East Don Trail - Toronto · April 22, 2013 . East Don Trail Environment Assessment . Agenda . 1. ... Presentation & Facilitated Discussion • Materials • Handouts and Binders

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


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


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 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.


2. Community Liaison Committee

1. Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meetings 2. Ground Rules 3. Purpose and Objectives 4. Terms of Reference 5. Member Agreement


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


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


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.


CLC Terms of Reference

• Requirements and Responsibilities • Chairing of CLC Meetings • Membership • Length of Term • Attendance • Record Keeping • Media Protocol


CLC Member Agreement

• Provided with Terms of Reference • To be signed by all CLC Members • Please provide before leaving today • Conflicts of Interest


3. Project Background

1. Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan 2. Feasibility Study


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


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


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


4. East Don Trail EA

1. Study Areas 2. Opportunity Statement 3. Project Objectives 4. Environmental Assessment (EA) Process 5. Proposed Timeline


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


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.


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


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


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


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


5. Public Consultation

1. Public Consultation Plan 2. Public Consultation Schedule 3. Summary of Public Meeting #1


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


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


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


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


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


Physical Environment • Potential Slope

Stability Issues


Physical Environment • Steep Grades • Limited Space

Limited space

Steep Slopes


Natural Environment • Species at Risk • Wildlife Use • Potential

Environmentally Significant Area

• Local Wetlands • Natural Cover


Natural Environment • Potential

Environmentally Significant Area (ESA)

• Species at Risk (SAR)

Potential ESA

SAR


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


Socio – Economic Environment Infrastructure • Rail Line • Hydro Corridor • Enbridge Pipeline • Toronto Water

Access route • Sanitary Sewer


Socio – Economic Environment Land Use • Former Landfills • Flemingdon Golf

Course • Current Use


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


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”


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/

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

East Don Trail - Toronto · April 22, 2013 . East Don Trail Environment Assessment . Agenda . 1. ... Presentation & Facilitated Discussion • Materials • Handouts and Binders