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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-034-13 Clarftwn REPORT PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: May 6, 2013 Resolution#: By-law#: Report#: PSD-034-13 File#: PLN 33.4 Subject: PORT GRANBY PROJECT END USE MANAGEMENT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PSD-034-13 be received; 2. THAT Council endorse the expenditure of funds from the Port Granby Reserve Fund, up to a maximum of$10,000, to retain the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority to undertake the Management Plan for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve; 3. THAT Council's decision and a copy of Report PSD-034-13 be forwarded to the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, the Municipality of Port Hope, Erin O'Toole, M.P., Natural Resources Canada, the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office, and the South East Clarington Ratepayers Association; and 4. THAT all interested parties listed in Report PSD-034-13 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Submitted by: Reviewed by: David J. Crome, MCIP, RPP Franklin Wu, Director of Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer CS/CP/df 18 April 2013 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 REPORT NO.: PSD-03413 PAGE 2 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 As part of the Port Granby Project, the Government of Canada has purchased 270 ha of land from Cameco Corporation in the Port Granby area (see Attachment 1). These lands include the existing Port Granby Waste Management Facility (Parcel 1A — 17.5 ha), the site of the new Long Term Waste Management Facility (Parcel 2A - approximately 50 ha), and a 19 ha parcel in the Municipality of Port Hope (eastern part of Parcel 4). 1.2 Both the the existing and new waste management facilities will continue to be licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) after the construction phase of the Port Granby Project. Given that the existing waste facility will be remediated, the licensing requirement for most of the site may be removed within a few years after project completion. The new long term waste management facility will be subject to CNSC licensing requirements for several hundred years, although the actual licensed area may be reduced over time to only include the storage mound, the waste water treatment plant, and a surrounding protective area. 1.3 Specific end uses for the existing and new waste facilities have not been determined, although passive uses that would be compatible with the maintenance and monitoring requirements of the two sites have been assumed. In 2007, the Municipality and the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office established an End Use Advisory Committee to develop land use options for the Port Granby Project lands. The membership of Committee included the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) and two Port Granby area residents. The Committee was assisted in its work by landscape architects and ecologists retained by the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office. 1.4 The initial focus of the Committee's work was to develop an end use plan for the existing and new waste management facility lands that would restore and enhance their ecological and natural heritage attributes. However, the Committee also recognized the unique opportunity provided by having a large block of land in public ownership along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Accordingly, the Committee expanded its focus to include all of the federal land holdings in the Port Granby area. 1.5 The End Use Advisory Committee report, which was completed in March 2010, recommended the adoption of a restoration and conservation landscape concept for the entire 270 ha under federal ownership (see Attachment 2). This concept, identified as the "Full Concept" in the report, was viewed as having the greatest potential to create a variety of habitats, environmental linkages and other compatible uses on the Port Granby lands. 1.6 Council considered and endorsed the End Use Advisory Committee's report through Staff Report PSD-051-10. Council also resolved to request the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office and Natural Resources Canada to initiate discussions with the Municipalities of Clarington and Port Hope and the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority regarding the implementation of the Full Concept, including the ownership and REPORT NO.: P D-034-13 PAGE 3 management of the lands. Port Hope Council and the GRCA Board have also endorsed the End Use Advisory Committee's report. 2. INITIAL WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE END USE CONCEPT 2.1 As previously noted, the federal government will retain ownership of the existing waste site, at least in the short term, and the lands required for the Long Term Waste Management Facility. These two sites together have an area of approximately 70 ha, leaving about 200 ha (Parcels 1 B, 2B, 3, 4 and 5 on Attachment 1) as surplus to the federal government's requirements for the Port Granby Project. Implementation of the Full End Use Concept for all of the Port Granby lands will require the federal government to transfer ownership of the surplus lands to an appropriate organization at minimal or no cost. 2.2 It is important to note that, although the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office participated in the preparation of the End Use Advisory Committee Report, their involvement does not constitute federal government support for and concurrence with the Full Concept. Rather, the Government of Canada, as represented by Natural Resources Canada, has advised municipal representatives that a rationale will be required as to why ownership of the surplus lands should be transferred at less than fair market value. 2.3 Beginning in July 2012, municipal staff from Clarington and Port Hope, as well as GRCA staff and Port Granby residents, formed a working group to further the implementation of the Full Concept for the Port Granby lands, referred to as the "Port Granby Ecological Reserve". The objectives of this working group have been to develop a governance structure and a Management Plan for the Ecological Reserve. As illustrated by Attachment 3 and as discussed below, both of these are key elements of a "Business Plan" for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve and are critical to providing the rationale required by the federal government as noted above. 2.4 Governance Structure 2.4.1 The creation of a governance structure for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve will be required to manage the Reserve and to guide the implementation of the End Use Concept. It will also provide a framework within which government agencies, non- government groups and the public can participate, and demonstrate to the federal government that the the surplus lands will be effectively managed. The "Port Granby Alliance" is a working name to describe the governing body for the Ecological Reserve. 2.4.2 A number of issues need to be addressed in determining the most appropriate structure for the Alliance. These issues include: membership, mandate and decision-making responsibilities; the ownership of the lands within the Reserve; plus sources and expenditure of the funds required to implement the Full End Use Concept. REPORT NO.: PSD-034-13 PAGE 4 2.4.3 The working group has discussed a number of possible governance models and has looked at other similar organizations such as the Samuel Wilmot Nature Reserve, Valleys 2000, and the Rouge River Alliance. It has also explored the use of land trusts and conservation easements to ensure appropriate protection for the lands within the Reserve. Staff will report to Council at a later date on governance issues for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve. 2.5 Management Plan 2.5.1 The preparation of a Management Plan is necessary to guide the work to implement the Full End Use Concept for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve over the short term and long term. The Plan will describe how individual parcels will be used and will provide detailed site and planting plans. It will also include a conceptual capital works plan, an operations and maintenance plan, recommended monitoring activities, and a strategy for community involvement and awareness. 2.5.2 A key component of the Management Plan will be the undertaking of an Environmental Inventory of the lands covered by the Full End Use Concept. This inventory will provide crucial information on existing conditions within the Reserve lands such as flora, fauna, soils and hydrogeology, and will help establish a baseline to allow changes in the Reserve and the health of ecosystems to be tracked over time. It will be important to initiate this work in Spring 2013 and have it completed by the end of 2013 prior to any major construction activities occurring on the Port Granby lands. 2.5.3 Draft Terms of Reference for the Management Plan for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve are included in Attachment 4. The cost of having GRCA staff prepare the Management Plan, including the environmental inventory, is estimated to be $10,000. GRCA staff have indicated that the Plan would be completed by the end of 2013. 2.5.4 Currently, most of the federal lands (except for the existing and new waste sites) are being rented for agriculture and will continue to be cropped on an interim basis. 3. PORT GRANBY RESERVE FUND 3.1 Staff Report FND-018-12, considered by Council in June 2012, discussed the disposition of the $10 Million Host Community Fee and associated interest for the Port Granby Project. Council resolved in part "that the existing Port Granby Reserve Fund be maintained and directed in future to achieve Council objectives pertaining to the End Use Plan and other mitigation measures as deemed necessary". The Port Granby Reserve Fund currently has a balance of$156,000 drawn from interest on the Host Community Fee. 3.2 Funding the preparation of the Management Plan for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve is consistent with Council's direction on the use of these funds. Retaining GRCA to undertake the work is logical and cost effective given the Authority's recent watershed planning work in the Port Granby area and their involvement in the development and implementation of the End Use Concept. REPORT NO.: PSD-034-13 PAGE 5 4. CONCURRENCE 4.1 This report has been reviewed by Jerry Barber, Manager of Purchasing, who concurs with its recommendations. 5. CONCLUSION 5.1 It is important to maintain the momentum created by Council's endorsement of the Full End Use Concept for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve. The preparation of the Management Plan for the Reserve, together with formulating a governance structure for the Port Granby Alliance, are critical to ensuring that End Use Concept is implemented. CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN The recommendations contained in this report conform to the general intent of the following priorities of the Strategic Plan: X Promoting economic development Maintaining financial stability Connecting Clarington X Promoting green initiatives Investing in infrastructure X Showcasing our community Not in conformity with Strategic Plan Staff Contact: Janice Szwarz, Principal Planner Attachments: Attachment 1 - Federal Land Holdings in Port Granby area Attachment 2 - Full End Use Concept for Port Granby Ecological Reserve Attachment 3 - Business Plan Development Process Attachment 4 - Draft Terms of Reference: Port Granby Ecological Reserve Management Plan List of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: Linda Laliberte Carl Cannon Erin O'Toole David McCauley Craig Hebert Frances Brooks Attachment 1 To Report PSD-034-13 V max` r m _ I r lip IV" ; iY sf n yg , No onto , 5 x, �x :. CID oil C13 A cm.TV IWA x e ' n s e f§€ t5 r4 �$*� „g,'��' al IMIMPAT t" Nam MA Nil 0 e LVD AIM Tiny oil WITm ' ; l Port Granby - Long-term Low- Level Radioactive Waste Management Project End Use Landscape, & Design Concept Figure 11 - Preferred Design Concept - i Not to Sale n J AECL ?uJI n MOON amec- 0 (D 0 � D C/) v o � o3 W T, (D(D W N Port Granby Ecological Reserve "Leaving an honourable legacy for future generations". Port Granby Project Ecology First, End Use Advisory Committee Report, March 2010 Prepare and approve Management Plan for the Ecological Reserve •To provide guidance for restoration of lands based on "Full Concept". •To demonstrate the Alliance's competency to manage the Reserve in both the short & long terms •To provide a context for federally retained lands •To provide for possibility of future expansion of Reserve II cD 0 � D C sv 0 o3 W0 i.J W Attachment 4 To Report PSD-034-13 TERMS OF REFERENCE PORT GRANBY ECOLOGICAL RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT— MARCH 2013) INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 1.0 PURPOSE OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.1 To guide the restoration of the "Full Concept" lands based on the Port Granby Project Ecology First, End Use Advisory Committee Report, March 2010. 1.2 To demonstrate to the Government of Canada and municipal Councils that the "Port Granby Alliance" has the ability to implement the Full Concept and to manage the Port Granby Ecological Reserve in the short term and long term. 1.3 To provide a framework for the lands that will remain under the control of the Government of Canada and ensure they support and enhance the implementation of the Full Concept. 1.4 To provide for the possible inclusion of additional lands into the Port Granby Ecological Reserve. 2.0 BASIS OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2.1 To use an "environment first" strategy to implement the Full Concept. 2.2 To restore the Lake Ontario Shoreline ecosystem through the creation of a variety of wildlife habitats, environmental linkages and land uses on the Full Concept lands. 2.3 To take a phased approach to the implementation of the Full Concept through the use of detailed short term strategies, budgets and work plans. 3.0 ASSUMPTIONS 3.1 An appropriate governance and funding structure for the Port Granby Ecological Reserve will be approved and established. 3.2 The Government of Canada will transfer ownership of its surplus land holdings to an appropriate public agency for the purposes of implementing the Full Concept. 3.3 The Management Plan will not deal directly with the lands within the Port Granby Waste Management Facility or the the Port Granby Long Term Waste Management Facility. 3.4 Restoration and landscaping work undertaken by the the Government of Canada on its lands, both during and after the completion of the Port Granby Project, will support and be consistent with the "Full Concept" and the March 2010 End Use Report and this Management Plan. 3.5 The Management Plan will be endorsed by the Councils of the Municipality of Clarington and the Municipality of Port Hope, and by the Board of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority. 3.6 The "Pre-Alliance Management Committee" will be fully involved in the development of the Management Plan. 4.0 OPPORTUNITIES 4.1 Public and community involvement in the implementation of the Full Concept. 4.2 Provincial emphasis on Lake Ontario restoration (e.g., Great Lakes Strategy and community funds). 4.3 Climate change carbon sequestering opportunities 4.4 Possible integration of local community and cultural assets into the planning process. 4.5 Continuing involvement of the Pre-Alliance Management Committee. 4.6 Ability of plan to support local environmental planning initiatives e.g. Lovekin Creek, Bouchette Point Creek, and Port Granby Creek Watershed Plan, and Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority Natural Heritage Strategy, 5.0 CHALLENGES 5.1 Ensure to the extent possible that the work undertaken by the Port Hope Area Initiative as part of the Port Granby Project is integrated with and supports the implementation of the Management Plan. 5.2 Provide sufficient flexibility in the planning and implementation process to address Port Granby Project works that do not necessarily fit into the overall long-term restoration objectives. 5.3 Cumulative uncontrollable threats such as climate change and invasive species that may challenge the ability of the restoration plan to be implemented successfully. THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 6.0 COMPONENTS OF A MANAGEMENT PLAN 6.1 Environmental Inventory This inventory will be the collection of ecological information required to make informed decisions about the management of natural spaces on the "Full Concept" land holdings. Ecological information (flora and fauna, soils, and hydrologic/hydrogeological conditions) collected will be synthesized to allow interpretation and guidance through the decision making process. This work will assist in establishing a baseline to allow tracking of changes over time to determine the "health" of ecosystems and whether species are increasing within and adapting to restored sites. 6.2 Use of Lands A plan will describe how the "Full Concept" land holdings will be specifically used on a parcel by parcel basis. This will include a description of agricultural uses, natural areas, public access and educational uses. The support and input of the Pre-Alliance Management Committee will be important in the development of this plan. 6.3. Implementation Plan A conceptual capital works plan will be developed describing the investment required to protect and rehabilitate natural features as well as improve passive recreational opportunities. This will include recommended parcel/block planting plans, a preliminary shoreline naturalization plan, recommended block/parcel capital project plans, and a preliminary waterfront trail/rest area development plans. 6.4 Operations and Maintenance A fiscally responsible plan defining routine, ongoing operating and maintenance activities and equipment is needed to ensure a clean, safe, and naturalized "Full Concept" land holdings. Recommendations regarding options for operation and maintenance of the land holdings, including cost implications will be prepared. The plan will consider and or address future threats such as invasive species and climate change. 6.5 Community Involvement and Awareness A strategy for environmental education opportunities, natural area stewardship programs and community involvement activities. The strategy would also respond to public access/uses of the "Full Concept" land holdings. 6.6 Monitoring A description of recommended monitoring activities will be created to assist in evaluation of the effectiveness of implementing the "Full Concept" on the subject land holdings. The monitoring activities will allow for future adaptive management to occur in addressing new opportunities or threats. 6.7 Timelines and Costs The time required to complete the Port Granby "Full Concept" Management Plan will depend on discussions with the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office and the Port Granby pre- Alliance committee, but should be completed by the end of 2013. The cost of Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority staff to complete the work is estimated at $10,000. 7.0 DETAILED MANAGEMENT PLAN 7.1 The detailed Management Plan will be based on the "Full Concept" recommendation, and will take a phased approach to implementation. 7.2 The detailed Management Plan will include a detailed site plan and planting prescriptions and will provide the basis for annual budgeting over the first five years after approval of the Plan. 7.3 The detailed Management Plan will reflect the following priorities: 1. Restoration of Block 5; 2. Restoration of old growth and interior forest communities; 3. Restoration of Parcels 1B and 4; 4. Restoration of Parcel 3; 5. Conversion of some lands from intensive agriculture to hay pasture; and 6. The planting of vegetative screening buffers by the Port Hope Area Initiative on the north side of Lakeshore Road, the east side of of Elliot Road, and the west side of Nichols Road.