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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-012-20Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: Joint Committees Date of Meeting: April 27, 2020 Report Number: PSD-012-20 Submitted By: Faye Langmaid, Acting Director of Planning Services Reviewed By: Andrew C. Allison, CAO By-law Number: File Number: PLN 15.2.2 Resolution#: JC-073-20, C-202-20, C-213-20, GG-110-20, C-235-20 Report Subject: Cedar Crest Beach Update – Beach Erosion / Property Loss Study Recommendations: 1.That Report PSD-012-20 be received; 2.That in accordance with the Purchasing By-law the lower of the bids from the qualified consultants will be awarded the consulting contract, to the maximum of the $30,000 budget for the completion of the Cedar Crest Beach Erosion/Property Loss Study; 3.That Staff report back to Council with the results of the study, once completed; and 4.That all interested parties listed in Report PSD-012-20, including all landowners in the Port Darlington (west shore) reach and any delegations, be advised of Council’s decision. Municipality of Clarington Page 2 Report PSD-012-20 1. Background 1.1 Report CAO-006-19 dated June 17, 2019 outlines the history and background of the actions that have been taken over the past 3-4 years by the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) and the Municipality with regard to the multiple natural hazards present in the Port Darlington (west shore) reach of Lake Ontario shoreline. These include lake flooding, erosion and dynamic beach, and riverine flood hazard from the adjacent Westside Creek, Bowmanville/Soper Creek and marsh systems. The specific area of study has been the Port Darlington (west shore) reach of the lakefront; 1800 metres from St. Marys to the piers at Bowmanville Creek. 1.2 Section 1 in CAO-006-19 (specifically 1.1 to 1.8), outlines the history of actions taken up to June 17, 2019. 1.3 As a result of the June 17, 2019 report Council passed Resolution #C-275-19 on July 2, 2019. This resolution had a number of requests of staff which are outlined and the actions taken were reported in CAO-010-19. 1.4 The purpose of this report is to address: That Clarington Staff provide a report to Council on the quantum of waterfront property and public beach that have been lost along Cedar Crest Beach Road since the St. Marys / Votorantim dock expansion took place due to erosion and all other environmental factors and report back to Committee in September 2019; 1.5 Section 3 of CAO-010-19 recommended a course of action to obtain an answer to the question posed above. Council tabled the report. However, during the 2020 budget deliberations Council approved $30,000 for the consulting assignment to determine a response to the above noted question. At the April 14, 2020 Council meeting the report was lifted from the table and Staff asked to: Report Overview The residents of the Cedar Crest Beach Road portion of the Port Darlington (west shore) reach have experienced flooding in 2017, 2019 and most likely will again in 2020. The residents approached the Municipality and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority seeking a solution to address shoreline erosion. CLOCA retained consultants who proposed options for shoreline protection. The shoreline protection regardless of the option reviewed flooding and erosion hazards and pursued requires major infrastructure funding and would not eliminate flooding hazards. To obtain such funding from governmental sources a “public benefit” must be demonstrated. A project outline for the consulting study titled Cedar Crest Beach Erosion/Property Loss Study has been circulated to two qualified consultants. Funding of $30,000 was approved in the 2020 Budget by the Municipality to fund this consulting study. Municipality of Clarington Page 3 Report PSD-012-20 With respect to paragraphs 2 and 3, staff are to report back on April 27th, 2020 as to whether Zuzek Inc. or Baird is the most appropriate option to undertake the Cedar Crest Beach Erosion/Property Loss Study. 1.6 Zuzek Inc. has been providing professional services for 25 years dedicated to increasing the health and resilience of the world’s coastal communities and ecosystems. The consulting team have extensive experience managing complex multidisciplinary investigations on coastal erosion and flooding, risk assessments, coastal zone planning, shoreline management plan development, water quality investigations, habitat protection and restoration, living shorelines, and climate change adaptation. 1.7 Baird has been providing professional services for almost 40 years dedicated to the best in engineering and science in coastal, riverine, estuarine and ocean environments. Baird is dedicated to bringing their clients expertise and passion on every project. Baird has worked exclusively ‘where water meets land’ in river, estuary and coastal environments for almost four decades. The consulting team are scientists, engineers and designers specializing in professional services exclusively for projects at the land-water interface. We undertake projects ranging in size from small planning studies to designs of large development projects. 2. The Consulting Assignment 2.1 Attachment 1 to Report CAO-010-19 was the project outline for the work to be carried out. This project outline has been provided to Baird for them to prepare a quote and provide a timeframe for the completion of the work. It has been previously provided to Zuzek and a proposal received. 2.2 In discussion with CLOCA Staff they believe both consultants are equally qualified to complete the assignment. The difference is that Zuzek has recently been working on the Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Plan Update and has completed specific tasks such as: • Detail bathymetric (multibeam) and topographic surveys of the study area including the latest lakebed and beach elevation information, existing conditions, and historic information. • The numerical modelling of waves, hydrodynamics and sediment transport along the shoreline which are used to assess any potential impact of the piers on flood levels as par of the hydrodynamic modelling. 2.3 Baird has been informed of this work and assured they would be provided access to the data. Baird is taking this into consideration in preparation of their response to the project outline which was provide to them on April 15, 2020 (should we receive it prior to Council we will provide an update memo). Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Report PSD-012-20 2.4 Baird has already provided a proposal to CLOCA for additional work as a result of the following question from the November 19, 2019 CLOCA Board meeting: Report back to the Board with written clarification from Baird regarding Baird’s comments in the report about the impact the St. Marys Pier has had on erosion by starving the beaches along Cedar Crest in Clarington and specifically, whether Baird believes the pier is a significant contributor to erosion; and report back to the Board if there is an fee associated. 2.5 Baird’s proposal was included in the March 17, 2020 report by CLOCA Staff to the Board. The question being asked by the CLOCA Board, while having similar elements, differs from the question Clarington is seeking to answer. The difference is with regard to the “public asset”, the public beach, that has been lost. It is well understood that the Federal Government approved the St. Marys Pier and that natural forces have a far greater effect. 3. Comments Quantum of waterfront property and public beach lost along Cedar Crest Beach Road 3.1 The importance of determining the quantum of public beach lost relates to the potential for seeking and pursuing funding for the construction of shoreline erosion protection works. 3.2 Sections 3.2 to 3.5 in CAO-010-19 outline that a consultant with expertise in coastal engineering is required to determine the quantum due to erosion and environmental factors. It also outlines the works which have occurred to date and are to be taken into consideration. 3.3 Section 3.8 of CAO-010-19 outlines the work by Municipal and CLOCA staff with regard to review of historical records, aerial photographs, subdivision plans and land ownership records a review of which clearly demonstrates public ownership of a “beach” has not been applicable to this area. Unlike West Beach dedication of a beach block was never part of the subdivision plan along Cedar Crest Beach Road. Additional considerations 3.4 The potential funding options available to implement the recommended options by Baird as part of the Port Darlington (West Shore) Shoreline Management Report by AquaSolutions are the subject of Section 5 of CAO-010-19. The conclusions (Section 5.18 to 5.20) were: • No clear path to public monies being available to fund Option 3 or any option, existed. • In the absence of land acquisition, showing a “public benefit” was not likely. Municipality of Clarington Page 5 Report PSD-012-20 • Regardless of the two forgoing items a significant investment of local funding of at least $9.6 million, plus 100% of associated permitting, planning, Environmental Assessment, public consultation and design would be required should the Federal or Provincial Government provide funding. 3.5 Clarington has yet to act upon the CLOCA Board Resolution requesting the Municipality implement the Regulatory Shoreline Policies set out in the Official Plan through the Zoning By-law review as the rural portion has been tabled. Section 3 of CAO-006-19 sets out the policies and history of the Residential Shoreline (RS) Zone. At this time the draft zoning mapping released in November 2018 shows the entirety of the shoreline as a special study area. The study is the Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Plan Update which will recommend a new regulatory shoreline erosion setback. This study is nearing completion and is to be released in June 2020. 4. Concurrence This report has been reviewed by the Acting Director of Engineering Services, Municipal Solicitor who concur with the recommendation. 5. Conclusion 5.1 The upset limit of $30,000 has been established by the budget approval for this project. 5.2 It is respectfully recommended that once both quotes have been received, in keeping with the Purchasing By-law, the contract for the Cedar Crest Beach Erosion/Property Loss Study will be awarded to the lower of the proposals for the project outline. Staff Contact: Faye Langmaid, Acting Director of Planning Services, 905-623-3379 x2407, flangmaid@clarington.net Interested Parties: List of Interested Parties available from Department.