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Staff Report
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Report To: General Government Committee
Date of Meeting: April 11, 2022 Report Number: PWD-013-22
Submitted By: Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works
Reviewed By:
File Number:
Mary -Anne Dempster, CAO Resolution#: GG-192-22
Report Subject: Trudeau Drive Walkway
Recommendations:
By-law Number:
1. That Report PWD-013-22, and any related communication items, be received; and
2. That all interested parties listed in Report PWD-013-22, and any delegations, be
advised of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PWD-013-22
Report Overview
Page 2
This report provides additional background regarding the concerns with the Trudeau Drive
Walkway. In accordance with Resolution #GG-106-22, potential options to address the
reported issues have been outlined within.
1. Background
1.1 At the February 28, 2022, General Government Committee meeting, Resolution #GG-
106-22 was referred to the April 11, 2022, General Government Committee meeting to
report back on options on how to proceed on addressing the issues with the Trudeau
Drive Walkway.
1.2 The proposed Resolution #GG-106-22, dealing with the matter, reads as follows:
Whereas residents in the vicinity of the Trudeau Drive walkway have been
subjected to vandalism, graffiti, crime, smoking and swearing; as a result of
teenagers gathering on the street at the beginning of the school day, the end
of the school day and during the school day;
And whereas residents on Trudeau Drive may experience slower emergency
response times from ambulance and fire due to personal vehicles of parents
dropping off children causing congestion in the street before and after
school;
And whereas Council has been attempting to fix this issue for approximately
ten years, including holding several meetings with two principals of
Bowmanville High School, holding a public meeting with Staff and residents
and the School Board at Bowmanville High School, canvassing the
neighbourhood in December 2012 and a Council resolution to install No
Stopping signs and Miovision cameras in an effort to address the ongoing
issues without closing the walkway;
And whereas the problems not only persist but have gotten worse in recent
years, resulting in at least one resident moving away from the
neighbourhood and another resident being too afraid to speak up for fear of
retaliation by students with student massing continuing in the walkway and
adjoining street at all hours of the day and night;
Municipality of Clarington Page 3
Report PWD-013-22
And whereas young children who currently use the walkway to access the
Duke of Cambridge can access the elementary school via Liberty Street
which is a minor detour, and will have a safer walk to school with less
exposure to cigarette smoke and bullying by teenagers in the walkway;
Now therefore be it resolved:
That Staff, Durham Region Police Service, and any interested
members of Council, meet with Scott Johnson, Bowmanville High
School principal, and members of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District
School Board to discuss a potential resolution of the Trudeau Drive
Walkway issue, including (but not limited to): moving the smoking
section to another location on school property and prohibiting of pick-
ups and drop-offs from Trudeau Drive; and
That a survey (online and paper) be conducted, of all residents on
Marchwood Crescent and Trudeau Drive, on whether residents
support:
a) closure of the walkway, or
b) keeping the walkway open but prohibiting pick-ups and drop
offs on Trudeau Drive and moving the smoking section from the
walkway to another area on school property (i.e. at the east end
of the field or in the parking lot of Bowmanville High School).
2. Municipal Law Enforcement
Smoking on School Property
2.1 The Smoke -Free Ontario Act sets out several prohibitions on smoking in public places,
including a prohibition against smoking on lands and premises used in connection with a
school.
2.2 In Report EGD-030-13, it was proposed that a certain area of the school property be
declared surplus to their needs and dedicated for use as a smoking area. The specific
location proposed for this was an area adjacent to the driveway entrance. This is an
issue that could be revisited in discussion with School Board representatives.
Municipality of Clarington Page 4
Report PWD-013-22
Existing No Stopping/No Parking Restrictions in Traffic By-law
2.3 Existing parking prohibitions on Trudeau Drive as per the By-law 2014-059, the Traffic
By-law, are as follows: no parking with in 1 m of a driveway; no parking longer then 3
hours. "No parking" signs were also erected on the southerly portion of Trudeau Drive in
2013 after Council adopted the recommendations from Report EGD-030-13. The no
parking restriction was for specified times that coincide with school drop offs and pick
ups.
2.4 Between 2013 and 2016 the signs were reposted as "no stopping". In Report EGD-030-
16 Staff requested the signs be reposted as No -Parking. Current signs have remained
as No Stopping. The prohibitions currently in effect are Monday to Friday from 8:00
a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Current Frequency of Enforcement during School Times (Start/End)
2.5 Prior to March of 2020, the street in the vicinity of the Trudeau Dr. walkway was
included in the school enforcement rotation. Since that time, regular patrols have been
prioritized to other school locations where traffic problems are more severe.
2.6 The frequency of enforcement activity in the vicinity of Trudeau Dr. is currently tied to
resident complaints. Most of the complaints received on Trudeau Dr. are for parking
longer than three hours, parking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., blocking sidewalks, and
parking that interferes with driveway access and visibility.
2.7 It has been observed by Municipal Law Enforcement Officers that parking/stopping on
Trudeau Dr. during school hours at the walkway is brief in time and does not interfere
with the flow of traffic. This observation was also captured during an assessment with
Miovision Camera in 2016 as reported in Report EGD-030-16. Vehicles that are
observed in the no stopping zone during school start and end times, are generally
unoccupied and officers have noted they are generally owned by adjacent property
owners.
2.8 Trudeau Dr. provides a comparatively safe and accessible area for parents to drop off
students. Many other school zones experience a higher volume of traffic and
pedestrians, closer proximity to intersections, the presence of crossing guards, and
higher incidences of jaywalking and hazardous traffic movements. Illegal parking in
these more congested areas pose a much higher risk to students as sightlines are
impeded at crossings, and there are more hazards associated with traffic.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PWD-013-22
3. Public Works
Walkway Closure
Page 5
3.1 The draft motion references gathering information from residents regarding their view on
the potential closure of the Trudeau Drive walkway.
3.2 Staff agree that public consultation is an important step in such a decision.
3.3 Extensive public consultation was conducted in 2013 concerning issues associated with
the walkway and its potential closure. This included a public open house that was
conducted in April of 2013.
3.4 The result of these previous consultations was the recommendations presented in
Report EDG-030-13 and their subsequent implementation.
3.5 The objective of these recommendations was to respond to complaints and concerns,
although their effectiveness may have been less than hoped.
3.6 While some of the input obtained in the past has reflected a desire to close the walkway,
this view is by no means universal. According to the input already obtained from
different public agencies, the walkway is an important pedestrian link that alleviates
some of the traffic and pedestrian safety concerns that are currently present on Liberty
Street. There is a segment of the resident population that rely on the walkway who also
would not be in favour of its closure.
3.7 However, if Council determine that closure of the walkway is the best course of action
there are some different options to consider.
3.8 One option would be to install fencing at either end of the walkway to present a barrier
to entry by the public. If this option is chosen, there would be potential implications for
how the walkway could be expected to deteriorate or be vandalized over time, which
would become a likely source of other complaints.
3.9 Another option would be to solicit interest in the sale of the property to the owners
directly adjacent to the walkway.
3.10 Implementing the sale of the walkway would involve the administrative costs of
surveying and conveyancing, and possibly appraisal. If this option was selected, Council
should have some consideration for how these costs would be allocated.
Municipality of Clarington Page 6
Report PWD-013-22
4. Planning and Development Services
4.1 The Trudeau Walkway (known as Block 29) was created and dedicated to the
Municipality in 2002, through the registration of Plan of Subdivision 40M-2107 and the
associated Subdivision Agreement (10M-800). Staff would suggest that, at that time, the
walkway was specifically created to provide connectivity to the existing adjacent school
(Bowmanville High School) and points beyond, which now include other public and
institutional properties (Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre and the Duke of
Cambridge Public School). This promotes active transportation and provides a desirable
route for people (specifically students of the schools) to safely and efficiently access the
facilities from the Trudeau Drive neighbourhood and other adjacent neighbourhoods.
4.2 It should be noted that the land use permission conditions of the Subdivision Agreement
specifically limit the use of Block 29 to a "Walkway".
4.3 Staff acknowledges that the development of the subdivision, including the walkway,
predates current local polices. However, it is appropriate for Council to be informed of
current applicable policies that relate to pedestrian walkways, connectivity, and active
transportation when considering the future of the Trudeau Drive Walkway.
4.4 The walkability policies in the Official Plan (5.2.2 and 5.2.4) support the creation of
neighbourhoods that give priority to walkability, connected communities and the creation
of a built environment that gives priority to walkable design and facilitates an active
transportation system, which would include walking and biking.
4.5 Policy 5.3.2 of the Official Plan addresses the public realm and states that public streets
will be designed to provide an interconnected grid -like pattern of streets and blocks that
are walkable and flexible. This is to be achieved by considering items such as natural
features and terrain, limiting lengths of streets and blocks to assist with pedestrian and
bicycle circulation and having a convenient system of sidewalks. Specifically related to
a case of this nature, Policy 5.3.2 also stipulates that the design of the public realm of
neighbourhoods should not incorporate measures to restrict access and circulation
through neighbourhoods.
4.6 In addition to the above, the Official Plan provides policy guidance related to schools.
Policy 18.5.2 stipulates that schools will be sited and designed to provide a visual and
functional focus for neighbourhood activity. In addition, schools shall be sited in
consideration of a number of factors including access to multi -modal transportation
connectivity to the planned catchment area and providing safe pedestrian and bicycle
routes for students. Staff understand that these policies are designed to guide new
schools. Notwithstanding, the policies provide context for good planning that considers
the relationship between schools and the neighbourhoods and areas they serve.
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Report PWD-013-22
4.7 To gain an understanding of the area the Director of Planning and Development
Services attended the location on March 30, 2022 between approximately 11:00 am and
12:00pm. In a time span of approximately 10 to 15 minutes it was observed that
approximately 12-15 students accessed the walkway to gain access to Trudeau Drive
(sidewalk) and to connect through an existing trail to the east that provides access to
the Squire Fletcher Drive neighbourhood. Based on this anecdotal observation, it
appears that the walkway is serving the connectivity function for which it was designed
and a clear pedestrian desire line was observed.
4.8 Finally, Planning and Development Staff would suggest that Council consider the design
elements of the area when working with the stakeholders (school, neighbours) to
determine options and solutions. Often the use, functionality, safety and attractiveness
of a space is as a result of design. In this case, the walkway entrance on the school side
is relatively hidden by portables and school service areas and is "closed off" by board
fencing and overgrown vegetation. In this instance, if the walkway is to remain, it is
suggested that design options be reviewed and discussed that would create a more
attractive, visible and safe space for all users and adjacent neighbours.
5. Outcome of Meeting with Interested Parties
Recent contact has been made with Mr. Scott Johnson, the principal of Bowmanville
High School. Mr. Johnson has confirmed that he has knowledge of the reported
walkway concerns but is not aware of any major problems. It has been indicated by Mr.
Johnson that he will be available for further dialogue, or a future meeting, if required.
6. Concurrence
This report has been created and reviewed by the Director of Legislative Services and
Planning and Development Services who concur with the recommendations.
7. Conclusion
It is respectfully recommended that Council receive this report for information.
Staff Contact:
Rob Maciver, Director of Legislative Services/Municipal Solicitor, 905-623-3379 ext. 2013 or
rmaciver(a)-clarington.net.
Ryan Windle, Director of Planning and Development, 905-623-3379 ext. 2402 or
rwindle(o-)_clarington.net
Municipality of Clarington
Report PWD-013-22
Attachments:
Not Applicable
Interested Parties:
The following interested parties will be notified of Council's decision:
Nik Papanikolas
Dave Zakos
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