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HomeMy WebLinkAboutENG 04-21Report to Executive Committee Report Number: ENG 04-21 Date: March 1, 2021 From: Richard Holborn Director, Engineering Services Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment - Public Engagement Work Plan and Project Status Update - File: A-1440 Recommendation: 1. That Report ENG 04-21 regarding a Public Engagement Work Plan and Project Status Update for Beachfront Park, as a follow-up to Report ENG 12-20 and in response to Resolution #465/20, be received for information; 2. That the Draft Concept Plans attached to Report ENG 04-21 be used to commence the public engagement and consultation process to arrive at a final preferred concept plan for Council endorsement through a future report; and, 3. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the necessary actions as indicated in this report. Executive Summary: The City of Pickering retained The MBTW Group to complete the Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study. A number of concept plans have been developed in consultation with City and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) staff. The concept plans have been refined into two distinct options; a passive option and an active option. These plans will be made available to the public for review and comment and ultimately refined to provide one preferred concept plan for Council endorsement. As a follow up to Report ENG 12-20 (Attachment #1), and Council Resolution #465/20 (Attachment #2), this report provides a status update of the study and concept plan designs, and discusses the work plan for the public engagement component. Financial Implications: Funds for the preparation of a Waterfront Park Needs Assessment were approved by Council as part of the Engineering Services 2019 Current Budget. Funds in the amount of $30,000 to undertake the public engagement process are being requested in the proposed 2021 Current Budget. The cost of construction will depend on the elements included in the final preferred concept plan. Funds for the preparation of detailed design drawings and construction will be recommended in future Capital Budgets for Council consideration. ENG 04-21 March 1, 2021 Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study Work Plan for Public Engagement Page 2 Discussion: Concept Plans: As a follow-up to Report ENG 12-20, and Council Resolution #465/20, staff have been working with The MBTW Group and Shoreplan Engineering to complete the Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study. At the request of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), who have regulatory authority along the Lake Ontario shoreline, some additional investigations were completed including an update of the flood hazard report and performing geotechnical investigations to obtain a gradation analysis of the existing beach sand and gravel. Based on these findings and further staff input, the four concept plans previously prepared were refined into two distinct options; a passive option and an active option (Attachment #3). The passive park option features a 5.0m wide elevated boardwalk structure between Liverpool Road and Alex Robertson Park. The elevated boardwalk would have a jogged routing to promote cycling speed control (or dismount) along with elevated observation platforms that feature individual and group seating elements. Millennium Square would receive some minor improvements including the renovation of the existing washroom building and the removal of the water play area in place of a shade structure and additional seating. The active park option features an 8.0m wide elevated boardwalk structure, having 5.0m as a dedicated pedestrian promenade and 3.0m as a dedicated cycling path. The elevated structure would run straight between Millennium Square and Alex Robertson Park. Viewing platforms would extend between the beach and Hydro Marsh and would provide opportunity for group seating as well as access down to the beach. Millennium Square would be redefined with expanded paving, seating, and a raised stage. The existing park washroom and water play area could be removed as well to provide more space for waterfront events. Both concept plans consider the construction of a new park maintenance, change room and washroom facility that would be located adjacent to the existing parking lot at the end of Liverpool Road. TRCA do not consider the expansion of the existing washroom within Millennium Square to be feasible due to the newly determined high lake water level and wave up-rush limits, and its close proximity to the edge of water. The area west of Liverpool Road leading to the Frenchman’s Bay harbour entrance is similar for both concept plans. It features a refurbished and upgraded 5.0m wide granular promenade. The existing memorial benches would be moved to the north side of the path and clustered into seating nodes. Beachside plantings, protected by post and cable railing to provide controlled access points to the beach, would be introduced for dune creation and shoreline stabilization. The two draft concept plans will be accompanied by other renderings, images and text to clearly describe the proposed elements and will be suitable for public engagement. Public Engagement and Consultation: Funds in the amount of $30,000 to retain The MBTW Group to assist with the public engagement and consultation process have been recommended in the proposed 2021 Current Budget. The consultant’s services would include preparation of the graphic materials, visual aids and survey questionnaires, preliminary construction cost estimates ENG 04-21 March 1, 2021 Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study Work Plan for Public Engagement Page 3 of the concept plans and coordination with staff on the uploading of the presentation materials and questionnaires to media outlets. A three step approach is being recommended for the public engagement and consultation process with two public engagement exercises followed by a technical report and final preferred concept plan for Council endorsement. The current concepts of the passive and active park options will be presented to the public as part of the first public engagement exercise. The public feedback received will be compiled and summarized in a report back to staff from the consultant. Based on the comments, feedback and design ideas received, one final concept plan will be prepared and presented to the public in a second public engagement exercise. Similar to the first exercise, public feedback will again be compiled and considered for the development of the final preferred concept plan. A construction cost estimate and technical report will be prepared for the final preferred concept plan and submitted to Council for endorsement. An on-line platform such as bang-the-table, or similar, is proposed to be used for the public engagement and consultation process. This format allows for the posting of drawings and other presentation materials, questionnaires, and forums for public commenting. The public engagement process will be promoted through the City’s website, social media, newspaper and roadside curbex signs. Staff propose to host the first public engagement exercise in late spring 2021 and the second during the summer months. The final preferred concept plan and technical report is anticipated to be completed and presented to Council for endorsement in the fall of 2021, in time for staff to consider including funds for the preparation of detailed design drawings and the first phase of construction as part of the 2022 capital budget process. Attachments: 1. Report to Council, ENG 12-20 dated November 2, 2020 2. Council Resolution #465/20 3. Draft Concept Plans – Active Park Option and Passive Park Option 4. Location map ENG 04-21 March 1, 2021 Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study Work Plan for Public Engagement Page 4 Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: Original signed by: Original signed by: Arnold Mostert, OALA Richard Holborn, P.Eng. Senior Coordinator, Landscape & Director, Engineering Services Parks Development AM:mjh Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Original signed by: Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Report to Executive Committee Report Number: ENG 12-20 Date: November 2, 2020 From: Richard Holborn Director, Engineering Services Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment - Work Plan Status Report - File: A-1440 Recommendation: 1. That Report ENG 12-20 regarding a Work Plan Status Report for Beachfront Park, as a follow-up to Report ENG 13-19 and in response to Resolutions #196/19 & 197/19, be received for information; and, 2. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the necessary actions as indicated in this report. Executive Summary:The City of Pickering has retained The MBTW Group and Shoreplan Engineering to complete the Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study. The study will consider the future population growth and pressures for increased use and programming of waterfront parkland, keeping in mind increased lake water levels and wave action that has caused significant damage to the waterfront area. Concept plans are being developed in consultation with City and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) staff. Refined concept plans will be available for public engagement and comment upon completion of this study. Financial Implications: Funds for the preparation of a Waterfront Park Needs Assessment were approved by Council as part of the Engineering Services 2019 Current Budget. Funds to complete the public engagement process will be requested in the 2021 Current Budget. Funds for the preparation of detailed design drawings and construction will be included in the 2022 and future years Capital Budgets for Council consideration. Discussion: With the projected population growth of Pickering, through downtown intensification and the development of Seaton, there will be more pressure for public access to the Pickering waterfront. As such, the requirement for a Waterfront Park Needs Assessment was identified in the 2017 Development Charges Study. With the extremely high lake water levels and wave action of 2017 and 2019, much of Pickering’s waterfront sustained significant damage. The boardwalk in Beachfront Park, which formed part of the Waterfront Trail, was damaged beyond repair and was removed by City Public Works staff in spring 2020. -C~()f- p](KERJNG Attachment #1 to Report #ENG 04-21 ENG 12-20 November 2, 2020 Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Work Plan Status Report Page 2 The MBTW Group in association with Shoreplan Engineering were retained in late 2019 to complete a Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment Study. The study area extends from the west end of Alex Robertson Park to the Frenchman’s Bay harbour entrance. An updated bathymetry survey was completed for the beach area, near shore and mid-shore area, to inform a wave up-rush analysis. Wave modelling and up-rush calculations were completed along the shoreline, to determine the maximum height and effects of the wave action, considering the higher water levels that were experienced in 2017 and 2019. Initial discussions regarding existing and projected park uses with Community Services, City Development and Engineering Services staff led to the development of several concept plans. Both passive and more active waterfront park features are currently being considered. The reconstruction of the boardwalk to re-establish the Waterfront Trail connection through Beachfront Park is one of the key elements for all concept plans. Consideration is also being made for the relocation and enhancement of the washroom facilities to service this section of the Pickering waterfront. TRCA attended a site meeting to view the study area’s existing conditions and to provide preliminary comments on the concept plans. The consulting team and City staff are currently working with TRCA to develop plans that will be functional, environmentally sensitive to the beachfront area the adjacent Provincially Significant Wetlands of Frenchman’s Bay and the Hydro Marsh, as well as, be resilient to future high water levels, erosion and wave action. The intent is that the refined concept plans will receive acceptance in principle from TRCA staff as the approval agency and landowners of the east spit. Being that Ontario Power Generation (OPG) are the landowners for Beachfront Park (east of Liverpool Road), staff will be consulting with them as well, to obtain their endorsement. The deliverables for this Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment will include concept plans for both the passive and more active options. Upon completion of these plans, staff will review the plans with Council and organize a public consultation process. Funds to undertake this public engagement/consultation will be requested in the 2021 Current Budget. Funds required for the preparation of detailed designs, cost estimates and other studies that may be required to obtain approval from TRCA, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and other approval agencies will be considered for the 2022 Capital Budget. The first phase of construction could proceed as early as fall 2022, pending approval of funding through the budget process. Attachments: 1. Report to Council, ENG 13-19 dated December 16, 2019 2. Council Resolutions # 196/19 & 197/19 3. Location map ENG 12-20 Subject: Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment November 2, 2020 Page 3 Prepared By: Arnold Mostert, OALA Senior Coordinator, Landscape & Parks Development AM:mjh Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Marisa Carpino, M.A. Interim Chief Administrative Officer Approved/Endorsed By: ~~~ Richard Holborn, P.Eng. Director, Engineering Services Legislative Services Division Clerk’s Office Directive Memorandum November 27, 2020 To: Richard Holborn Director, Engineering Services From: Susan Cassel City Clerk Subject: Direction as per Minutes of the Meeting of City Council held on November 23, 2020 Director, Engineering Services, Report ENG 12-20 Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment -Work Plan Status Report Council Decision Resolution #465/20 Please take any action deemed necessary. Susan Cassel Copy: Interim Chief Administrative Officer 1.That Report ENG 12-20 regarding a Work Plan Status Report for Beachfront Park, as a follow-up to Report ENG 13-19 and in response to Resolutions #196/19 & 197/19, be received for information; 2.That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be aut horized to take the necessary actions as indicated in this report; and, 3.That Staff be directed to report back to the Executive Committee in March 2021, with the roll out plan for the public engagement process and a status update on the project. Attachment #2 to Report # ENG 04-21 Attachment #3 to Report #ENG 04-21 LIVERPOOL ROADANNLAND STREET WHARF STREET 1:5,000 SCALE: Engineering ServicesDepartment Beachfront ParkLocation MapFeb 12, 2021 DATE: q Frenchman'sBay Lake Ontario Attachment #4 to Report #ENG 04-21