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DN: FLOODPLA.GPA REPORT
Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File L04-1, 4"""' �(�`„ , �
Date: Monday, March 7, 1994 Res. #
Report #:
PD -25 -94 File PLN 17.2.2.1 By-Law # —
_ -- --
PROPOSED REDUCTION OF THE REGULATORY FLOOD PLAIN ON THE HARMONY
Subject: AND FAREWELL CREEK WATERSHEDS
FILE: PLN 17.2.2.1
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD -25 -94 be received;
2. THAT the proposal by the City of Oshawa to reduce the
regulatory flood plain on the Harmony and Farewell Creek
watersheds from the Regional Storm to a 100 -year storm, be
endorsed in principle, subject to funding commitments from the
benefitting landowners to assume all costs required to
implement the reduction;
3. THAT the City of Oshawa be requested to assume the
administrative responsibility related to the requested
reduction in the Regulatory Flood, including advertising and
holding the required Public Open House; and
4. THAT the a copy of this Report and Council's decision be
forwarded to the City of Oshawa, the Region of Durham, the
Ministry of Natural Resources, the Central Lake Ontario
Conservation Authority and Mr. Mario Veltri.
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 On February 14, 1994, Council considered a letter from
the Deputy Clerk for the City of Oshawa. The letter
requested the Municipality of Clarington to give
consideration to approval, in principle, of the reduction
of the regulatory flood plain on the Harmony and Farewell
Creek watersheds from a Regional Storm to a 100 -year
storm.
D "4
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REPORT NO. PD -25 -94 PAGE 2
1.2 Council resolved to refer the correspondence to the
Director of Planning and Development for review and
preparation of a report to Committee.
2. PROPOSED FLOOD PLAIN REDUCTION
2.1 Nature of Request
2.1.1 In October 16, 1990, Veltri and Sons Corporation
requested the City of Oshawa to pass a resolution to
reduce the regulatory flood standard for the Harmony and
Farewell Creek Watersheds from the Regional Storm to the
100 -year flood standard. The requested reduction would
remove approximately 140 acres of land between the CN and
CP rail lines in south Oshawa from the regulatory flood
plain.
2.1.2 In April 1991, the City of Oshawa approved, in principle,
the reduction of the regulatory flood for the Harmony and
Farewell Creek watersheds, subject to financial
commitments from one or more of the benefitting
landowners to assume all costs required to implement the
reduction and the cost of enlarging the culvert for
Farewell Creek at the CN Rail embankment.
2.1.3 Mr. Veltri has indicated a willingness to fund any
necessary studies and works involved. However, before
entering into an agreement, he has requested some
agreement in principle, from interested parties, to the
concept of a reduced flood plain. The Municipality of
Clarington is considered an interested party in this
regard, given that a substantial portion of the Farewell
Creek watershed (including Black Creek), and to a lesser
extent the Harmony Creek watershed, lie within our
borders (see Attachment No. 1) . The letter from the City
....3
46
REPORT NO. PD -25 -94 PAGE 3
of Oshawa seeking Council's approval in principle of the
proposed flood plain reduction resulted from Mr. VeltriIs
request.
2.2 Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority Requirements
2.2.1 In December 1988, CLOCA indicated that they do not oppose
the reduction in the regulatory flood for the Harmony,
Farewell and Black Creek watersheds, although they noted
that they will not comment favourably to the Ministry of
Natural Resources regarding the request until 1:100 year
flood levels have been determined for the whole of the
subject watersheds. They also noted that the Town of
Newcastle should be an equal partner in the request to
change the flood standard.
2.2.2 Authority Staff have indicated that being a full partner
in the reduction of the regulatory flood would require
the Municipality to hold an advertised public meeting or
open house. The purpose of the open house would be to
provide interested persons with information on the
impacts of a reduction in the regulatory flood from the
Regional to the 100 -year storm, as well as to provide
opportunity for public input. Subsequently, Council
would pass a resolution to request the Minister of
Natural Resources to change the regulatory flood
standard.
3. COMMENTS
3.1 Any proposal to reduce the regulatory flood for a given
watershed needs to be reviewed in the context of
potential benefits and disadvantages to the Municipality.
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REPORT NO. PD -25 -94 PAGE 4
3.2 A principal concern is the increased potential for flood
damage and Municipal liability associated with allowing
development to proceed within the Regional floodline in
the event of a Regional- magnitude storm or other storm in
excess of the 100 -year storm. Conservation Authority
Staff indicated, in their review of the proposed flood
plain reduction, that as far as can be determined, a
1:100 year flood has not occurred in either watershed.
3.3 A reduction in the regulatory flood will also probably
not have any significant impact on municipal acquisition
of valleylands. Existing Official Plan policies relating
to valleyland acquisition indicate the lands below the
topographic break in slope (ie. top of bank) for
Farewell, Black and Harmony Creeks are to be dedicated
gratuitously to the Municipality. Future Official Plan
policies may place a setback requirement related to slope
stability and environmental sensitivity.
3.4 The Conservation Authority has also indicated that, in
agreeing to reduce the regulatory flood standard, the
Authority is not agreeing to relax its position with
regard to development encroachment into valleylands.
This is particularly significant in terms of the
sensitive nature of much of the Farewell Creek valley.
The Authority has indicated that it intends to continue
to apply the policy that lot lines are generally not to
encroach beyond the top of bank or the limit of the
sensitive area.
4. CONCLUSION
4.1 Although there does not appear to be any substantive
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X48
REPORT NO. PD -25 -94 PAGE 5
reasons to oppose the reduction, there also does not seem
to be any substantive benefit that would accrue to the
Municipality as a result of the reduced flood standard
for the Harmony and Farewell Creeks.
4.2 In this regard, the costs related to the Municipality's
involvement as a full partner in the process, including
Staff time, should be minimized. The City of Oshawa
should bear the majority of the administrative costs
related to the flood reduction process, including the
advertising and holding of the required public open
house.
Respectfully submitted,
d r a-�
Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Director of Planning
and Development
JAS *DC *FW *cc
25 February 1994
Recommended for presentation
to the Committee
Attachment # 1 - Harmony /Farewell Creek Watersheds
Interested persons to be notified of Council and Committee's
decision:
Mr. Mario Veltri
Harmony Creek Golf Centre Ltd.
100 Bloor Street East
Oshawa, Ont L1H 8S1
Ministry of Natural Resources
Conservation Authorities Program
(Operations)
50 Bloomington Road W.,
R. R. # 2
Aurora, Ont. L4G 3G8
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