Larry Robinson Arena renovation and expansion
Community information session
Monday April 29, 2024
7:00 pm
Community Hall (second floor), 2785 8th Line Road, Metcalfe
Councillor Darouze’s Office along with the City of Ottawa’s Recreational, Cultural and Facility Planning Department would like to get your thoughts on the renovation and expansion of the Larry Robinson Arena located at 2785 8th Line Road in the Metcalfe community. Please join us in person on Monday April 29, 2024 at 7 pm for an evening of discussion. The meeting will be held in the Community Hall located on the second floor of the arena. Parking is available on site.
Community Information Session
Summary of discussion
Comments
- The old Public Library land across the street or re-located tennis courts once demolished could be used for parking.
- The tennis courts could be removed and relocated to another park. This would add space for additional parking.
- One tennis court could be kept and the other replaced by a basketball court.
- There will be a pinch point at the north-east of the arena addition where access to the fairground is needed for trailers.
Comments / Answers
- The proposed parking spaces are too small. Many arena users drive larger vehicles:
Answer:
The parking lot will be reconfigured to allow larger vehicles.
- The walk to reach the ice will be long and could be conducive to conflicts. Could there be a player’s access in the middle?
Answer:
A player’s gate will be added on the east of the ice surface.
- Will there be a reduction in the number of the existing storage rooms?
Answer:
The number of storage rooms will not be reduced.
- Will the elevator be renewed?
Answer:
The renewal of the elevator is a separate project. Funding to renew the elevator may align with this project.
- Was the Junior C team considered?
Answer:
Yes, the Junior C team participated in the stakeholder meeting and requested for an additional dressing room.
- The back counters of the canteen were changed a few years ago, but the front counters also need changing. Is the storage room taking space away from the canteen?
Answer:
The canteen will not be altered. The storage room area was gained by the realignment of the washrooms. It is noted that the counters need replacing.
- Will the addition be designed/constructed to structurally support a future second floor addition? What type of roof will it have?
Answer:
The addition has not been designed to structurally support a second floor. It has been designed within the current budget. The addition will have a flat roof, but the team is looking at different possibilities to screen the equipment that needs to be on the roof.
- Is there a rendering of the addition? From the northwest corner?
Answer:
A rendering will be posted to Engage Ottawa when available/prepared.
- Does the project require a full facility closure?
Answer:
Staff will be looking at the timelines based on facility usage to limit impact. Given the project involves replacing the septic system, hydro service, etc. the facility will most likely need to be closed for a period. Temporary dressing rooms / washrooms will be explored if the budget allows.
- Works should start in March of 2025 instead of summer so that only one hockey season be lost.
Answer:
The Blackburn Hamlet arena project had a similar timeline of 18 months.
- Ice time will need to be allocated elsewhere. Ice time is limited. Will this be the only arena closed during that time? Has the City considered using private arenas to offset the lost ice-time? Ice-time allocation overall needs to be looked at as it impacts everyone.
Answer:
The City tries to minimize impact by shifting clients to nearby facilities. There will be an impact.
- Shifting users to nearby facilities works in the suburban and urban areas where those facilities are a couple of minutes away. It takes much longer to get to Fred Barrett or Osgoode.
Answer:
The City recognizes the distances involved, but those are the options we have to re-allocate in the rural areas.
Comment
- Local school teams cannot afford or find buses to transport them to other arenas for practices/games. Public transit can be used in suburban/urban areas but that is not the case in the rural area.
Comment / Answer
- Is there an overall City ice strategy that looks at bringing new rinks?
Answer:
The City does not have such strategy.
Comment
- The Junior C team is looking to become a Junior B team but is limited by the size of the rink. Why is there no upgrade to the rink size? A new facility sized for today’s users is needed.
Comments / Answers
- It would be preferable to spend money on a new facility, outside of the village, that would provide community space for everyone (public skating, schools, community groups).
Answer:
Based on recent projects a new facility would represent 20+ million. The provincial grant is for an addition to existing. More can be done down the road as funding becomes available.
- When will we have firmer dates for construction?
Answer:
Firmer dates will be known as the design process advances.
- A lot of money is being spent on accessibility.
Answer:
Every project the city undertakes must be accessible and inclusive for all. Change room standards have changed. The City is following Hockey Canada’s guidelines. The current dressing rooms were 300 square feet, the new dressing rooms will be 700 square feet, and the new standard is 600 square feet. Private, locking showers and toilets must be provided in dressing rooms and in the alternate dressing rooms. The hallway to the dressing rooms is also wide which will aid those using the storage rooms (under the bleachers) that will now be accessed from the hallway (previously accessed from outside the building).
- Will storage rooms need to be emptied?
Answer:
The users will be informed if they need to move.
- Will the storage room be accessible when there is no staff?
Answer:
An agreement can be entered, and key provided.
- Will the parking lot / ice surface / concrete slab be open/available during construction? The current schedule will affect two annual fairs. The community uses the facility and parking lot daily.
Answer:
Staff will look to see what can be done to limit the impact of the project, but as the services (septic, hydro) are being replaced, there will be times when the facility won’t be available. The possibility of relocating the services first will be considered. It must be noted that there is a definite end date to be met due to the provincial funding source.
- Will the second floor be accessible during construction?
Answer:
The construction works will be planned to keep the second floor open.
Comment
- Schools (nearby high school), fair, teams, and local community are all intertwined in the use of the facility and the parking lot.
