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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/05/2007 Minutes CI!J!illgtnn 1-1 MINUTES OF THE CLARINGTON HWY. 407 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE PRESENT: Bradford Soles Denise Pickett John Sturdy Andrew Bouma Mark Canning Jean-Maurice Cormier Jo-Anne McFarland Linda Gasser Fred Biesenthal Karina Isert Councillor Mary Novak REGRETS: Mark Bragg Mark Hawkins Staff in Attendance: Janice Szwarz - Planning Services Liaison Sharon Norris - Recording Secretary DATE: December 5,2007 RE: HIGHWAY 407 EAST CAC MEETINi' December 4, 2007 Agenda Item Discussion Action Welcome Review of Draft Minutes t Pre-Amble e builds by 2013 then Federal government will provide funds for ts. Os Wa Chamber of Commerce and newspaper articles cite a completion date as early as 2012. It is recognized that technical and construction resources will be required simultaneously for a number of projects (e.g. 407 build, 401 widening). The Project Team stated that the resources would be available for a 2013 completion and that resources would also be available for Clarington. Regional Council stated that the 407 would not be built in stages, but rather in pieces that would be joined together at a later date. The benefit of this is that there would not be requests to use the completed portions of highway as they would not go anywhere. Report Review Review of staff report PSD-135-07, regarding Highway 407 EA - Municipality of Clarington comments on the alternative methods (route selection) report. Hand-outs provided. Council thanked the Clarington Highway 407 Committee along with the Clarington Agricultural Advisory Committee and Clarington Heritage Committee for their input and assistance in preparation of the report. Section 2.8.4 East Durham Link Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOC) has concerns with potential environmental affects of the East Link. They will make more detailed comments after the have received and reviewed the field reports. C!~.n MINUTES OF THE CLARINGTON HWY. 407 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Agenda Item Discussion Action The Project Team stated that it may be too expensive to mitigate the environmental impacts which would result in the East Link not being built. The East Link also may not receive EA approval. The committee could request a review of the issues now prior to further conclusions being made. The impact of not building an East Link is unknown. If the link were built and tolled - there are still other road options that travellers may opt for. This would increase traffic on our 10 ads. This highway won't generate construction along it as~i people will need the East Link to travel south t bO 401. It was noted that there is no link 404 to the West Link. It is believed that. south of Kirby t The Ma 4~ity Value Plan is. The Project Team indicated rrlanned for Hampton, however a committee in Hampton is unaware of any scheduled meeting. roperties in the 1990'5 had far less impact that now. Properties we rded up creating a totally different community. What happens to houses once the residents have moved out and they become rented or abandoned farm land. Section 3.3.4 All property owners on the recommended route have received a letter from MTO. It was noted that MTO needs to provide more information on advance purchases (pre EA approval). There is potential for many people to come forward at once and be subject to budgetary constraints. A prioritization process is needed to deal with this, Le. priority based on length of time, age, illness, etc. Every hardship case will be looked at. A $500 million budget is thought to be set for acquisitions. Property owners should check their property description to ensure its accuracy and begin monitoring their wells (to set a baseline). The potential for remnant parcels is huge in Clarington, and it was suggested that they could be planted or act as buffers to mitigate visual impact. This is the first time in a number of years that MTO will be building a 400 series highway, therefore they want to get it right and be accountable. Doug Allingham is considered a good project team leader with a good understanding of land use planning. The concern of the negative impact to the Courtice industrial park was raised. The Energy Park was recently approved by Council and the proposed Energy-from-Waste facility and Hydro all want land. Clw:.mgton MINUTES OF THE CLARINGTON HWY. 407 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Agenda Item Discussion Action Resolutions Cargowall will be gone, Jarrod's has had to alter their site, Police Services will be affected and Canadian Waste Management will lose their building (although this was understood at the time of construction). The East Link will remove the east end of the industrial park. It was suggested that the existing owners in the industrial park meet with MTO. Section 3.4.5 - Noise and Air Quality Impacts Dr. Pengelly is currently conducting research on particulate matter/air quality (smaller particulate matter disperses further). We have not haqan air quality expert look at this. Section 4.1.3 - Trans ortation Network 1m cantt:)eshown in relation hnicallymmended route. otect for additional bjectives of Clarington". This land will be acquired necessarily but lanning, Le. not having 7 gas stations or Puwas received at Regional Council to secure funds for CI Th ill be submitted to MOE in 2009 (revised timeline). Next stage is Functional Design, Le. ramp locations, spanning details, where the pillars will go, etc. MTO comments on our report: - agreed to remnant parcels concerns (also consistent with Greenbelt Plan) - surprised that staff did not endorse the route We cannot challenge route selection, but can challenge the EA process and accountability. We agreed with the arithmetic method of used. Errors and omissions can make a significant difference. Durham Region has endorsed the route. Whitby may endorse the link but have issues around Brooklin and doubt that trucks will use the 407 (assumption that it will be a tolled route), and they want a by-pass to deal with trucks. PIC's will be held in the spring (April) and in the fall. No new announcements are expected until February. The committee should stand firm against a toll-road. This would penalize Clarington and impact our environment. A privately owned toll road means that no money goes back to the community that is affected. A publicly owned toll road could recoup some of the costs. Any toll could potentially reduce use. The committee should have some involvement in road truncations. The Traffic Management Committee is looking for work. They would appreciate specific tasks related to the 407, such as the road truncations. CI~mgtnn MINUTES Agenda Item OF THE CLARINGTON HWY. 407 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Action Discussion There is an opportunity here for involvemenUcollaboration. Janice to speak to Janice Szwarz Leslie Benson on this. The 407 Brochure was approved with changes. The Project Team website will be added. A revised copy will be forwarded with these minutes. Meetin ad'ourned: 9:05 .m. Next Meeting Februa 5th, 2008 "