By the Citizen Coalition for Compassionate and Safe Communities communications team
One year ago our community was informed of a development application from the Shepherds of Good Hope (SGH) to construct an eight-storey building at 216 Murray Street, including six storeys of rooms for vulnerable women.
A group of Lowertown citizens thought that the proposed site of the development, which many in the community believe is at the epicentre of crime, violence and despair in the community, was unthinkable. They feel that this location is an unfit place for anyone hoping to start a new life, let alone vulnerable women who would be exposed to constant danger.
Others in the community were concerned that allowing the project to apparently violate so many important parts of the City of Ottawa Official Plan, the Provincial Policy Statement and the Ontario Heritage Act posed a threat to the future of all of Lowertown.
Many of those concerned — Lowertown leaders with experience in politics, social work, housing, media, community organization and business owners — came together as the Citizen Coalition for Compassionate and Safe Communities (CCCSC).
Despite 33 formal objections based on the many ways the project contravenes the City of Ottawa Official Plan, the Provincial Policy Statement and the Ontario Heritage Act, and the concerns for safety noted above, the project was approved by the City Planning Committee.
After consideration, the CCCSC decided to file an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) to stop the development. In July 2021, the CCCSC hired a Toronto lawyer, Eric Gillespie, to file an appeal with the OLT.
Update
The first formal hearing before the OLT was held on January 12, 2022. A case-management conference was called to deal with motions from the City and the SGH legal team and the fact that the City and SGH legal team submitted motions that did not allow enough time for the CCCSC lawyer (Mr. Gillespie) to properly review and respond. Creating time-consuming delays and stretching out the procedure with late motions, can be a strategy used to discourage community groups from contesting decisions by raising the legal fees of an appeal. This appears to be a tactic chosen by the City and SGH to attempt to avoid having the CCCSC case being heard at the OLT. However, at the hearing, Mr. Gillespie requested an adjournment to allow for a proper review of the late filings. The request was granted.
This was not the final tribunal hearing. It was a hearing to determine whether or how to proceed with the substance of the appeal. The decision on these motions will be based on the lawyers’ written submissions, which were due on January 21st. The decision of the OLT as to whether the case will proceed and the merits of the case to be argued is expected soon.
Community support has been substantial and the CCCSC is grateful for the generosity of donors. However, the more than $12,000 already raised is being used up very fast and there will be more expenses once the case proceeds on its merits.
This makes fundraising an urgent priority for theCCCSC which has a GoFundMe site to accept donations.
Donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-an-unsafe-development-in-lowertown-ottawa
or by email transfer to: CCCSC@storm.ca
The CCCSC has developed a webpage to share its concerns along with a logo to identify or brand the group. https://compassionate-safe-communities-ottawa.mailchimpsites.com