On Friday, August 28, the construction crew started building the berm according to the current plan. We are told that this is only to "store soil until a final decision on the berm design has been reached". However, the crew has done an excellent job of showing how the proposed berm will look.
Here is the completed berm in profile:
This berm is 5 feet high and roughly 15 to 20 feet wide.
This is how the berm looks when viewed from the property line - you can see how close it comes and leaves no opportunity for passive use of the land.
This is a view from a backyard into the berm - nice huh? Imagine the run off from this berm into the back yard? Furthermore, since the main living space is on the second floor, this berm does not create privacy at higher elevations.
As an alternative, here is the border of trees and shrubs behind 742, 744, 746, 748 Glengarry.
This demonstrates how we can create privacy and allow passive use of the space.
Here is a photo of the same trees from where the sidewalk will be.
This demonstrates that with creative use of trees and shrubs we can accommodate the needs of the neighbourhood, public use of the sidewalk and maintain passive use of the space. With cut-ins spaced every 500 feet or so, we can also ensure access to the rear. This alternative also alleviates run-off and drainage and water management is enhanced.
Feel free to leave your comments.
Good afternoon: My name is Garnet and I live at 816 Glengarry Blvd. I am not impressed by the current berm and where the City has put it. I cannot use my front bedroom during the day as the road noise is too much. The back bedrooms will become the same as this berm will not remove "white" noise or the singing of tires. In addition, such a berm makes many of the homes' back yard look like a prison. They encroach on the property line in such a way very little green is left, very little view that we had will be left.
ReplyDeleteGWFraser, 816 Glengarry Blvd My comment involves the environmental conditions of the track area where Courtaulds hauled cars for years. Materials such as cs2, caustic soda, salt, and many other environmentally unfriendly materials were used by Courtaulds Canada. Has an environmental study been done to ensure the track area does not require decontamination?
ReplyDeleteWe live at 760 Glengarry Blvd and unfortunately we were not able to attend the Tuesday night meeting due to moving our oldest daughter to her new digs at OfU. We due have some concerns. Anyone know how much our backyards will flood during the January thaw and springtime? I know in the back of our house there is always one huge pond...Will my taxes go up to help pay for something that will be of no use to us? Also, now that the traffic has been split between the 2 streets...it leaves more room for the speeders to go even faster.
ReplyDeleteWe have gotten agreement not to do the berm as originally designed. There will now by contours and free space. The issue of water management was brought up and will be dealt with as part of the plan. Taxes are linked to the overall city budget so this project will not directly impact your taxes. Speed issues were also discussed and it will have to be monitored to see what the impact of the road will be.
ReplyDeleteFrancis Loughheed