east don trail - toronto · april 22, 2013 . east don trail environment assessment . agenda . 1....
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East Don Trail Environmental Assessment
Community Liaison Committee Meeting #1 April 22, 2013
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Agenda
1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Community Liaison Committee 3. Project Background 4. Environmental Assessment (EA) 5. Public Consultation 6. Existing Challenges and Issues 7. Next Steps 8. Closing
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
1. Welcome and Introductions
• Opening Comments • Role of the Chair • City of Toronto Welcome • CLC Member Introductions
• Your Name • The Organization you are with (if applicable) • Your interest in the East Don Project Environmental
Assessment
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Project Team Introductions
• City of Toronto • Daniel Egan, Project Sponsor • Jennifer Hyland, Project Manager • Wendy Strickland, Governing Group
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority • Lisa Turnbull, Project Advisor • Violetta Tkaczuk, Project Manager • Natalie Seniuk, Public Consultation Coordinator • Erica Dewell, Intern
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
East Don Trail Project Team City of Toronto • Transportation Infrastructure Management
• Daniel Egan, Jennifer Hyland • Parks, Forestry & Recreation
• Garth Armour, Wendy Strickland • Public Consultation Unit
• Maogosha Pyjor Toronto and Region Conservation Authority • Project Management Office
• Lisa Turnbull, Violetta Tkaczuk, Natalie Seniuk, Thomas Sciscione, Erica Dewell
• Conservation Lands • Deanna Cheriton
• Water Resource Engineering • Amy Winterhalt
Consulting Team: • Aquafor Beech Limited • Schollen & Company Inc. • Delcan • Terraprobe Inc.
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
2. Community Liaison Committee
1. Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meetings 2. Ground Rules 3. Purpose and Objectives 4. Terms of Reference 5. Member Agreement
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Meetings
• Meeting Format • Series of formats based on content • Tonight – Presentation & Facilitated Discussion
• Materials • Handouts and Binders
• Time and Duration • Approximately 2 hours in length • Evenings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
• Location • Local facility
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Ground Rules
Common ground rules for members and staff: • Avoid use of jargon • Listen to each comment with respect • Avoid use of cellphones • Ask questions • Share information with the group
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Purpose and Objectives
Purpose: • Provide additional public input concerning the planning
and design process of the East Don Trail EA Functions or objectives:
• Identify items of public concern related to the impact and design of the project.
• Offer potential advice or solutions to resolve these concerns.
• Mechanism to reach out to the community. • Act as the voice of the community.
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Terms of Reference
• Requirements and Responsibilities • Chairing of CLC Meetings • Membership • Length of Term • Attendance • Record Keeping • Media Protocol
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Member Agreement
• Provided with Terms of Reference • To be signed by all CLC Members • Please provide before leaving today • Conflicts of Interest
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
3. Project Background
1. Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan 2. Feasibility Study
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan
2011 • Audit of existing major multi-use trail • Identification, evaluation and prioritization of new trail
connections 2012
• Public Open House • Council Approval of Plan on June 6
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan
77 km of new trails to be added to existing network was proposed East Don Trail • Largest and most
complex project • Identified as a
short term priority
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Feasibility Study
• RV Anderson retained in 2011 • Also called “East Don Trail
Master Plan Update” • Assessed the potential for a
trail system through the East Don Valley Corridor
• Determined a trail was possible
• Identified potential issues • East Don Trail EA to build
upon this Study
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
4. East Don Trail EA
1. Study Areas 2. Opportunity Statement 3. Project Objectives 4. Environmental Assessment (EA) Process 5. Proposed Timeline
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Study Areas Regional Study Area • Lawrence Avenue • Victoria Park Avenue • O’Connor Drive • Don Mills Road Local Study Area • Encompasses potentially useable
East Don Corridor Land
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Opportunity Statement A significant gap in the multi-use trail network exists within the East Don Corridor between the north end of Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, the Gatineau Trail and the Lower Don Trail. The East Don Trail will fill this existing gap in the trail network thus creating a continuous connected trail network.
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Project Objectives
Connections • Key multi-use trail connection route
Public Safety • Safe access to valleylands • Safe off-road option for cycling and recreational use • Options to accommodate emergency and maintenance
vehicles Natural Environment
• Respectful of the natural environment • Provide single focused route • Avoid or minimize negative environmental impacts
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Project Objectives
Recreation • Create outdoor recreation opportunities for variety of
users and neighbouring communities • Increase access to natural areas • Function as a recreation destination
Transportation • Function as a commuter route for a variety of users
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
EA Process •work plan on how the EA and public consultation will proceed
•identify the opportunity/need for the undertaking Terms of Reference/Identify
Opportunity
• prepare a detailed inventory of existing conditions within the study area Environmental Baseline
• identify all reasonable alternatives to the opportunity Prepare Alternatives
• evaluate all identified alternatives for environmental effects ** Evaluate Alternatives
• select a preferred alternative based on evaluation Preferred Alternative
• detailed environmental analysis of the preferred alternative ** Refine Preferred Alternative
• file ESR with MOE for 30 day review Environmental Study Report
**Evaluation Process will consider the biological, physical, socio-economic, and cultural environments
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Proposed Timeline Terms of Reference/Identify
Opportunity
Environmental Baseline
Prepare Alternatives
Evaluate Alternatives
Preferred Alternative
Refine Preferred Alternative
Environmental Study Report
TAC #1
Nov. 2012 - May 2013
May - Sept. 2013
Oct. 2013 - Jan. 2014
Feb. – June 2014
TAC #3
TAC #2
TAC #4
TAC #5
TAC #6
CLC #1
CLC #4
CLC #3
CLC #2
PIC #1
PIC #2
PIC #3
Review
Review
Review
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
5. Public Consultation
1. Public Consultation Plan 2. Public Consultation Schedule 3. Summary of Public Meeting #1
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Public Consultation Plan
• To provide all those with a potential interest in the project opportunities to contribute their views during the planning stages of the project.
• Techniques:
INFORM - Project Newsletter & Websites - Frequently Asked Questions CONSULT - Public Information Centres (PICs) INVOLVE COLLABORATE - Community Liaison Committee (CLC) EMPOWER
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Public Consultation Schedule
Date Meeting Topic
April 11, 2013 CLC Meeting #1 Project Introduction
Environmental Assessment Process Existing Challenges and Issues
May 29, 2013 CLC Meeting #2 Existing Conditions Evaluate Options including “Do Nothing”
August 2013 CLC Meeting #3 Evaluation of Preliminary Alternatives
September 2013 Public Information Centre #2 Evaluation of Preliminary Alternatives
October 2013 CLC Meeting #4 Preferred Alternative
January 2014 Public Information Centre #3 Preferred Alternative
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Summary of Public Meeting #1
• Public Information Centre (PIC) #1 held on February 13, 2013
• Open house format • Feedback collected through:
• Interactive mapping • Comment form • Discussions with staff
• Summary of event available on project website www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/eastdontrail
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Summary of Public Meeting #1
• Support: • Increasing opportunity for recreation • Larger cycling network connections • Providing safe routes for cyclists • Improving access for a wider demographic
• Concerns:
• Potential environmental impacts • Impact on personal enjoyment with increased use • Trail etiquette with multiple types of users
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
6. Existing Issues and Challenges
• Share knowledge about the Study Area as it relates to: • Physical Environment • Natural Environment • Socio-Economic Environment • Cultural Environment
• Questions to think about: • Is there additional information that could provide value to
the EA process?
East Don Trail Environment Assessment East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Physical Environment • Potential Slope
Stability Issues • Flooding • Steep grades • Limited space
Steep Grades
Potential Slope Stability Issue
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Physical Environment • Potential Slope
Stability Issues
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Physical Environment • Steep Grades • Limited Space
Limited space
Steep Slopes
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Natural Environment • Species at Risk • Wildlife Use • Potential
Environmentally Significant Area
• Local Wetlands • Natural Cover
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Natural Environment • Potential
Environmentally Significant Area (ESA)
• Species at Risk (SAR)
Potential ESA
SAR
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Natural Environment
• Natural Cover
• Local Wetlands • Species of Concern
Local Wetlands
Natural Cover
Natural Cover
East Don Trail Environment Assessment East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Socio - Economic Environment • Infrastructure • Private Land
Ownership • Land Use
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Socio – Economic Environment Infrastructure • Rail Line • Hydro Corridor • Enbridge Pipeline • Toronto Water
Access route • Sanitary Sewer
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Socio – Economic Environment Land Use • Former Landfills • Flemingdon Golf
Course • Current Use
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Issues and Challenges
Physical Environment • Potential Slope Stability
Issues, Flooding, Steep Grades, Limited Space
Natural Environment • SAR, Wildlife Use,
Potential ESA, Local Wetland, Natural Cover
Socio-Economic Environment • Utilities, Informal Use,
Land Ownership, Historic Dump Sites
Steep Grades
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
7. Next Steps
• Background Environmental Inventory • Consultant Studies
• Geomorphological evaluation • Geotechnical assessment
• Existing Conditions • CLC Meeting #2 – Tentative date May 29, 2013
• Review Existing Conditions • Evaluate Options including “Do Nothing”
East Don Trail Environment Assessment
QUESTIONS?
• Please remember to leave a signed copy of the CLC Member Agreement with a member of the project team
Natalie Seniuk Toronto and Region Conservation Authority [email protected] 647-537-4185
CLC Website – please add to your notes www.toronto.ca/eastdontrailclc/