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Home My WebLink AboutPD 25-10 City Report To Planning & Development PICKERING Committee Report Number: PD 25-10 Date: July 5, 2010109 From: Neil Carroll Director, Planning & Development I Subject: Pickering Parkway Realignment, Improvement and Signalization OPB Realty Inc. (Pickering Town Centre) 1340 Pickering Parkway Part of Lot 21 & 22, Concession 1 City of Pickering Recommendation: 1. That Report PD 25-10 of the Director, Planning & Development be received; 2. That Council authorize the appropriate City officials to enter into a development agreement with OPB Realty Inc. satisfactory to the Director, Planning & Development and the Director, Corporate Services and Treasurer respecting the realignment, improvement and signalization of Pickering Parkway from Liverpool Road to the existing entrance on the south side of the Pickering Town Centre lands (in front of the Bay entrance); 3. Further, that the appropriate City of Pickering officials be authorized to take necessary action to give effect thereto. Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide City Council with an update on the status of the Class Environmental Assessment for the improvements to Pickering Parkway and to seek Council's authorization for the appropriate City officials to enter into a development agreement with OPB Realty Inc. to undertake the road improvement works. The work consists of the realignment, improvement and signalization of Pickering Parkway utilizing City funds approved in the 2010 capital budget and 'in accordance with plans approved by the City (see Location Map - Attachment #1). These works are supportive of the City's urban growth centre and mobility hub designations, are aligned with the City's Downtown Core Development Guidelines, and serve as a catalyst to future development. Infrastructure improvements are essential to the planned function of the downtown and their early implementation will assist in attracting new development. Report PD 25-10 July 5, 2010 Subject: Pickering Parkway Realignment, Improvement 1 10 and Signalization Page 2 Financial Implications: The signalization/improvement/realignment of Pickering Parkway east of Liverpool Road is a development charge funded project identified in the City's Development Charge By-law (project TC-24). Funding for this project in the amount of $890,000 was brought forward and approved in the City's 2010 capital budget (account 5321-1006-6254). Project'cost is allocated 25% to the City ($222;500), and 75% to development charges ($667,500). The City portion will come from the City share reserve. While final project costs will not be known until the final design is complete and the project is tendered, the City's upset funding limit for this project is $890,000. Sustainability Implications: The City's investment in the realignment, improvement and signalization of Pickering Parkway will introduce required improved infrastructure to support intensification of the City's downtown. These road improvements will benefit the broader downtown area and are supportive of the GO parking garage, the new office building, and public transit. 1.0 Background: In 1997 City Council adopted the Downtown Core Development Guidelines that established a vision for the downtown area. Part of that vision included improvements to Pickering Parkway in order to accommodate an office concentration generally along the north side of Highway 401, and a pedestrian bridge linking the existing Pickering GO Station to the downtown core. In 2000, the City initiated a zoning amendment on the south portion of the Pickering Town Centre lands to permit and attract large-scale and multi-tenant office uses, and led the preliminary design of the Pickering Pedestrian Bridge, and sought.out partners to bring the project concept to reality. The City's downtown vision is now starting to be realized, with the attraction of a 132,000 square foot Class "A" office building on the Pickering Town Centre lands (now under construction), and the announced construction of the Pickering Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 401 to be completed in 2011. The enclosed pedestrian bridge across Highway 401 and the 700 car parking garage are expected to commence construction shortly. These new developments have required the City to bring forward its planned improvements to Pickering Parkway, including but not necessarily limited to road realignment, introduction of additional traffic lanes, and signalization at the entrance to the Pickering Town Centre on the north side of the office building. The introduction of additional through lanes (an increase in capacity) requires the completion of a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment (EA). Report PD 25-10 July 5, 2010 Subject: Pickering Parkway Realignment, Improvement and Signalization Page 3 1 1.1 Pickering Parkway Improvements and Signalization The City of Pickering issued a Notice of Commencement of 'a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment for improvements to Pickering Parkway on May 5, 2010. IBI Group has been retained to carry out the Class EA as they have been providing urban design consulting services to complete background work for the City's Downtown Development Area and have been creating design concepts for Pickering Parkway as part of this work. A Class EA was triggered due to the possibility that additional capacity (through lanes) may be required on Pickering Parkway east of Liverpool Road due to the proposed development of the parking structure adjacent to the office tower. The study limit for the Class EA is from Liverpool Road to Glenanna Road. Agencies and adjacent landowners have been notified that the Class EA has commenced. Based on progress to date, staff anticipates a Notice of Completion will be issued in July 2010. Once the Class EA process has been completed, detailed design and construction can commence. The City's Development Charge By-law provides a total allocation of $890,000 for the signalization/improvement/realignment of Pickering Parkway east of Liverpool Road. Funding for this project was brought forward and approved in the City's 2010 capital budget (account 5321-1006-6254). Project cost is allocated 25% to the City ($222,500), and 75% to development charges ($667,500). While final project costs will not be known until the final design is complete and the project is tendered, the City's upset funding limit for this project is $890,000 (including expenditures to date). A small portion of these funds has been utilized to complete the surveys necessary to determine existing utilities in the area and to undertake the Class EA. The majority of the full project construction will occur in 2010. Considering the development and construction work being undertaken by OPB Realty in this immediate vicinity, staff believe that cost savings will be realized by having OPB Realty contract for the required improvements,to Pickering Parkway. Staff recommend that the City enter into a development agreement with the OPB Realty (the proponent of the parking structure) to facilitate the design and construction requirements for Pickering Parkway. Staff are seeking Council's authorization to enter into an appropriate development agreement with OPB Realty to undertake this work in accordance with plans approved by the City. The City's financial obligation will not exceed $890,000 minus what has been spent to date to prepare for this project. Attachment: 1. Location Map Report PD 25-10 July 5, 2010 Subject: Pickering Parkway Realignment, Improvement 112 and Signalization Page 4 Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: %ler Barn Neil Carrol anner -Site Planning Director, Plan D lopment Ric h and Holb rn Everett Buntsma ision Head, Engineering Services Director, Operations & Emergency Services TB:ld Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Recommended for the consideration of Pickerin p-pity Council 23 2.010 Tony evedel, P.Eng. Chief Administrative Officer j ATTACHMENT #~TO REPOR? # PD 25 `~D 1 1 3 > ~ J O PPO ~ NO w ~NPOE z S~p~ C~ ESP ESPL w Fij,9 ~N PICKERING -j 2~ CIVIC COMPLEX PA y AND w ENTRAL LIBRARY ~ p\ANPpE ~ jNE ES 0 0 VI GINMEEN? L EN SSM o ASSE pROPO1(SUDFI E E~ i- StKING G AGE ppR ``I ---I- W > ♦ . RKW P ( i ts-~'~ i ~ \cKER\NG ~ ~ ~ ~ • P • PEpEI GE N N\GNwP~ P gRID ART THOMPSON ARENA GO TRANSIT STATION EET City of Pickering Planning & Development Department PROPERTY DESCRIPTION Pickering Parkway OWNER OPB Realty DATE June 21, 2010 DRAWN BY JB FILE No. Pickering Parkway EA SCALE 1:5000 CHECKED BY DB N oTeronetrCEnta rpl-e- Ine. ontl It- -upplie,-. All right, R,-ervetl. Not a plan of -urvey. PN-6 2005 MPAC antl ila a.ppller,. All ri hta Reae rv.d Not a plop a/ Survey.