3.         Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots Banners on Albion Road

 

            bannieres de la salle de machines a sous de l’hippodrome rideau-carleton sur le chemin albion

 

 

Committee Recommendation as amended

 

            No committee recommendation.

 

 

Recommandation Modifees

 

Pas de recommandation du comité.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Documentation

 

1.         General Manager, Transportation, Utilities and Public Works report dated 22 April 2002 is immediately attached (ACS2002-TUP-TRF-0009).

 

2.         J.W. Peters letter dated 9 May 2002 immediately follows the report.

 

3.         A draft Extract of Minutes, 15 May 2002, will be distributed prior to Council and will include the voting record.

 

 

 

__________________

     Next Item: Page  96

 


Report to/Rapport au:

 Transportation and Transit Committee/

Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun

 

and Council/et au Conseil

 

22 April 2002/le 22 avril 2002

Submitted by/Soumis par: Rosemarie Leclair, General Manager/Directeur général Transportation, Utilities and Public Works/Transport, services et travaux publics

 

Contact/Personne ressource:  Michael J. Flainek, P. Eng., Director/Directeur

Traffic and Parking Operations Branch/ Circulation et Stationnement

580-2424, extension 26882, Michael.Flainek@city.ottawa.on.ca

 

 

 

Ref N°: ACS2002-TUP-TRF-0009

 

 

SUBJECT:

RIDEAU CARLETON RACEWAY SLOTS BANNERS ON ALBION ROAD

 

 

 

OBJET:

Bannières de la Salle de machines à sous de l’hippodrome rideau-carleton sur le chemin albion

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Transportation and Transit Committee receive the request for exemption from the provisions of Part 2.12 of the Regional Regulatory Code, to permit the banners on the west side of Albion Road, between High Road and Lester road, to remain.

 

 

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun reçoive la demande d’exemption des dispositions de la partie 2.12 du Code de réglementation régional, visant à faire en sorte que les banderoles situées du côté ouest du chemin Albion, entre les chemins High et Lester, puissent demeurer en place.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Rideau Carleton Raceway Holdings Limited is requesting an exemption from the provisions of the former Region of Ottawa-Carleton’s Highway Signs By-law (Part 2.12 of the Regional Regulatory Code) to permit the banners on the west side of Albion Road between High Road and Lester Road to remain.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots commenced operations in February 2000.  Just prior to its official opening there were a number of last minute requests for municipal approvals, one of which was for permission to install banners on Albion Road in the vicinity of the Raceway.  The provisions of the former Region of Ottawa-Carleton’s Highway Signs By-law (Part 2.12 of the Regional Regulatory Code) prohibits this type of signage; however, due to the desire of both the former Region of Ottawa-Carleton and City of Gloucester to support the establishment of the new Raceway, an Encroachment Permit was issued to authorize the banners on an interim basis.  The permit authorizing the installation of the banners expired as of December 31, 2001.

 

The attached correspondence (Annex A) from the legal firm representing Rideau Carleton Raceway Holdings Limited states that the banners are an integral part of the Raceway marketing program.  An official request for an exemption from the provisions of the Highway Signs By-law (Part 2.12 of the Regional Regulatory Code) is being made.

 

The utility poles on the west side of Albion Road between High Road and Lester Road were installed by the applicant and designed to accommodate banners.  When staff were requested to approve the banners, it was recognized that there was some public opposition to the Raceway presence and therefore potential opposition to the banners.  For this reason, care was taken in drafting the initial encroachment permit conditions, and in addition to the usual requirements such as insurance, banner size, height, fastening conditions, etc., it was stipulated that the banners were to be approved by staff prior to installation, and further that they not display pictures or symbols associated with gambling, tobacco products, or those considered demeaning to women.

 

The local ward Councillor has received a complaint from a resident along Albion Road.  To the best of our knowledge, this represents the only opposition to the continued presence of the banners.  The Call Centre advises that there are no recorded complaints concerning them.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no direct environmental implications; however, depending on an individual’s perspective, it could be argued that the banners introduce visual pollution in a primarily rural environment.

 

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

 

N/A

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

Residents along Albion Road between High Road and Lester Road have been provided with an information sheet informing them of this issue, advising them of the Transportation and Transit Committee meeting date in which the issue would be considered and describing the procedure to follow if they wish to support or oppose the banners.

 

An extended consultation outside of the immediate area is not considered necessary due to the absence of any complaints since the Raceway Slots opened.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

Annex A - Correspondence from the legal firm of Karam, Greenspon

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no financial implications for the City of Ottawa.  There are potential financial implications for the Rideau Carleton Raceway Holdings Limited if it is required to remove the banners.

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

The report’s recommendations will be implemented following Council approval.


ANNEX A

 


 

 

 


9 May 2002

 

To: Members of the Transportation Committee, Ottawa

 

I am writing to seek your support on an issue which is scheduled for the 15May02 meeting of the transportation committee, at which myself and councillor Diane Deans are planning to attend to participate in discussions.

 

This relates to the requested removal of objectionable advertising banners from the street lamp posts along Albion Rd. S. which have been erected without public consultation, and which are currently in place without a permit.

I ask that these be removed, and that permits of this nature be denied in the future as identified more particularly in the attached letter of  February 22nd to Brendan McGuinty.  Please see the colour photographs at the end of this file.

 

 I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you by telephone prior to the meeting should you have any further questions.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

J.W. Peters

4621 Albion Rd. S.

Ottawa, Ont.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
                                                            22 February 2002

City of Ottawa

110 Laurier Ave. W.

OTTAWA, Ontario

K1P 1J1

Attn:    Mr. Brendan McGuinty,

            Chief of Staff

 

Subject:            Removal of "SLOTS"advertising banners,  Albion Rd. S.

 

Dear Mr. McGuinty:

 

This is in followup to numerous letters, telephone calls and emails directed to Ms. Diane Deans and her staff over the past few months re the above captioned advertising items.  This objectionable material is currently in place on the subject roadway illegally in the absence of a permit.  I am asking that it be removed forthwith, and that subsequent permits for similar erections be denied.

 

For your background information, I am a long term resident of Albion Rd. S., where I maintain my primary residence on a formerly beautiful rural streetscape which traverses the Leitrim Wetlands;  the area is zoned farm residential, and I have no business interests here.  I am advised by Councillor Deans that current by-laws do not authorize the issuance of permits for this type of banner, and that an exception was made by the former City of Gloucester in this situation because when the Casino first opened there was a sense of urgency to permit the banners on a temporary basis to augment the opening festivities.

 

This "opening" period is long past and I wish to assert that it is now time to enforce the provisions of Ottawa's  Signs By-law.  Continuation of banners depicting "SLOTS" diminishes the surrounding property values, and does not blend appropriately with the pristine natural surroundings which are supposed to be protected by the Wetlands designation.  I have invested heavily in upgrading and beautifying my property and wish to assert that it is unsightly and unacceptable for this advertising material to remain.

 

Additionally, there was no opportunity for public comment or consultation of any kind prior to the installation of the subject banners, and I would like you to draw to the attention of the Mayor that this was inappropriate.  I ask for his support in precluding this type of unilateral, heavy handed approach with residents in Ottawa's  future developments.   May I have the mayor's comments in this regard and his assurance that public consultation will not be bypassed  please?

 

Would you kindly advise me of the next steps towards removal of this material at your earliest convenience, and if further information is required in the interim, I can be reached at (613) 943-3130.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

 

JWP:lk                                                              Jeffrey W. Peters

 

cc. Ms. Diane Deans