Update: Mark MacKenzie addressing the rally:

The Coalition for a Sustainable Ottawa is holding a rally on May 12th to lobby city council to put an end to needless urban sprawl.

Tuesday, May 12 at 12:15 p.m. at the Human Rights Monument on Elgin (at Lisgar). The public is also welcome all day at City Hall as the committee considers Ottawa’s new Official Plan.

Urban sprawl is the one of the biggest problems facing our city. Expanding the Urban Boundary in Ottawa, and creating new developments over 850 new hectares of land outside established villages on the city’s periphery, as is being proposed, will damage Ottawa economically, socially and environmentally. Upward pressure on your property taxes will result if we enlarge the Urban Boundary. It costs the city $1,000 more every year to provide services and costly infrastructure to homes located outside the Greenbelt compared to homes inside the Greenbelt.

On May 12, we have an opportunity to influence City Councilors as they meet to determine the plan for the future of Ottawa. They are being lobbied intensely by developers who want to keep building new homes on the outskirts of town at our common expense. This despite the fact there is plenty of room to build, for densification and intensification inside the current Urban Boundary: our City is about half as dense as Montreal. The time has come to express the only position that is rational with a view to developing a sustainable, livable community: that there should be no more urban sprawl. Only if we freeze the urban boundary will we put less strain on the environment, on water usage, on roadways and on our property taxes.

Some might ask “Why should City Council even try to halt urban sprawl if the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) will simply overrule it in favour of the developers?” The OMB recently did this, allowing 1400 new homes near Manotick. Fortunately Premier Dalon McGuinty has stated his government will act and help the City control sprawl and grow in an environmentally sustainable way. Now is the time for him to show he’s serious. Let the Planning Committee resolve unanimously that the Ontario Government change the Provincial Policy Statement so that our City’s growth can be effectively managed and our planning process can become meaningful.

Come and let those representing us at City Hall know how you feel. There are many ways your voice can be heard: Attend the rally. Meet the Councillors; some will be in attendance. Sign the petition which will be available on May 12. Spend some time watching your representatives in action throughout the day. Write and call your own Councilor before May 12th.

Join us on Facebook: COALITION FOR A SUSTAINABLE OTTAWA - Rally Tuesday May 12, 2009 12:15pm at the Human Rights Monument

There is a smarter way to grow: HOLD THE LINE - NO MORE URBAN SPRAWL

For more information write to: Coalition4aSustainableOttawa@gmail.com