HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter to Claridge Homes re Devonshire PS 21 March 2023March 21, 2023
Claridge Homes, Head Office
Bill Malhotra, President
505 Preston Street
Ottawa, ON K1S 4N7
info@claridge.com
Dear Mr. Malhotra,
I am writing to express my appreciation for your willingness to collaborate with the Devonshire
Community Public School Principal, the School Community, and other Ottawa-Carleton District
School Board (OCDSB) representatives and to work with you to take additional steps to ensure the
safety of students. Ongoing consultation and engagement with the school community are highly
valued and essential to ensuring we recognize the importance of working together to ensure the
safety and well-being of students, staff, and community members.
We understand that your project at the corner of Somerset Street and Breezehill Avenue is near
Devonshire Community Public School, and our interests will be connected for at least the next four
years, and possibly for several more years as part of another planned development project in the
same area. Establishing a viable traffic management plan for the current and future projects will be
critical. We appreciate that you have shared your plan with the school community and, as part of that
plan, you will ensure that trucks will not travel in front of the school on Breezehill Avenue. This will go
a long way in mitigating concerns and enhancing the safety of students and families.
We also appreciate your commitment to minimizing excessive noise during kindergarten lunch recess
between 11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. This is essential for providing a positive play environment for students
during unstructured playtime and supporting their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
The OCDSB values community partnerships and collaboration. We are grateful for your commitment
to implementing sound and physical barriers and to providing weekly updates on construction
activities to the school community. Transparency and communication are crucial for addressing
concerns arising during the construction project.
133 GREENBANK ROAD, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2H 6L3
Tel: 613-721-1820 Fax: 613-820-6968 24-Hour Automated Information Line 613-596-8222 Web Site:www.ocdsb.ca
We also would like to confirm the steps that Claridge Homes has agreed to take, including:
●paying for a crossing guard,
●closing off the sidewalk closest to the site,
●putting awning over the sidewalk to enhance safety, and
●having flag persons working whenever trucks are in motion.
We acknowledge and appreciate your willingness to contribute to beautifying the schoolyard after the
construction. Considering the anticipated lengthy construction period, which is projected to last for at
least four years, we recommend that you consider implementing additional strategies to
counterbalance the possible adverse effects of a large, albeit necessary, infill development project,
with impacts on the local community. Your careful and deliberate action can make a positive
difference.
Although we recognize the above-noted efforts, the OCDSB and the community remains concerned
about excessive noise during school entry and dismissal between 8:00-8:40 a.m. and 2:50-3:20 p.m.,
respectively. To minimize this risk, we kindly request that Claridge Homes take steps to reduce the
noise levels during these times and inform the school in advance if any construction activities pose a
safety risk to the students and families walking past the site. As over 300 students and their families
will be walking past the construction site each day, it is crucial to keep the school informed to ensure
their safety. The OCDSB is committed to working collaboratively with the school community and
Claridge Homes to address any concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.
We appreciate your willingness to work with us to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and families
during this construction project. Creating a safe and positive environment for our school community
will require a collective effort. We are grateful for your willingness to be part of this effort. The adage
says, "It takes a village to raise a child."
Sincerely,
Lyra Evans,
Chair of the Board
C.c.Andrea White, Principal, Devonshire P.S
Prince Duah, Superintendent of Instruction
Board of Trustees
Colin McSweeney, Public & Community Relations, Claridge Homes
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