HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 20, 2009
Cillf (J~ Minutes I Meeting Summary
Seaton Advisory Committee
Tuesday, January 20,2009
9:30 am
Main Committee Room
Attendees: Rick Johnson, Regional Councillor, Chair
Bonnie Littley, Regional Councillor, Vice-Chair
Doug Dickerson, City Councillor
Tom Melymuk, Director, Office of Sustainability
Neil Carroll, Director, Planning & Development
Cathy Grant, Director of Public Services, Library
Catherine Rose, Manager, Policy, Planning & Development
Steve Gaunt, Principal Planner, Policy, Planning & Development
Grant McGregor, Principal Planner, Policy, Planning & Development
Ron Taylor, Coordinator, City Development
Reg Webster, The Sernas Group Inc.
Graham Martin, ORC
Rik Ganderton, RVHS
John Connolly, Transport Canada
Dorothy Skinner, Region of Durham
Steve Heuchert, TRCA
Carolyn Woodland, TRCA
Lloyd Cherniak, Lebovic Enterprises
Bruce Fischer, Metrus Development
Tom Albani, Metrus Development
Rodger Miller, Mattamy Homes
Chris Matson, Brookfield Homes
Kevin Morawski, Genivar Consultants
Jim McCafferty, Durham Catholic District School Board
Joan Wideman, Ajax Pickering Board of Trade
Kathy McKay, Ajax Pickering Board of Trade
Peter Rodrigues, Resident of Seaton
Absent: Tom Quinn, Chief Administrative Officer
Donna McFarlane, UOIT
1. Introduction & Welcome
Councillor Dickerson welcomed everyone on behalf of
Councillor Johnson.
Page 1
2.
Natural Heritage System
- Presentation by Consultant
- Management PI.an & Master Trails Plan
Mark Schollen provided an overview on the Final Report of
the Seaton Natural Heritage System (NHS) Management
Plan and Master Trail Plan.
Steve Gaunt
Mark Schollen
The overview is to provide an opportunity to respond to
questions and discuss implementation recommendations.
As stated in the Central Pickering Development Plan (CPDP)
the purpose of the study is to establish the long-term uses,
maintenance requirements and responsibilities, programs
and associated financial implications for all elements of the
Natural Heritage System as well as to address cultural
heritage protection and archaeological resources within the
NHS.
The Study also generates a Master Trail Plan that will guide
the implementation and management of a multi-use trail
system within the Seaton Community.
The Management Plan Document comprises:
1- Final Report - Executive Summary and NHS
Management Plan and Master Trails Plan
2- Technical Appendices
A. Significant Flora/Fauna and Restoration Plant
Lists
B. Principles of Crime Preventative Trail Design
C. Consultation Meeting Reports
D. Cultural Heritage InventoryNiewshed Analysis
E. Archaeological Assessment Report
F. Review of Regional Trail, Seaton Hiking Trail and
Cycleway Strategies
The Final Report for the NHS Management Plan provides
recommendations to guide the management of Seaton NHS
to ensure that natural heritage values are protected in the
long term and areas reflecting past human disturbance are
restored to natural habitats.
The Final Report for the Cultural Heritage and
Archaeological Resources Management Plan provides
recommendations to guide how cultural heritage features
and landscapes in the Seaton NHS are managed,
celebrated, and interpreted. This plan also sets out a
strategy and priorities for developing an Interpretive Plan for
the Seaton NHS.
Page 2
The Final Report for the Master Trails Plan illustrates a
proposed trail system for the Seaton community that links
neighbourhoods to each other and to the larger regional trail
and open space network.
The Implementation Strategy guides the staging of NHS
restoration and trail construction activities. The strategy
addresses natural heritage, cultural heritage and
archaeological resources .and trails collectively, since the
roles and responsibilities of the implementing partners
include initiatives related to all components.
The NHS Management Plan is divided by Management
Units (MU), which will be utilized as tools to direct the
development of the management prescriptions.
The "Natural" MUs:
. Native Woodlands
. Swamp Communities
. Marsh Communities
. Aquatic Communities
. Beach I Bars
. Bluffs
. Sand Barrens
. Clay Barrens
The "Cultural" (disturbed) MUs:
. Cultural Communities
. Cultural Hedgerow
. Cultural Woodland
. Plantation
. Agricultural Communities
. Manicured Communities
. Quarry Sites
The NHS Management Plan includes:
Ecological Restoration I Management Prescriptions
. Agricultural Lands
. Riparian Corridors
. Cultural Meadows I Woodlands
. Open Habitat
. Plantations
Page 3
Fisheries Management
· Implementation of Fisheries Management Plan
· Restoration of terrestrial habitat to maintain base flow
. Restoration of riparian habitat
. Support of existing initiatives (Atlantic
Salmon/Redside Dace recovery, barrier removal, in-
stream habitat, etc.)
The Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Resource
Management Plan provides guidance to direct protocol for
completing archaeological investigations to facilitate trail
implementation and considers:
A. Integration of resources within the NHS.
B. Recommendation of protocols for protecting and
managing archaeological resources.
C. Identification of opportunities for interpretation.
The Master Trails Plan provides:
A. Goals and objectives for the Master Trail Plan
B. Trail system layout
C. Trail system hierarchy
D. Trail head hierarchy
E. Directives to guide integration with Seaton Hiking Trail
F. Trail construction guidelines
G. Integration of trail system with future neighbourhoods
The Final Report recommends an Implementation Strategy:
A. Priority NHS restoration and management prescriptions.
B. Priority Cultural Heritage I Archaeological Resource
management strategies.
C. Implementation plan for the MTP.
D. Roles and responsibilities.
E. Implementation priorities.
F. Order of magnitude cost estimate.
G. Maintenance and monitoring recommendations.
Summary of Implementation Strategy
. Includes:
A. 26 Natural Heritage System Restoration
Prescriptions
B. 12 Bike route and 26 trail Network Implementation
Prescriptions
C. 17 Cultural Heritage I Interpretive Plan Prescriptions
Page 4
. Overview of costs include:
A. Natural Heritage System Restoration $95-110 M
B. Implementation of Trail Network $12-15 M
C. Implementation of Bike Routes $12-15 M
D. Trail Head Construction I Refurbishment $6-8 M
E. Additional Studies $0.5-0.7M
. Partners Include:
- Provincial Government
- Region of Durham
- City of Pickering
- Ontario Realty Corporation
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
- Heritage Pickering
- Community
Discussion Period
Lloyd Cherniak noted that the Master Trail Plan identifies that
many of the trails will be asphalt to make it easier to maintain
year round, but it does not mention who will be responsible
for the maintenance costs.
Carolyn Woodland indicated that not all trails will be paved,
and that this process would be phased in over a period of
time.
Peter Rodrigues noted that most of the trails are wider than
the standard sidewalk and it may be more difficult to plow
them.
Peter indicated that this is a great study which raises many
concerns. For example, will the current Seaton trails be
paved or will it remain a nature path.
All these trails will take up more land and will impact wildlife.
When there are no trails, people make their own way through
nature.
Mark Schollen mentioned that it is recommended to have a
trail to ensure that they can protect environmentally sensitive
areas by placing barriers as needed. He also mentioned
that parts of the trails will require policing and lighting,
therefore becoming more like a road.
Dorothy Skinner stated that accessibility is a key issue for
the trails and enquired if there are any known trails like this
one in other areas. Mark advised that the bike trails through
the Don River valley are a perfect example.
Page 5
Joan Wideman asked if the trails would lead to employment
lands and would be safe for people to use on a regular day to
day basis. Mark Schollen advised that the design is in place
to provide access from the trails to the employment lands.
Bruce Fischer stated that the lands are owned by the
Province, but the expectation is that the City will be
maintaining the trails and asked if any commitment has been
made yet as operating expenses for these will be quite
expensive. .
Steve Gaunt stated that there have been no discussions on
how the recommendations from the Final Report will be
implemented.
Bruce Fischer questioned what the Report recommends the
developers' be responsible for. Mark Schollen stated that the
developers are expected to provide trail heads and buffer
planting on the Provincial land adjacent to the development.
Bruce Fischer expressed concern with this recommendation
and commented that the Province should protect the parks
and trails without impacting any of the developers.
Dorothy Skinner commented that the Region anticipated
taking a report to their Planning Committee providing the
Region's position on the study.
Lloyd Cherniak questioned the costs identified in the Report
as he believes they are too low.
Councillor Litttley questioned whether community gardens
are permitted. Mark Schollen confirmed they are.
It was suggested that the Final Report should be put on the
website and Steve Gaunt advised that they are currently
looking into this, but need to ensure that there is sufficient
memory space as the colored maps take a lot of digital
space.
Reg mentioned that copies of the Final Report are available
on CD.
3. MESPUpdate
Reg advised that they are proceeding at a slower pacer than
originally anticipated. The Morrison Hershfield Study done by
the Province was not as detailed as expected. Thus, new
boreholes were dug and significant groundwater monitoring is
underway now.
Page 6
The consultants are moving forward on interfacing the NHS
study recommendations with the MESP now that the
consultants' NHS Report is completed.
Consultations about the MESP still have to occur with the
First Nations.
Work on the community facilities is on-going. It is expected
that this work will be presented at the next Oversight
Committee.
Energy Management Study - Finalization of the report on Tom to confirm Energy
energy management and presentations should follow within Management Study
the next month or so. It was suggested to invite the presentation for the
consultants (Bill Wong) for a presentation at the next SAC next meeting.
meeting.
Reg advised that they anticipate having a completed MESP
Report by mid to end of summer.
Cathy mentioned that they requested an opportunity to meet Cathy to submit dates
with consultants and are still interested in meeting with them. to Reg Webster.
Reg advised Cathy to provide tentative dates and they would
schedule a meeting accordingly.
4. Community Facilities - Discussion All
Tom Melymuk advised that City staff are working on
preparing comments and anticipate providing them in the
near future. Update at next meeting.
5. Neighbourhood Planning Process - Update Catherine Rose
Cathy reminded the group that a prerequisite to sending out
the RFP was for an agreement to be entered into between
the City and the Landowners Group. The draft ag reement
was forwarded to the solicitor for the Landowners Group last
Friday, January 16th and is currently under review.
The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure is currently holding
discussions on a number of important matters to be
addressed for Seaton to proceed. ORC presented its
position to the Minister and are waiting for a further meeting
within the next few weeks. Graham Martin commented that
Minister Smitherman considers Seaton a Provincial priority.
Steve enquired if there were any consideration of the issues
raised in the NHS report. Graham advised that the NHS is of
provincial interest and part of the CPDP and will be part of
the overall discussions on Seaton. Steve advised that
discussions should be held between the City, the Region,
Page 7
TRCA and the Province with regards to implementation of the
NHS strategy.
Peter Rodrigues enquired if the Minister is still committed to
the employment lands being a priority before residential
development is allowed and stated that in these current
economic times, it will be a challenge to encourage
businesses to relocate to create 35,000 jobs.
Graham mentioned that the proposed Seaton development is
part of the CPDP and the Minister is fully aware of these
issues and they will not be changed.
Councillor Littley noted that draft plan submissions have been
made for most of the lands in Seaton, and wondered how the
CPDP, the Neighbourhood Planning Program and OMS
processes may come together. Graham indicated the
Province is aware of the issue and the Province wants to find
an amicable and progressive way to move forward.
Lloyd commented that Seaton is not urban sprawl but a
planned community.
6. Other Studies All
Dorothy mentioned that the closing date of January 29m for
the RFP for the Infrastructure EA has been amended to
Thursday, February 1 ih and notification of award of the EA
consulting contract should be made by Regional Council on
April 1 51.
7. Next Meeting All
Tentative date for next meeting is Thursday, February19tn at
9:30 am.
Meeting Adjourned: 10:45 am
Page 8