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The local councillor, Rick Chiarelli, was on the losing end of the vote.

Council will consider the report on June 28.

It’s clear that other councillors on the environment committee didn’t want to have anything to do with holding up the $3-billion Stage 2 rail plan, which last week received major federal funding to complement a provincial cash commitment.

When councillors saw city transportation boss John Manconi and top Stage 2 planner Chris Swail suddenly appear at the meeting, they sensed the debate was about more than just a creek-side stormwater pond.

Swail emphasized the importance of having the stormwater pond to handle the runoff from the station.

Without the pond, the station can’t be commissioned, the committee heard. The alternative would be to build massive underground chambers at Baseline station.

The stormwater pond wouldn’t be just for the future Baseline LRT station. It would help treat 435 hectares of mostly residential land whose water drains into Pinecrest Creek.

The proposed pond has roots in the Ottawa River Action Plan as one of the measures to improve the health of the historic river, but according to residents who oppose the pond, there has been more emphasis recently on what would happen to the LRT project if the holding pool isn’t constructed.

Only three people made deputations in opposition of the pond, but their voices carried significant weight at the committee.

DeFalco was joined by Mathias Wuhr, and Bel-Air Community Association member Morley Brownstein.