A plan to remove about 100 parking spots from Spencer Street in Wellington West in favour of new bike lanes has been tossed out.
Only hours before a public meeting was set to happen Tuesday, Councillor Jeff Leiper announced online the proposal was being scrapped due to a lack of support.
.@JLeiper ditches idea of adding bike lanes on Spencer St. Proposal would have meant the loss of nearly 100 parking spots. #OttNews https://t.co/aoIfPjaTsG
— Kristy Cameron (@CFRAKristy) April 25, 2017
" We’ve received in the vicinity of 160 emails after my team and I flyered the neighbourhood, and those have been around 55% opposed to proceeding, with an additional number in which we can discern no clear support," wrote Leiper. "Some of this opposition was sometimes on the basis of assertions with which I disagree, but much of it has resonated with me. Nearly all has been from residents of the area, or who cycle through it."
"On the basis of both the number of those opposed, as well as the arguments raised in many of those notes, I have determined that we cannot demonstrate to the City that the support among residents is high enough to effect this change."
Residents against the project who spoke with CTV said there had not been enough notice or consultation outside of a few postings in Leiper's community newsletter.
A town hall-style meeting had been set for Tuesday night to hear from both sides.
Leiper said he would still meet with people one-on-on at the Ottawa Mosque from 7 to 9, but it would not be in a town hall format.
With files from CTV Ottawa