City of Ottawa Councilors Steve Blais, Bob Monette, Rainer Bloess and Tim Tierney
Mayor Jim Watson
MPP Grant Crack, MPP Phil McNeely and Minister Bob Chiarelli
Date: June 14, 2012
Greetings!
We urge the City of Ottawa and the Province of Ontario to ensure that land north and east of the Cardinal Creek Karst in Orleans Ontario (Cardinal Creek neighbourhood) be protected from development and used as educational lands for future generations. We know that this protection was obtained for the Eramosa Karst in Hamilton Ontario and we are seeking your support to do the same in Ottawa.
What is a Karst? A karst is a distinctive topography in which the landscape is largely shaped by the dissolving action of water on carbonate bedrock (usually limestone, dolomite, or marble). This geological process, occurring over many thousands of years, results in unusual surface and subsurface features ranging from sinkholes, vertical shafts, disappearing streams, waterfalls and springs, to complex underground drainage systems and caves.
As you know, in 2009 the Province designated the southern portion of the Cardinal Creek karst as an Earth Sciences Area of Natural Scientific Interest (ANSI) (south of Watters Road). The Province would not designate private lands north of Watters Road although they are part of the karst, they are hazard lands and designated as Urban Natural Feature in the karst valley. We were told private lands could not be designated by the Province.
Now is the time for the City of Ottawa to show its leadership. The Cardinal Creek Community Association would like your support to protect the entire karst (384 metres needs to designated as an Earth Sciences ANSI in the Ottawa Official Plan and by the Province) and to designate the surrounding lands as parkland so that this treasure can be protected and preserved for this and future generations. Your assistance in protecting this land and the land east of the karst is critical. We must not allow any housing construction to take place in close proximity to the karst. FYI — a building permit was issued within 75 metres of the north portion of the karst in June (a few short weeks ago). Is this home building on the karst ? How will it impact the karst? Is this in the public interest to build so close to the karst? What next?
This area is under intense pressure as a result of Official Plan Amendment 76 and the forthcoming development of 4,800 homes in Cardinal Village. It is only a matter of time that this urban development pressure will further spill over to the edges of the karst and destroy or significantly alter this rare and unique feature in the City of Ottawa and Eastern Ontario.
I join with many residents of the area and local community associations in requesting that these lands be preserved. It is essential that the building of houses or any other type of development not be allowed in this area so that the feeder streams that flow into the Cardinal Creek Karst can be better protected. As an early proponent of the original decision by the Province, we strongly believe that designating the entire Cardinal Creek karst and saving the adjacent land from development is in the long-term public interest.
The public interest must triumph over private gain or a short-term increase in government coffers.
We would kindly request your written support on this matter to protect the Cardinal Creek karst gem for years to come. Prompt action is now required.
Yours truly,
Sean Crossan
President, Cardinal Creek Community Association
www.cardinalcreek.org
