HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-56-98 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
REPORT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File#
Date: NOVEMBER 16, 1998 Res. #(
Report No.: WD-56-98 By-Law#
Subject: PARK SITE/NEWCASTLE SERVICE CENTRE
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report WD-56-98 be received for information.
REPORT
1.0 BACKGROUND
At a meeting held on June 29,2998, Council passed the following resolution:
"THAT staff investigate the feasibility of arranging a joint partnership with
the Newcastle Service Centre and the Ministry of Transportation to restore
the park site immediately east of the 401 service centre."
The subject picnic site is located on lands owned by the Ministry of Transportation
immediately east of the Newcastle Service Centre. The Ministry of Transportation closed
the picnic site, approximately five(5)years ago.
Imperial Oil operates the Newcastle Service Centre and leases the lands from the Ministry
of Transportation. The lands leased by Imperial Oil exclude the picnic area.
1 i I 4
REPORT NO.: REPORT WD-56-98 PAGE 2
2.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT
Staff contacted Mr. Greg Ford, Imperial Oil, and attempted, without success, to contact the
Ministry of Transportation (Head Office — St. Catharines), to determine their interest in a
joint partnership to restore the park site. Mr. Ford declined, on behalf of Imperial Oil, to
participate. Mr.Ford stated a number of reasons:
i) the annual cost to maintain the site, i.e., grass cutting,garbage collection, etc.;
ii) historically,parks were originally well used in the 1960's and 1970's; however,
in the 1990's most of the highway parks were closed due to under-utilization;
iii) there is an outdoor patio area associated with the Service Centre which was
intended to provide for travellers' "brownbagging"requirements; and
iv) outside washroom facilities would require substantial upgrading.
Staff also reviewed the Municipality's Official Plan and this is not designated as Parkland.
This location would serve Highway 401 travellers rather than residents of the Municipality.
In addition, it was the opinion of Clarington's Chief Administrative Officer that the site did
not represent a park site with any potential for marketing or economic development
advantages to the Municipality. In addition, the Director of Planning and the Director of
Community Services see no reason, from their departments' perspectives, to restore this,
park site.
3.0 CONCLUSION
The Ministry of Transportation has closed the subject park site and Imperial Oil declined
the offer to enter into a partnership to restore the site. In addition, the Municipality's
Official Plan does not identify this location as parkland, nor does the park really serve
Clarington residents. Without joint participation from the Ministry of Transportation and
Imperial Oil there would be considerable cost for the Municipality to restore the park and
to provide annual maintenance. It is,therefore,recommended that the Municipality take no
further steps to restore the park site at this time and that this report be received for
information.
REPORT NO.: REPORT WD-56-98 PAGE 3
Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by,
Stephen T. Vokes,P. Eng., afie arano,H.B.Sc.,A.M.C.T.,
Director of Public Works Acting Chief Administrative Officer
JCO/SAV/ce
26/10/98