HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 19-14 Ctfq o¢ Report to
Executive Committee
PICKERING V G Report Number: PLN 19-14
Date: September 8, 2014
From: Thomas Melymuk
Director, City Development
Subject: Rouge National Urban Park
-. Draft Management Plan
. - File: 0-8100-008
Recommendation:
1. That Report PLN 19-14 of the Director, City Development, regarding the draft
Management Plan for the Rouge National Urban Park be received for information;
and
2. Further, that a copy of this Report be forwarded to Parks Canada staff for
consideration in finalizing the Draft Management Plan.
Executive Summary:
The Rouge National Urban Park draft Management Plan (the "draft Management Plan")
will guide the management of the Rouge National Urban Park during its first ten years,
with a suite of strategies,.objectives, and actions supporting natural and cultural
resource conservation, visitor experience, external relations, education, agriculture, and
collaboration with partners.
Through public open houses, stakeholder briefings, and an online survey, Parks Canada
is seeking comment on the draft Management Plan. Staff have identified that the draft
Management Plan should include strategies to permit the establishment of convenient
and easy access points into the Park for Pickering residents, including east/west
connections to the proposed Main Multi-Use Trail, and to provide a clearer
understanding of the commercial and agricultural uses to be permitted in the Park.
The draft Management Plan provides for the continued involvement by the City in the
future development and operation of the Park through the development of service
agreements, and through the participation in the Advisory Committee and working
groups. As-well, staff will continue to work collaboratively with Parks Canada in the _
finalization the Management Plan. We will keep Council appraised of this process.
Financial Implications: The draft Management Plan has no financial impact for
Pickering and no direct costs to the City are anticipated as a result of the
recommendation of this report.
19
__ i
Report PLN 19-14 September 8, 2014
Subject: Rouge National Urban Park Page 2
The previous staff report PLN 03-14 indicated that City owned lands within the Rouge
National Urban Park Study Boundary that will be transferred to the Federal Government
will no longer be subject to "PILTs" (payment in lieu of taxes). An analysis by City staff
estimated the property tax loss to the City to be approximately $6,000.00 annually.
Future service agreements with the Federal Government will address the continued
provision of municipal services (such as fire and by-law enforcement) and the amount of
compensation to be provided to the City for these services.
1. Background
At its January 2014 meeting, Pickering Council directed staff to undertake the
necessary steps to facilitate the transfer of ten City properties to.Parks Canada,
and authorized the appropriate City Officials to enter into a Memorandum of
Agreement Respecting the Assembly of Lands for the Proposed Rouge National
Urban Park (the "Agreement"). The ten properties, comprising approximately
8.6 hectares in total, are considered surplus to the City's needs. At the time of
writing of this report, the Agreement has been signed by the City of Pickering, and
it is expected that the Agreement will be executed by Parks Canada later this year.
Staff is continuing to work with Parks Canada to establish a service agreement(s)
for the delivery of municipal services such as fire and by-law enforcement to the
Park.
2. Discussion
2.1 Bill C-40, an Act to establish the Rouge National Urban Park, was
introduced in the House of Commons
In June, Bill C-40, an Act respecting the Rouge National Urban Park, was given
first reading by the House of Commons. Intended to establish a national park in
the Rouge valley that is different from existing national parks, Bill C-40 proposes
a new type of national protected area managed by Parks Canada. The proposed
legislation provides for the protection and presentation of natural and cultural
resources, and the promotion of a vibrant farming community. The Bill is
expected to return to the House for second reading, debate and enactment.
2.2 The draft Management Plan for the Rouge National Urban Park was
released initiating the public consultation period
Following the introduction of Bill C-40, the Rouge National Urban Park draft
Management Plan (see Draft Management Plan for Rouge National Urban Park
Summary, Attachment#1) was also introduced in the House of Commons. On
behalf of the Minister of the Environment and the Minister responsible for Parks
Canada, public consultation for the draft Management Plan was launched on
June 21, 201.4 by the Member of Parliament for Pickering — Scarborough East.
•
Report PLN 19-14 September 8, 2014
Subject: Rouge National Urban Park Page 3
The draft Management Plan, along with a public online survey, are available on
the Rouge National Urban Park Initiative page of Parks Canada's website. The
deadline for responding to the survey is September 30, 2014. On July 10,2014,
• Parks Canada briefed City staff on the relevant components of the draft
Management Plan. In addition, Parks Canada announced that there will be
four public open houses, including a public open house scheduled for
September 16, 2014 at 7 pm at the Pickering Recreation Complex.
2.3 Key and transition strategies will guide park management over a ten-year
period
The draft Management Plan is a wide ranging document that will guide the
management of the Rouge National Urban Park during its first ten years.
Providing a framework for making decisions and launching initiatives, the draft
Management Plan outlines the Park vision of 'a people's park' along with a suite
of strategies, objectives, and actions supporting natural and cultural resource
conservation, visitor experience, external relations, education, agriculture, and
collaboration with partners. The draft Management Plan identifies key and
transition strategies that are intended to:
• demonstrate how the Park's unique mix of nature, cultural heritage, and
agriculture will be managed in a supportive manner
• identify how change in the Park will be managed in terms of ecological
connectivity and restoration, ecosystem health, cultural heritage
conservation, and species-at-risk
• strengthen existing connections and create new connections by focusing
on visitor infrastructure intended to improve the park environment, such as
welcome areas connected to transit, a future trail network coordinated with
environmental restoration opportunities, and visitor activities
• identify how Parks Canada will work with others in delivering park
services, volunteers, and research and innovation, as well as the
promotion of compatible land use change in the vicinity of the Park, and •
compatible infrastructure crossing the Park
• transition from the Rouge Park to the Rouge National Urban Park,
highlighting the establishment of long-term commitments in the Park,
ecological and trail connections between Lake Ontario and the Oak
• Ridges Moraine, and long term leases to support farming in the Park
3. City staff have identified areas of interest particular to Pickering and will be
providing input to Parks Canada
The draft Management Plan identifies six proposed Park Welcome Areas that are
not easily accessible to Pickering residents. In a number of locations within
Pickering, the Park abuts residential areas and local residential streets. Staff
have identified that the draft Management Plan needs to permit the establishment
of informal and easy access points into the Park for Pickering residents.
21
•
Report PLN 19-14 September 8, 2014
Subject: Rouge National Urban Park Page 4
A Main Multi-Use Trail, primarily running north/south the length of the Park, is
identified by the draft Management Plan. Staff have identified the need to
establish east/west trail connections to the proposed Main Multi-Use Trail to
provide convenient access to the trail system for Pickering residents.
Bill C-40, an Act respecting the Rouge National Urban Park, permits agricultural
and commercial uses in the Park. The terms agricultural and commercial are not
defined by either Bill C-40 or the draft Management Plan. Staff have identified
that there is a need for a clear understanding of the types of commercial and
agricultural uses to be permitted in the Park by adding to the draft Management
Plan definitions of these uses and/or strategies of how permitted uses will be
determined.
4. Engagement between the Pickering and Parks Canada will continue
throughout the development and operation of the Park
The draft Management Plan advances an inclusive governance structure led by
Parks Canada. After the Management Plan is in place, areas of natural, cultural,
and agricultural value, along with more detailed trail alignments, will be defined
through continued collaboration with the local community. Involvement by the
City in the future development and operation of the Park, ensuring recognition of
the City's interests, will continue through on-going discussion with Parks Canada,
the development of service agreements, and through the participation in the
Advisory Committee and working groups proposed by the draft Management Plan.
Attachment:
1. Draft Management Plan for Rouge National Urban Park Summary
22
Report PLN 19-14 September 8, 2014
Subject: . Rouge National Urban.Park Page 5
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
l 4$
AR. I A-7 _:<--,Deborah Wylie, .1 CIP, RPP Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP
Principal Planner— Policy Chief Planner
--- .-..--/..----V.,e/ (,,.C.....________.
Jeff Brooks, MCIP, RPP Thomas Melyr�iuk,' CIP, RPP
Manager, Policy & Geometrics Director, City Dev opment
DW:Id
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering j Council
C"' / i . /7i Zo(
Tony Prevedel, P.Eng.
Chief Administrative Officer
23
ATTACHMENT# / To
REPORT # PLN j j- /q
DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAT! FOR
ROUGE NATI®NAL URB AN PARK
Over the past few months, Parks Canada has been busy developing the first draft Management Plan for
Rouge National Urban Park(RNUP).The draft Management Plan was released for public consultation
on June 28.The deadline for comment is September 3o.
The draft Management Plan builds on a continuing and extensive program of stakeholder and public
meetings, a Youth workshop,First Nations engagement, and more than 1o,000 ideas generated by the •
public in response to the 2012 Park Concept.'In addition,the draft
Management Plan has benefitted from the input of municipal and
- ,,, provincial governments and other government agencies. It also
,. ,�,- acknowledges the almost three decades of citizen engagement in the
� = former Rouge Park,the legacy of past plans for the park, and current plans
' ` ..` Y 4 � of the conservation authority, municipalities, and the province. .
y?�f07y, The draft Management Plan provides the overarching guidance for
k # T,� it managing Canada's first national urban park over a ten-year period.
h, Premised on accountability,inclusiveness, and collaboration, the
k-, .,,,;f i.� Management Plan will guide the integrated delivery of Parks Canada's
i , _'� '� r mandate for protection, education, and visitor experience,thus ensuring
L. 24 4` '' ' the effective use of public funds in the implementation of the plan's long-
,,-' �4, � r term strategies and supporting actions.
. 1�.1 iS
` • _ r `' The draft Management Plan is intended to ensure that the dynamic park
mosaic of natural, cultural,and agricultural P
cul
, gri tural
landscapes and the park's enduring values are protected ed for
future
g enerations.The plan contains strategies, objectives, actions, and targets that serve to support
these landscapes, as well as direction for visitor Wt4-M'''' < °. R 1 ;. ;._ >',:lt..�r" z
experience, external relations, education, and .,� �4 ;j r, -�.
collaboration with partners. It also identifies an k «� �{ 11 ` ,t
inclusive governance structure that ensures a broad d" . '
P:r 1F � l - 1 t y t -R'.
range of input into park management decisions, ,'.� .t r •�7 . ..er, 4; 4, '
including continued First Nation involvement.The . .� � ,�-, � ��' � � �, I.-a?�-.�t.
•draft Management Plan locates welcome areas"to �� ` ( _ . ., Apt , 1:, , ,
the park as well as the.primary conceptual trail t'` '6}; °'' � 7�4 4 " ;..i t,..--,.. 3-,. ti �� ,``
system. Finally,it identifies desired ten-year th a 1 , :
outcomes and targets so that we can track our . rii
progress towards the achievement of plan objectives.
The draft Management Plan integrates the four themes in the 2012 Park Concept: Conserving Natural
Heritage; Connecting People to Nature and History; Celebrating Cultural Heritage Character; and
• Supporting Farming Heritage. It does so by way of five key strategies outlined briefly below:
A Canadian First
This strategy focuses on a new way of thinking about protected areas in the urban setting. It
demonstrates how the park's unique mix of nature, cultural heritage, and agriculture—including more.
than So percent of the park that comprises farms,residences, and businesses where people live and
work—will be managed in an integrated and mutually-supportive manner.This strategy identifies ways
to generate understanding, support, and celebration of this newpark model. Finally,the strategy shows
how Rouge National Urban Park can help GTA residents learn about and celebrate Canada's vast .
network of protected heritage places.
24
ATTACHMENT#._ I TO .
REPORT# 1- • ig-Iq
•
A Dynamic, Cohesive Rouge
The focus of this strategy is to achieve a rejuvenated,resilient park with healthy natural,cultural and
agricultural landscapes. It identifies how change in the park will be managed,in terms of ecological
connectivity, ecological restoration,ecosystem health,cultural heritage conservation,species-at-risk.It
identifies how economically,socially,and environmentally healthy farming will be supported.It also
- -- t, provides direction for monitoring park conditions across all these landscape
' . '. types,and how future contemplated change in the park will be assessed.
,`r A Connected,Relevant,Interactive Rouge
• In this strategy, Canada seeks to strengthen 47:::-.1-''- R " gY, gthen existing connections and
e_ '' create new connections with park visitors,local communities,First Nations,
' '°—` and Canadians at large. It focuses on visitor infrastructure intended to
"... improve the park environment,such as welcome areas connected to transit,
'� ';`= - a future trail network coordinated with environmental restoration
■ 1. ... opportunities, and visitor activities.It also identifies interpretive
�' opportunities related to the park's rich natural cultural history,including
--`4:r8.`,*,,, .&LYrt^ those that involve First Nations and the park farming community.
', ,, Success through Collaboration
9
This strategy identifies collaboration priorities and how we will Work with others in park services,
volunteering, and research and innovation.It identifies mechanisms by which interested Aboriginal
groups with direct historical connections to the park can build and maintain mutually beneficial
working relationships with Parks Canada.Finally,the strategy provides means by which to promote
compatible land use change in the vicinity of the park and compatible infrastructure crossing the park.
Enduring Spirit of the Rouge
This strategy focuses on the transition from Rouge Park to the future Rouge National Urban Park.It
identifies how we will develop baseline data for park resources.It highlights preparatory work required
to establish long-term commitments in the park,such as ecological and trail connections between Lake
Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine, and long-term leases—a key ingredient of future park farming.
The strategy also identifies the range of advisory bodies within the park governance framework.
The draft Management Plan is now posted on Parks Canada's RNUP website,including an engagement
survey.You comments will help contribute to the first management plan-for Canada's first ever national
urban park!
4 Parks Canada's Rouge"National Urban Park Office:
,4!...--. ,...... .1;., 362o Kingston Road in Scarborough. Our full contact details:
Parks Canada
P.O.Box 11024
105 Guildwood Parkway
Toronto, Ontario M1E iNo
• - Tel: 416.264.2020 Fax: 416.264-2167
For more information:
To find out more or to be added to our mailing list for future newsletters,please contact rougePpc.gc.ca
25
ATTACHMENT# I TO
- REPUR1 # Pe-N iq-/SI
Rouge National Urban Park 42
Management Plan
•
APPENDIX: 3. A dynamic,adaptive management system facilitates
well-informed decision-making to improve the health
LIST KEY and resilience of the park's natural,cultural,and agri-
culturalresources
ANDT R/ \.N S I T I Q N. KEY STRATEGY 3:A Connected and Relevant
STRATEGIES Rouge—Forging Emotional And Physical
Connections With The Park
Objectives
KEY STRATEGY 1:A Canadian First—Fostering 1. Visitors,outreach audiences,and stakeholders from
A New Way Of Thinking About Protected Heritage inside and outside the GTA feel a new and strengthened
Areas In An Urban Setting connection to the park
Objectives
2. The park's welcome areas offer visitors a warm arrival
and are accessible by various means
is Rouge National Urban Park is a cohesive and evolving
mosaic of diverse landscapes,demonstrating national 3. An evolving and diverse spectrum of activities and
leadership in the management of protected heritage experiences enables visitors to develop personal con-
areas in an urban context 'nections with the park in a safe environment
2. The concept of a National Urban Park is understood, 4. Park users of different backgrounds and abilities
supported,and celebrated move easily through the park via a connected network
encompassing different travel modes
3. Rouge National Urban Park is a gateway for urban
Canadians,encouraging discovery of national conserva- 5. Visitor experience is enriched by a Park trail network
tion initiatives and the network of protected heritage that supports ecosystem connectivity and health,
areas in Ontario and across Canada cultural heritage conservation,and park farming
KEY STRATEGY 2:A Dynamic,Cohesive Rouge— KEY STRATEGY 4: Success through Collaboration—
Managing Change In Support Of A Healthy And Nurturing Strategic Relationships To Advance
Resilient Park Landscape Shared Objectives
•
Objectives Objectives •
1. The health and resilience of the park's ecosystems and 1. Strategic relationships support the objectives of the
cultural resources are enhanced through conservation park and the organizations with which Parks Canada
2. A sustainable,vital park lessee community is built on engages
community relationships,economic viability,diversifi-
2. Interested Aboriginal groups with direct historical con
cation,and environmental stewardship nections to the park can build and maintain mutually
beneficial working relationships with Parks Canada
t t
a 7
`*t � x 1
q '. r ►tVI a. -4441,01 f T 2•
` jiltr. q' .
., _ _ - _
ATTACHMENT# 1 TO
REPORT 0 GL-rd i°-i�{
•
Rouge National Urban Park 43
Management Plan
3. Third-party service delivery and a dynamic volunteer
community contribute significantly to successful
park operations
4. Rouge National Urban Park's urban context and park
vision are catalysts for recognized research and innova- - -
lion that benefit the park and strengthen community
involvement
5. Collaboration leads to compatible land use and
infrastructure abutting the park
TRANSITION STRATEGY: Enduring Spirit of the
Rouge—Facilitating The Transition To Rouge
National Urban Park
Transition Objectives
1. Comprehensive baseline information concerning park
assets and natural,cultural,and agricultural resources
is established and kept up-to-date
2. Operational activities and plans facilitate decisions
and support day-to-day park management
3. The park is recognized as a member of the Parks
Canada family of protected heritage areas
•
4. The Rouge National Urban Park governance framework •
is in place to facilitate the involvement and collaboration
of partners and stakeholders in the park's management
SOF f .. f
1 t t
ri � I "kr Eke .. c
I -„ (rs•
� - .�.ti r y• ��„A
• #
{ b�"r• �• tiJt;:t;:
%, 1 lilt 6 Y a am ; s i 1 }
_•� 3.. }
- r �.•. a, r-_.. .. .ri=. 2�-,.._ :� x .�lF--'. s,yrk. ��:±tk�.c, r,c.,= ..�... - -,,.._� _..:>.,, _,.'s`..-- -- .-. ..