Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
First of all thanks so much to Hilbert Buist for allowing us to use some of his amazing photographs in our news updates. His pic in last month’s update of the channel between Belle Park and Belle Island was really useful and informative. Thanks so much Hilbert. This month’s pic is another beauty. Feeding sparrows with home grown sunflower seeds. Thanks so much Alicia Peltsch. If any you are also photographers and would like to submit a recent photo for inclusion, please do so! So many wonderful people out there taking so many totally super pics.
1) Three Critical North King’s Town Public Meetings Oct 3
2) Tannery Update: Science vs. Engineering
3) SNC Lavalin Engineering in the Inner Harbour
4) HATCHLINGS in the park!
5) Follow-up to Persian Dance at our Wheelchair Rally Sept 30
6) Belle Park update
7) Community Benefits? Affordable Housing?
8) Thanksgiving ride on the K&P, Sunday, Oct 7
9) Video about turtle rescue at Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
10) AGM – Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour, Tues, Nov 24, 7 pm
11) Community Notice: Dia de los Muertos Kingston
1) Three Critical North King’s Town Public Meetings Oct 3
These Open Houses are extremely important! It would be SO appreciated if you would come and voice your opinions about the road and trail suggestions as well as land use – e.g. housing, commercial, industrial as well as heritage issues. We are still very much concerned about road issues related to a potential Wellington St. Extension.
Session 1: Talking Circle
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Kingston Community Health Centre, 263 Weller Avenue
Purpose: Review of work to date and a discussion on key issues in NKT, including: active transportation, housing supply and affordability, employment opportunities, amenities and services, and conserving and protecting natural areas.
Format: The format of the session is geared towards involving members of the local indigenous community, but everyone is welcome to attend.
Session 2: Open House & Workshop
Time: 2:00- 4:30 p.m.
Location: Royal Canadian Legion, Brach 560, 734 Montreal Street
Purpose: The NKT project team will present the initial findings from the draft cultural heritage report, the draft transportation report, and the draft land use and built form policies.
Format: 2:00 p.m. Open House, 2:30 p.m. Presentation, 3:00 p.m. Workshop, discussion & feedback
Session 3: Open House & Workshop
Time: 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Royal Canadian Legion, Brach 560, 734 Montreal Street
Purpose: The NKT project team will present the initial findings from the draft cultural heritage report, the draft transportation report, and the draft land use and built form policies.
Format: 6:00 p.m. Open House. 6:30 p.m. Presentation, 7:00 p.m. Workshop, discussion & feedback
NOTE: The presentation and display panels will be posted online the day after the event, with time provided for review and comments.
2) Tannery Update: Science vs. Engineering
Last August, Josh Berry of IBI (Engineering company hired by Jay Patry Inc) arranged a Tannery walk-through for me, Kenny Ruelland (local snake and turtle expert) and Peter Hodson (retired scientist who has worked on pollutants in the Tannery) along with Rob Snetsinger (author of the initial Ecological Impact Statement on the Tannery) and Rob’s daughter Meghan who will be taking over his environmental business. Most informative. And certainly interesting to meet both Rob and Meghan and Josh. Of course the Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour are extremely concerned about potential destruction of turtle habitat – particularly as the south-eastern shoreline of the Tannery is a major turtle basking site in the early spring. It is true that the site has many invasive species and oddly positioned areas of marsh and dry land. Although it would be a challenge for development, we most certainly oppose cutting down every tree, covering the whole area with asphalt or concrete and the minimal 30 metre setback from the water that is legislated provincially. We would prefer to see high rises near to Rideau St. (perhaps some sort of podium development emulating the old Tannery and chimney?) and leaving half of the site as green space to protect the turtle habitat but also to provide a greater expanse of waterfront green space for all Kingstonians. It also needs to be remembered that this shoreline is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. At this point, I have not yet looked into UNESCO’s shoreline requirements but they could be considerable. We feel most grateful that both the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority and Parks Canada have expressed concerns about the development proposal in its current form. Their letters and other information about the current Tannery proposal are available for the public on the city’s webpage: https://apps.cityofkingston.
Science vs. Engineering: Some clean-up advocates (e.g. engineers from the Environmental Sciences Group at RMC) think that dredging the silt that sits on clay in the water both north and east of the Tannery site would be the preferred solution to getting rid of the heavy metal contaminants. However, a number of Queen’s University scientists disagree. They have done research on Tannery heavy metal pollution and suggest (certainly in the case of Nathan Manion’s research on Mercury) that the heavy metal combines with acid and then sinks. This process results in a gradual build-up of silt over the years where the worst contamination becomes buried. In this way, it is certainly possible that the silt closer to the surface is actually cleaner and can become suitable for turtle hibernation. Dredging can cause two additional problems: 1) where is that contaminated soil to be dumped?, and 2) disturbing the silt in this way would stir up the heavy metals that are currently buried causing more damage to the environment. Perhaps it is best just to leave Nature to heal itself?
3) SNC Lavalin Engineering in the Inner Harbour
Last spring I was contacted by a junior engineer at SNC Lavalin to provide her with some information about old shorelines. We spent a lovely afternoon strolling along the shoreline in Doug Fluhrer Park, and up to, and along the Tannery shoreline, then along the south shores of Belle Park and Belle Island, followed by a visit to Kingston Marina and the Causeway. SNC Lavalin has been hired by Parks Canada (responsible for the Rideau Waterway) and Transport Canada (most probably responsible for the water lot at the Tannery shoreline) to conduct a year-long study of pollutants, water and weather. The plan was to put four black boxes under the water along the shorelines on both sides of the river and a weather station on the Causeway to try and determine relationships between weather patterns and pollutant flows. Ongoing. More anon…..
4) HATCHLINGS in the park!
Video of our first recorded 2018 hatchlings in Doug Fluhrer Park! (LINK)
Also, if you haven’t already, please like our Facebook page – new as of this season! (LINK)
As many of you know, Lesley Rudy has been conducting a study of relationships between nest temperature and gestation time. The nest covers that remain in the park are part of her study. She checks them every morning and evening. If you are out and about in the park and see any activity do get in touch with her at: lesley_rudy@hotmail.com. The covers will be removed after the turtles have hatched. It is actually possible that some of the hatchlings may overwinter underground. To be determined….
5) Follow-up to Persian Dance at our Wheelchair Rally Sept 30
Wonderful free performance as part of Culture Days in Ottawa – Sun, Sept 30 at 5 pm. (LINK TO FACEBOOK EVENT)
Best wishes all around for these very generous performers.
6) Belle Park update
FYI: The following was received from Commissioner Lanie Hurdle’s office:
“Please be advised that the City will be proceeding with grass cutting at Belle Park in the coming weeks to address the issue of invasive species at the park. This operation will not impact the progress of the Master Plan and City staff will continue to work with community members to develop a master plan that can be considered by Council.”
7) Community Benefits? Affordable Housing?
So many Kingstonians are concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the city. Here is an opportunity to voice some of your concerns:
KINGSTON, ONT./Sept. 26, 2018 – The City of Kingston is seeking input on its final draft of the Community Benefit Guideline.
“Under Section 37 of the Planning Act municipalities in Ontario can require the provision of facilities, services or other matters, otherwise known as ‘community benefits,’ in exchange for the approval of increases in the height and/or density of a development. The Community Benefit Guideline provides a framework for the negotiation of community benefits, sought through Section 37 of the Act,” says Greg Newman, manager, policy planning.
Community benefits sought through a Section 37 negotiation can take the form of affordable housing units, improvements to public spaces, contributions toward City facilities and other items that benefit the community. Once finalized, these guidelines will help the City evaluate applications to build projects that surpass the height and/or density provision of the Zoning Bylaw and negotiate appropriate Community Benefits.
Find the final draft and offer your input until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at www.CityofKingston.ca/
8) Thanksgiving ride on the K&P, Sunday, Oct 7
Organized by wellingtonx. All welcome!
Sunday October 7, starting at 12 noon.
Departure point: Douglas Fluhrer Park (south end)
Always meant to ride the trail from Fluhrer Park north? Never gotten around to it? Not quite known what the route is? Wanted company? Come and experience the trail with us. We’ll enjoy the ride and chat about the history and future of the area, and also plants and animals and air and how great it feels to ride a bike — it’s a Thanksgiving activity for the whole family. You can turn around at any point but we’ll plan on riding north for 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace and then retracing our tracks. Bring water, any ordinary old bike (it’s flat!), and clothing appropriate for the weather. We’ll bring snacks. Meet at the bottom of North Street in Fluhrer Park.
RSVP on the facebook event here: (LINK)
9) Video: Turtle Rescue at the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
(LINK TO VIDEO)
10) AGM – Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour, Tues, Nov 24, 7 pm
Mark it on your calendars!
You are all most cordially invited to attend this friendly yearly get-together to share info and concerns.
Frontenac Village Common Room. 7 pm More anon…..
11) Community Notice: Dia de los Muertos Kingston
As many of you know Yessica Rivera Belsham has been a dedicated volunteer ans supporter of our Inner Harbour and Turtle events. For those of you who support her other work in the community, we are including a note about her upcoming 4th Annual Dia de los Muertos Community Celebration. Featuring Opening Ceremony, Honouring Ancestors, Community Altar, Speakers, Poets, Silent Auction, International Performances, Workshops, Displays, and much more! All events are fundraisers in support of future Día de los Muertos Kingston events!
Day 1: November 2nd – 11-4 Cross Cultural End-of-Life Symposium (LINK)
Day 2: November 3rd – 11-4 Community Celebration of Life (LINK)
Day 2: November 3rd – 8PM Dance Party at the Grad Club: Tumbao! three Montreal DJs playing salsa, and other afro/latin classics all night! (LINK)
So that’s a wrap for now
Cheers,
Mary Farrar, President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbou