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April Newsletter 2018

Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
Most importantly, hearings resume Tues, Apr 3 at 10 am in Council Chambers, City Hall,  for the OMB case versus the proposed Capital Condo development at the old movie theatre on Princess.   For updates see Vision for Kingston Facebook page or contact the Frontenac Heritage Foundation at www.frontenacheritage.ca
Thanks so very much to the many community members who came last Wednesday evening to voice their concerns and to offer support.  So very much appreciated! 
More community members will be presenting this coming Wed evening, Apr 4, at 6:30, again in Council Chambers.  See you there!
 
In addition, here are the upcoming concerns for April:
1) 9 North Street Update (Stone building behind Rideaucrest)
2) Central Kingston Growth Strategy – Survey deadline Apr 6
3) Vacancy Tax Rebate and Reductions Programs – Survey deadline Apr 6
4) Caretakers of Belle Island Clean-Up, Honouring Indigenous Anestors, Sat, Apr 7
5) Better access to neighbourhood information- Coalition of Kingston Communities Public Meeting, Apr 10
6) Kingston’s Smart City Survey- deadline April 16
7) Do Elections Matter? – Coalition of Kingston Communities Event, Apr. 17
8) Earth Day Celebration, Belle Park, Apr 22
9) Jane’s Walks heads up – May 4-6

 
1) 9 North Street Update (Stone building behind Rideaucrest)
March 21, 2018 Report to Heritage Committee:
https://www.cityofkingston.ca/documents/10180/24255963/Heritage-Kingston_Meeting-03-2018_Report-18-016_9-North-Street.pdf/50d330ea-3fb0-4413-ace8-2389bd884c1e
Our major concern remains the space set aside for disability parking along the retaining wall in Doug Fluhrer Park to the north of the building.  Now that a disability ramp has been installed as part of the new K&P Trail, this parking does not seem necessary and it will interfere with enjoyment of the park by pedestrians and cyclists.

2) Central Kingston Growth Strategy
What: The City’s Planning Division has launched the Central Kingston Growth Strategy.  This strategy aims to create a policy and regulatory framework to guide infill and intensification in the central area of the City. A March open house featured a presentation and interactive stations with opportunities to share thoughts about neighbourhoods.  This is being followed by a survey.
Where: The study area for the Strategy includes the residential areas of central Kingston except for the areas covered by the North King’s Town Secondary Plan, the Kingston Provincial Campus Secondary Plan, the downtown core and the Princess Street corridor (including Williamsville Main Street).
As the southern boundary of North King’s Town is currently undecided, this Growth Strategy will have a bearing on the future of Queen St. – and therefore possibly the Capital development.
Survey:
https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/central-kingston-growth.
Deadline:  Survey deadline 4:30 pm Fri, Apr 6.
Background: www.CityofKingston.ca/CKStrategy.
Contact: Sukriti Agarwal – CKstrategy@cityofkingston.ca or sagarwal@cityofkingston.ca
 
3) Vacancy Tax Rebate and  Reduction Programs – Survey deadline  Fri, Apr 6
What: The vacant unit rebate program provides tax rebates to property owners who have eligible vacancies in commercial and industrial buildings. To receive a rebate, owners must apply and meet eligibility criteria before being awarded a rebate of 30 per cent (for vacant commercial space) or 35 per cent (for vacant industrial space).
In November 2016, the Province released its Fall Economic Statement offering municipalities more flexibility to tailor vacancy programs to reflect community needs and circumstances.
Each year, the City receives approximately 180 applications from property owners in the commercial and industrial property classes requesting compensation for vacancies of 90 or more consecutive days. The City’s 2018 operating budget includes $950,000 for the cost of the rebate program.
Options for consideration

      Keep the program as is
      Eliminate the program immediately
      Phase out the program over a number of years
      Modify the program
 
So if you want to give your two cents worth on this issue that a lot of people complain about, the survey is at https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/property-taxes/vacancy-tax-rebate
Deadline: Fri, Apr 6
 
4) Caretakers of Belle Island Clean-Up
What:  Spring Clean-Up – Honouring Indigenous Ancestors
When: Sat, Apr 7, noon,
Where: Belle Island
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HonourTheAncestors/
 
5) Better access to neighbourhood information- Coalition of Kingston Communities Public Meeting, – Tues, Apr 10
What:
Short presentation by Commissioner Lanie Hurdle about the city’s new web-based neighbourhood mapping app to make more information available to community members – followed by open discussion.  The intent is to consolidate information city-wide and by neighbourhood so that people can quickly look for things that are happening within their neighbourhoods.  For example, DASH applications, road construction etc. would be connected through this app. As it is not live yet, and still in the development phase, the city is reaching out to the community to get some input on the proposed application in order to make any necessary improvements.
Where: Memorial Hall, City Hall
When: Tues, Apr 10, 5 pm.
Following the presentation and discussion will be a regular board meeting of CKC to discuss topics such as the upcoming elections, OMB updates etc.  All welcome.
6) Kingston’s Smart Cities Strategy – Using technology to better connect residents with the city:
What:   Survey
Where: Online at GetInvolved.cityofkingston.ca
“We want to develop technology to build a smart, 21st century city in a way that is meaningful and makes sense for the people who live here,” says Craig Desjardins, director of strategy, innovation & partnerships.  As examples of the kinds of innovations the City is seeking, smart local successes like the introduction of the HONK mobile app can be used to help people pay for parking from their smartphones, or Utilities Kingston’s Sewer Overflow Map, which people can consult ahead of deciding where to swim or boat.  Hoping for entry into Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge. Through the Smart Cities Challenge, the City could receive an investment of $10 million to further develop its Smart Kingston Strategy and implement innovations.
Deadline: 4:30 pm Mon, Apr 16.
The City’s application for the Smart Cities Challenge will be submitted April 24.
More Info: <http://www.CityofKingston.ca/Projects>.
Contact: Sukriti Agarwal –  CKstrategy@cityofkingston.ca
More on the Smart Cities Challenge:  <http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cities-villes-eng.html>

7) Do Elections Matter? – Coalition of Kingston Communities Event, Apr. 17
What:  Public Meeting with special guest Jonathan Rose, Assoc. Prof, Political Studies, Queen’s Univ. – leading expert on elections and electoral reform.
Where: Isabel Turner Library
When:  Tues, Apr 16, 6 pm.
All welcome.
 

8) Earth Day Celebration, Belle Park, Apr 22
Should be amazing! 
Hosted by National Indigenous People’s Day, Ollin and Earth Day Kingston
https://www.facebook.com/events/1953242678329226/
When:  Sunday, April 22, 1-4
Where:  Belle Park, 731 Montreal St. Kingston
 
9) Jane’s Walks heads up, May 4-6 Reserve the weekend!
https://janeswalk.org/city-organizer-resources/
Of special interest for Inner Harbourites – Roger Healey will be doing a K&P Bicycle Tour starting at noon on Sat. May 5 followed by late lunch at the Legion and Mary Farrar will follow at 4 pm with an Inner Harbour Heritage Tour – on foot.  A great list of tours on the web page.  Have a look.

As always – truly appreciate your interest.
Cheers,
Mary Farrar, President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour