Latest news with #OttawaBylaw
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Kanata couple told to rip out $40K landscaping over bylaw violation
Ottawa Bylaw is forcing a Kanata couple to rip up their nearly $40,000 landscaping project after a neighbour's complaint. CTV's Katie Griffin reports. A Kanata couple's new landscaping project meant to beautify their property and make it more accessible has turned into a massive headache. After a complaint from a neighbour, the city now says most of it has to go. 'Just about everybody else in the neighbourhood loves it,' said homeowner Dean Kline. 'They just come by and they go for walks and they say 'wow, what a beautiful job you've done.' So, it's disappointing, we put a lot of money into this.' Kline and his wife Pam spent nearly $40,000 to re-do their front lawn, which now includes interlock, river rock, stepping stones and gardens. The issues arose because the landscaping was done on the City of Ottawa's right of way. 'Apparently you can't have any stonework at all,' said Pam Kline. 'Has to be dirt or grass or mulch. That's the only thing allowed, so if you look around, I can't even imagine how many homes in my own neighbourhood, let alone the city, would be in hardcore violation.' The Klines A Kanata couple has been told they have to rip out some of their nearly $40,000 landscaping project over a bylaw violation. (Katie Griffin/CTV News Ottawa) The couple was issued a 'notice of violation' that stated they had until Sept. 30 to rip it out or the city would do it for them and send a bill. 'The bylaw prohibits hardscape on the city's right of way as it interferes with drainage, snow removal and can impact other city services,' Roger Chapman, the director of By-law and Regulatory Services, said in a statement. 'Keeping the right of way clear of obstruction helps ensure city services can be delivered to residents, and that staff can work safely and effectively.' The city said information about work allowed within its right of way is available on its website or by calling 3-1-1. Interlock near the garage has also been cited as an issue. 'That beautiful circle which inspired us is going to get chopped up because there's a width restriction that we've also just learned about called private right of way,' said Pam Kline. The Klines Part of this interlock circle by the garage is also going to have to be dug up. (Katie Griffin/CTV News Ottawa) Dozens of neighbours have signed letters of support for the Klines. 'I think it's time to revisit the rules,' said neighbour David Haggarty. 'Drive around you'll see everybody, all sorts of people have done it.' Dean Kline says working with the city to figure out next steps has been a challenge. 'It's like you need a lawyer to get through all this paperwork and the technical parts they want you to cover, which is not for the average person,' he said. 'To the different departments you have to submit all this information and none of them want to see the whole thing. They just want to see their little part of it… and it's hard to get somebody to give us that full overview of what we have to do.' The Klines said they hope to get an extension and want city bylaws to be clearer. 'I would like them to educate the contractors and all the taxpayers so that they know how to proceed when they start this,' Dean Kline said. 'We thought we had done that but apparently we didn't, and it looks like we're going to have to pay the price.'
CTV News
05-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Richmond Road businesses say LRT construction is driving customers away
Businesses along Richmond Road say construction on the western extension of Ottawa's LRT is driving customers away and some fear they won't survive until the work is done. The stretch of Richmond Road has been under construction for more than a year for Stage 2 of the LRT. With part of Woodroffe Avenue also closed since late July, owners say things have gone from bad to worse. Alaa Kiki, owner of Kiki Barber Shop, says he's been trying to direct customers to his shop, but the signs are getting taken down by Ottawa Bylaw. Richmond Road construction Construction signs and fences on Richmond Road. Aug. 5, 2025. (Katelyn Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) 'I put one sign at the bottom of Woodroffe just to let people know we are still alive, and they removed it. They said, 'No, you're not allowed, next time we're going to give you a fine,'' Kiki said. Kiki told CTV News Ottawa last summer that sales were down as much as 80 per cent after construction began. Now, he says it's worse, despite spending more than $2,500 a month on online advertising. 'I'm trying to survive but there are no clients,' he said. 'I will never survive the business…I'm facing a very bad situation.' Customers say detours and confusing signage is making it difficult to navigate their way to the business. 'I had to go all around but I didn't even know where to go, so I wasn't sure if I would find my way here,' said one client. Since part of Woodroffe Avenue closed at the end of July, a local pharmacy says it's been dealing with a massive mound of dirt outside its front window for weeks. Richmond Road construction A pile of rubble from construction sits outside of St. Mary Richmond IDA Pharmacy. Aug. 5, 2025. (Katelyn Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) 'It's definitely affected our business,' said Hany Armanuos, owner of St. Mary Richmond IDA Pharmacy. 'We were hoping for better communication, but we haven't actually received any for upcoming construction.' Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh says the city can't directly compensate businesses, but the contractor was supposed to help with advertising. 'I don't know what happened but I'm finding it very frustrating myself because I'm told that they were going to do something,' said Kavanagh. 'I'm going to request that we do look into what can be done in terms of other things that would help businesses.' Woodroffe Avenue is expected to reopen in October, and Richmond Road early next year. But Kiki says that may be too late. 'This month I have the rent, but next month I swear I don't have it so how can I survive,' he said. In a statement Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services tells CTV News it removed three signs on Thursday because they violated the city's sign policy, saying in part: 'By-law and Regulatory Services (BLRS) understands that ongoing construction on Richmond Road is challenging for nearby businesses, and that visibility and access are important during this time. On July 31, BLRS removed three signs from Sherbourne Road between Saville Row and Keenan Avenue, as they were in contravention of the Signs on City Roads By-law (By-law No. 2003-520), which prohibits sign placement on the City's right of way. Two of the signs belonged to a business on Richmond Road, and a third sign belonged to a business not located in the area. The signs removed were ground-mounted signs, and did not provide directional information to assist customers in accessing businesses affected by the construction.' Meanwhile, the city tells CTV News it is 'actively working with the contractor to expedite the removal of the temporary stockpile which is anticipated to begin once the materials have been tested and categorized for disposal.' Going on to say, 'The City of Ottawa is committed to supporting impacted residents and businesses as we extend the O-Train system farther west to Algonquin College and Moodie Drive. We understand that the revitalization work on Richmond Road can be disruptive, and we are committed to keeping the community informed.'
CBC
22-06-2025
- CBC
Parking complaints up, noise calls down, annual bylaw report shows
Parking complaints made up the bulk of calls to Ottawa bylaw officers in 2024, rising for at least the fourth straight year, new statistics show. The city's bylaw department got 43,380 requests for parking enforcement last year, according to the annual report being presented Monday to the emergency preparedness and protective services committee. That's about 2,000 more calls than in 2023. It's also nearly 13,000 more calls than in 2020, although that was the year the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. The overall number of bylaw requests in 2024 stayed relatively steady, with officers handling just under 98,500 calls — a slight drop of 1.5 per cent from the year before, the report notes. Parking complaints made up 43 per cent of all service requests. The other top three requests focused on property standards and zoning enforcement (16 per cent), animal care and control issues (14 per cent) and noise concerns (10 per cent). "They are a very busy department," said River ward Coun. Riley Brockington, the chair of the committee. "Only 222 people work in bylaw, but they've received just under 100,000 calls." Noise complaints down Noise complaints were down for the fourth straight year, according to the report, falling from north of 12,000 in 2020 to just shy of 9,800 last year. The gradual decline "can likely be attributed to residents spending more time away from home as they return to office following the pandemic," the report notes. There was a much steeper drop-off, however, in the number of pets either getting spayed or neutered or having microchips implanted at the city-run clinic. Both totals dropped by more than half in 2024, in part due to the clinic lacking a permanent full-time veterinary surgeon amid a wider industry-wide vet shortage, the report notes. Other tidbits from the annual report: Illegal dumping calls were up 43 per cent in 2024, the same year a new three-item limit for curbside garbage came into effect. The report credits the higher call volumes to better public awareness. About 300 illegal short-term rental listings in Ottawa were taken down. The city's new on-demand accessible taxi program, a pilot project launched last spring, has led to a 21 per cent monthly rise in the number of people taking accessible cabs. More than 30 enforcement actions were taken as part of another pilot project aimed at addressing problematic properties in Rideau-Vanier and Somerset wards. Top priority calls — like those concerning dog attacks, a lack of heat or a dangerous tree — were responded to within 24 hours almost 99 per cent of the time, the report said. For several years, Ottawa's bylaw department has also been saddled with a higher per-officer call volume than what's been seen in other mid-to-large-sized Ontario cities like Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor. But that number dropped sharply in 2024, with Brockington also noting the city has since hired "about a dozen" more bylaw officers. "We heard that there were pressures in bylaw," he said. "And in 2025, city council made a good investment to address some of that work." Brockington also said he would be introducing a motion Monday to create a "bylaw personnel appreciation day," similar to days that already exist for Ottawa police officers and firefighters.
CTV News
18-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa Bylaw officers help ducklings cross busy highway
Ducklings are seen in an animal carrier. (Ottawa Bylaw/X) Getting across Highway 174 isn't easy for people, let alone baby ducks. Ottawa Bylaw Services says Ottawa police called for help a family of ducks trying to cross the busy highway Monday night. The mother duck and her seven ducklings were near Trim Road. While mom was able to waddle off without incident, the babies needed a bit of help, and Ottawa Bylaw crews gathered them up and dropped them off at Petrie Island. 'We're confident they'll reunite soon,' Ottawa Bylaw said in a post on social media. 'The little ones looked healthy and old enough to thrive on their own if needed,' Ottawa Bylaw added. 'A big thanks to everyone who helped keep them safe!' Drivers are advised not to stop to help animals on busy highways.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Turning down the volume. Ottawa Bylaw Services receives fewest noise complaints in 8 years
The sign outside City Hall in Ottawa (CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa residents appeared to be turning down the volume last year, as Bylaw Services received the fewest noise complaints in eight years. The Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services 2024 annual report shows the city received 9,789 noise-related complaints in 2024, down from 11,039 in 2023 and 12,339 in 2020. 'The decrease in noise-related service requests can likely be attributed to residents spending more time away from home as they return to the office following the pandemic,' staff said in a report for the emergency preparedness and protective services committee. The 9,789 noise-related complaints in 2024 are the fewest noise complaints since 2016, when 9,717 noise-related complaints were filed to Bylaw Services. Bylaw Services officers responded to more than 55,107 service requests in 2024, including the 9,789 requests for noise. There were 13,385 requests for animal care and control, 2,681 requests for sick/injured animals and 18,245 requests for property standards and zoning enforcement. The report says there were 496 service requests in relation to vacant properties last year, with 55 charges issued for various infractions. 'Their work resulted in the issuance of 247 permits, representing over 500 addresses, including subdivisions slated for future development,' staff said in the report. 'Over 55 charges were issued under various applicable regulations and more than 80 enforcement actions were taken, including Court Summonses, Notices of Violation, Property Standards Orders and contracting out of required work. Illegal dumping Bylaw Services responded to 576 service requests for illegal dumping, up 43 per cent over 2023. 'This increase is likely attributed to ongoing city-wide public education and the creation of a new online reporting mechanism arising from Council approval and subsequent implementation of Public Works' Curbside Waste Diversion Policy, including the three-item limit which took effect in Fall 2024,' staff said in the report. 'Bylaw and Regulatory Services will continue to monitor the annual service requests related to illegal dumping and monitor year over year trends.'
