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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-111-91 V THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE DN:WA-TRAIL. REPORT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File # 6 Date: May 6, 1991 Res. # Report#: PD-111-91 File#: Pln 15 . 3 By-Law Subject: THE WATERFRONT TRAIL: FIRST STEPS FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1 . THAT Report PD-111-91 be received for information; 1 . In responding to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Future of the Greater Toronto Waterfront, the Honourable Ruth Grier announced on December 17, 1990 that the Province was committed to the creation of a waterfront trail which would be part of a Greenway linking together the Greater Toronto Area. 2 . On April 19, 1991, the Honourable Ruth Grier formally released a report entitled "The Waterfront Trail: First Steps from Concept to Reality" . Staff from Planning and Community Services Departments attended a reception at the Legislative Building in Toronto for that occasion. The Report is the result of work undertaken through the Special Advisor to the Premier on the Waterfront, Mr. Duncan Allen. The purpose of the report is to take the Provincial commitment to leadership to the next step by proposing the best possible alignment for a Waterfront Trail and Associated Greenway. Opportunities, constraints and short REPORT NO. : PD-111-91 PAGE 2 term priorities are identified with both optimal and interim trail alignments . 3 . The report is premised on the concept of "Greenways" . This is a relatively new term for an old idea of linear open spaces (as opposed to a park) . While greenways are diverse in application, some of the common characteristics are: the provision of linkages, especially of natural habitats; improved recreational opportunities; cost-effective since their linear nature provides a high ratio of visibility; attractive for adjacent development. 4 . Extracts of the Report are included as an Attachment to this report. Complete copies of the report are available in the Mayor's office, the Planning and Development Department, Community Services Development and the Public Library. Highlights of the report are as follows: The Trail must put into practice the Principals espoused by the Royal Commission for the waterfront area. An ideal conceptual trail alignment is identified but it is recognized that this may only be achieved over several decades . As a result an interim alignment is also identified to achieve a continuous route within two to three years . Great emphasis has been placed on the strongest possible connection to the water's edge but in some places the trail should leave the waterfront to avoid sensitive natural habitats or to take REPORT NO. : PD-111-91 PAGE 3 advantage of cultural or historic sites of interest. The trail should pass through and connect existing public lands . From end to end, the trail would link together some 34 major parks, 74 waterfront parks and promenades, 40 significant natural habitats and 25 marinas . For undeveloped lands, the report recommends that the waterfront open space corridor should be at least 100 metres, and in all cases should be 10- 15 metres wider than erosion setbacks. Additional green nodes are recommended to complement existing and proposed parks including three in Newcastle: Wilmot Creek mouth Bouchette Point (Bond Head bluffs) Newcastle-Hope Township Line Agreements with private landowners should form an important part of Trail implementation rather than relying solely on land acquisition. This is particularly important in the eastern portion of Newcastle. 5 . The Province's leadership role in the waterfront trail and greenway has been evidenced by the release of this recent report and their assistance in the establishment of a Waterfront Trail Association. No specific commitments have been made with regard to funding for the acquisition and development of new lands . REPORT NO. : PD-111-91 PAGE 4 The Report suggests that the waterfront municipalities and conservation authorities, with provincial assistance, be responsible for the actual construction and maintenance of the Waterfront Trail. Implementation mechanisms could form one element of the Waterfront Partnership Agreements with the Province as recommended by the Royal Commission. The Report notes that the Town of Newcastle has the longest shoreline of any municipality (31 km) and has virtually the smallest length of publicly accessible shoreline (second only to hope Township) . Moreover, almost all of the Town's publicly accessible shoreline is within Darlington Provincial Park. Clearly the Town has a major task ahead just to secure significant land parcels, let alone develop the trail envisaged in this report. These matters will be addressed further in the Town's Waterfront Study and the Recreation/Leisure Services Master Plan. 6 . The Town will be reviewing the trail alignment design and other components of the Waterfront Trail/Greenway concept and incorporate such into future planning for the waterfront area. Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation :to th - mmittee Franklin Wu, M.C. I .P. L rent . Kotseff Director of Planning Chief nistrative and Development Office Joel, h Caruana, Director of Community Services DC*FW*df *Attach 29 April 1991 Attachment No. 1 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE Length of Waterfront:31 km Existing Public Lands: I. Darlington Provincial Park:Ministry of Natural Resources 209 hectares. 2. Ontario Hydro:Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.Transmission corridor from Generating.Station eastwards(partially owned). Also owns several adjacent blocks of land,notably in the Wilmot Creek area. 3. Bowmanville Harbour: CLOCA-37 hectares Town of Newcastle-4 small lots Region of Durham-water treatment plant east of harbour. 4. Wilmot Creek:Ministry of Government Services(MGS)owns most of the valleyland beginning just upstream from shore;managed as a Provincial Fishing Area by Ministry of Natural Resources. 5. Graham Creek mouth(Port of Newcastle): Town of Newcastle owns 2 small lots. Existing Land Uses: Most of the Newcastle waterfront from Bowmanville Harbour east is currently in agricultural use,as is a 3 km stretch between Darlington Provincial Park and Darlington NGS. The nuclear generating station and St. Mary's Cement complex together form an industrial use along nearly 5 km of shore.The Port Granby Radioactive Waste Dump is an additional industrial use along 0.5 km of shoreline near the eastern end of the Town. Old cottage communities, some in the process of upgrading, occupy the shore at West Side Beach,Bowmanville Harbour,the east side of Newcastle Harbour,and Port Granby. A mobile home retirement community extends along 2 km of shoreline west of Wilmot Creek. Optimal Trail Alignment: Since much of the Newcastle shoreline is as yet undeveloped, the opportunity exists to create a waterfront greenway along the majority of its 31-km extent. In most situations, that corridor should be relatively broad- a minimum of 100 metres is suggested where existing structures do not interfere.This width is necessary to offset future losses to shore erosion, and to provide opportunities for creative design.In a few places along the shore, the rapid rate of bluff erosion has led the Shoreline Management Study (completed in January 1991 for the Central Lake Ontario,Ganaraska, and Lower Trent Conservation Authorities) to recommend development setbacks as high as 123 metres. At least an additional 15 metres should be incorporated into setbacks here, to ensure that future protection of the trail corridor does not necessitate premature expenditures for shoreline protection works. Several additional"green nodes"should be secured along the Newcastle shore,to provide opportunities for sheltered Ioop trails, public education,and possibly future camping or other recreational activities. The mouth of Wilmot Creek should be considered as a first option for such a node,along with the shoreline areas just west of Bouchette Point,and east of the Port Granby Radioactive Waste Site. In the vicinity of the Darlington nuclear plant,the adjacent St.Mary's Cement plant,and the Port Granby Radioactive Waste Site,the trail corridor will have to leave the shoreline, at least for the expected lifetime of these facilities. In the short tern;Lakeshore Road from the Port of Newcastle east presents an attractive cycling route. ..The central section of the Town, however, will require active steps to develop a suitable trail if a continuous corridor is to be achieved in the short term. Opportunities and Constraints: 1. Newcastle is presently,working on a Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Hough Stansbury Woodland and Reinders Assoc.)which is scheduled for completion this spring. This plan will contain references to trail systems,particularly up the valley systems. Opportunities for linked valleyland trails are particularly good in Bowmanville and Soper Creeks, Wilmot Creek,and Graham Creek. 2. Newcastle has also prepared terms of reference for a comprehensive waterfront study,but does not anticipate funding approval until April at the earliest. 3. Development of suitable trail links through Darlington Provincial Park should present few difficulties. The Park can serve as a regional access node for the Greenway,and has camping facilities for overnight use. 4. Lakefront access along the 3 km of undeveloped farmland east of the park should be a high priority for negotiations.The Shoreline Management Study recommends a 66 metre development setback in this area;the proximity of the nuclear plant also constrains development. 5. Discussions have been initiated with Ontario Hydro regarding the best possible route past Darlington NGS.Factors to be considered include public safety,plant security,access to the Station's public information centre,and minimizing conflicts with traffic peaks during shift changes. As well,the necessity to cross the CNR tracks either within or adjacent to the Station grounds complicates the routing process,and may require an elevated bridge in future. The optimal routing proposed provides spectacular views over the Station,and takes advantage of a natural wooded area on the east side of the Station grounds. i 6. For most of the area past St.Mary's Cement operations,a transmission corridor owned by Ontario Hydro provides a logical link.A crossing of the CNR railway line will be necessary in the vicinity of Martin Road. From that point,two.options are presented: i) Following a small stream valley across the comer of the quarry property to Waverley Road, then down the road to the buffer area behind the cottage community of West Beach, across the outlet of West Side Beach Marsh,and along Cove Road(a private,tree-lined road)to link to Bowmanville Harbour. ii) Staying north of the St.Mary's access road,crossing Waverley Road (preferably via an underpass to avoid heavy truck traffic), and following the Hydro corridor to Bowmanville Harbour. In discussions with St. Mary's Cement,this is the option preferred by the company. The choice between these two options should be made in the context of decisions on the future plans for the expansion of St.Mary's Cement operations. 7. The Draft Secondary Plan for Port Darlington(Bowmanville Harbour plus shoreline to the east)calls for development of walkways and bicycle paths along the shore and around the harbour,with links up the valleys of Bowmanville and Soper Creeks. As well,the plan calls for eventual public acquisition of both the East and West Beaches(currently in mostly substandard housing)for public recreational use,the bridging of the harbour mouth for trail purposes,and the development of a major manna at the foot of Lamb's Road. If done well,this area has the potential to become a major activity node along the Waterfront Greenway. The Secondary Plan does not specify the width of waterfront green space in front of the proposed residential development east of the Harbour,the Shoreline Management Study calls for set-backs of 70 metres. Until suitable arrangements can be finalized for the establishment of a trail corridor along the waterfront here,an interim route may be necessary north of the rail line,through the Bowmanville Industrial Park development. 8. Immediately to the east,the existing Wilmot Creek Retirement Community includes a corridor of waterfront green spare along its frontage. At present,public access to these lands is not permitted; however,this provision should be incorporated as existing lease arrangements come up for renewal. The developer has applied to expand westwards,and has possible plans to acquire more lands to the east as well.Public access to the shore should be assured in any expansions of this community. An interim route to the north can make use of the existing Hydro transmission corridor,and should also seek to use the existing private overpass to cross the rail lines. 9. The lands at the mouth of Wilmot Creek should be brought into public ownership as a green node,linking to the current MGS lands just upstream.This node will be particularly significant given the proposed development on either side,and given the existing high quality of the stream environment. The node should include sufficient table lands outside the stream valley to buffer the valley from adjacent uses and to incorporate users from the surrounding region as well as local residents. In the interim,the MGS lands provide a corridor for a trail linkage across the Creek just north.of the railway. 10. Development of the Bramalea lands around the Port of Newcastle provide opportunities for public access along the shoreline setback(87 metres recommended by the Shoreline Management Study)and an associated trail setback. As well,a boardwalk and pedestrian/cycle bridge could be developed across Graham Creek above the existing marina,possibly using the berm along the river channel created by dredge disposal.A long-tern objective should be acquiring shore frontage on the residential lots east of the Harbour mouth. 11. To the east,the trail alignment can follow the top of the bluffs,in some places using an abandoned railway bed,all the way to Port Granby. The future value of this shoreline zone,which includes spectacular views from the top of the bluffs and important scientific values,could be greatly enhanced by keeping all development north of the existing road and rail corridors.This area includes the Bond Head Bluffs ANSI,and should incorporate provisions for its future protection and management. Opportunities for larger green nodes are especially good in the wooded valleylands just west of Bouchette Point,and at the Newcastle-Hope Township line. In both these areas,wooded valleys in close proximity to the shore provide sheltered environments that are visually and ecologically in contrast to the open landscape that dominates eastern Newcastle. Just west of the village of Port Granby,the Heritage Estates subdivision proposal has suggested 21 estate lots between Lakeshore Road and the shore bluff. If this development proceeds,it should incorporate generous setbacks and an appropriate mechanism for public access along the bluff. 12. For the forseeable future,the trail will have to loop north to the roadway to bypass the Port Granby Radioactive Waste site.In the long term,plans for rehabilitation of this site should include consideration of a trail corridor for public access. The lands surrounding this site,a total of 237 hectares;are owned by Cameco(formerly Eldorado Nuclear),who also operate the waste site itself.The company has indicated that it wishes to sell these surrounding lands.This provides an opportunity to bring into public ownership well over a kilometre of shoreline,plus the wooded valley recommended as a green node. ti, �iK1 'aM Alfo II; (: II I V� � I ,III (I ti : •^ �, as J v v Vl. 9 Short-term Priorities: 1. Ensure that all future waterfront developments incorporate a trail corridor for public use. 2. Where possible,seek arrangements with developers to establish tails along the waterfront on an interim basis immediately,independent of future approvals and construction. 3. Establish a walking/cycling trail along Hydro transmission corridor east from Darlington N.G.S.to Bowmanville Harbour. 4. Establish connections between existing roadways past Port Darlington development area and Wilmot Creek Retirement Community. 5. Establish trail and bridge connections over Wilmot Creek. 6. Establish a hiking trail along Bond Head Bluffs(south of railway lines) from Stevenson Road to Bouchette Point, 7. Acquire parts of Cameco lands along waterfront and in the wooded valley along the Newcastle-Hope town line. PARK DARLINGTON ~-'+' ,.c°J�"lee•J S`` GENERATING •,cw STATION Ak LAKE ONTARIO NEWCASTLE (WEST) THE GREATER TORONTO AREA WATERFRONT TRAIL Legend PROPOSED OPTIMUM ROUTE j": : Existing Public Park Lands Green Nodes -- PROPOSED INTERIM ROUTE x`17 e Other Public Lands SCALE 1=25000 ——— o soon Other Trails/Bikeways c� Other Private Lands port I �� .o:• r�°'." ;sue.�;_:; �-;.... WII..IOT CREEK-".._. REnREM KINGSTOW iS i... I, COMMUNnY-� BOWMANVU.tE MARSH Y% CONSERVT*N AREA OEVELCPMEWAREA PROPOSED IN PORT DARUNGTON _ - SECONDARY PLAN BOWMAWILLE HARBOUR WEST SIDE ' 5i MAR"CEMENT � .f BEACH MARSH CAKE ONTARIO NEWCASTLE (WEST) THE GREATER TORONTO AREA WATERFRONT TRAIL Legend PROPOSED OPTIMUM ROUTE Existing Public Park Lands Green Nodes �-- PROPOSED INTERIM ROUTE V,�z Other Public Lands SCALE x=26 000 --- Other Trails/Bikeways M Other Private Lands O soon WILMOT CREEK ,t - , ` j' - •� /i` j _ RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 7'� 'xJ!�.^ '• ��- ICI. _ _ J- '� 2L p ,�I 1 WILMOT CREEK PROVINCIAL FISHING AREA — BRAMALEA LIMITED �n�•L-" �• _ . "^v..^ Lmm3 RE m \ PORTOF NEWCASTLE BOND HEAD BLUFFS EARTH SCIENCE AN51 LAKE ONTARIO NEWCASTLE (EAST) THE GREATER TORONTO AREA WATERFRONT TRAIL Legend PROPOSED OPTIMUM ROUTE ; Existing Public Park Lands Green Nodes PROPOSED INTERIM ROUTE F49D Other Public Lands SCALE 1-26 000 -- soon Other Trails/Bikeways am— Other Private Lands D r ' ^\ `• ' --- 12 14 BF �` BOND HEAD BLUFFS n _— - ��_ „f-., Z �— ANSI 6-r SCIENCE ��` - < _gI I v' 6-r J� _ CAMECO PORT GRANBY _ WASTEE To Hope TownchP D • -"�^- -- •` �� _ •.~HERBAGE ESTATES BOUCHETTE POINT NEWCASTLE (EAST) THE GREATER TORONTO AREA WATERFRONT TRAIL LAKE ONTARIO THE PROPOSED OPTIMUM ROUTE n Y: Existing Public Park Lands .. Green Nodes —— PROPOSED INTERIM ROUTE Other Public Lands SCALE 1-26 000 Other Trails/Bikeways Other Private Lands 01 500-