncommunity@gmail.com.

Kathy Vandergrift