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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-145-04 - _ ~f, " Cl!J!-!Pn REPORT PLANNING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: Monday, November 15, 2004 Report #: PSD-145-04 File #: PLN 23.4.2 {l,c-s jJ ~ ()fJlJ - ~(p H>'f By-law #: Subject: ADELAIDE AVENUE EXTENSION - CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PSD-145-04 be received for information; 2. THAT the Region of Durham, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and McCormick Rankin Corporation be forwarded a copy of this report and be advised of Council's decision; and 3. THAT all interested parties listed in this Report and any delegation be advised of Council's decision. Submitted by: D id . Creme, MCIP, R.P.P. Director of Planning Services .') ., \Ll ! . f . . A....ei.-<. . ~ RevIewed by: '-- / (----- - \.. :l\... Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer HB/CP/DJC/df 9 November 2004 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ClARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVlllE, ONTARIO l1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 640 REPORT NO.: PSD-145'()4 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Region of Durham has initiated an Environmental Assessment for the extension of Adelaide Avenue from Townline Road easterly to Trulls Road. The proposed Adelaide Avenue Extension is identified in the Durham Region Official Plan and the Clarington Official Plan as a Type C Arterial Road. This extension of Adelaide Avenue has also been identified in the Durham Region Transportation Master Plan. 1.2 The Environmental Assessment will assess the need for the extension, identify the effects of the alternative solutions on the environment, examine design alternatives and identify the preferred alternative. 1.3 The first phase of the study includes identifying the problem and opportunities, and proposing alternate solutions. This first phase concluded with a public information centre held on October 5th, 2004. Approximately 80 people attended this public information centre to view the displays and ask questions. Many people asked what happens next, when would a final alignment be determined, how will the Region deal with houses/properties within the alignment, and when will it be built? Two letters have been copied to the Municipality, one ~xpressing concern that developer's are dictating the need for Adelaide Avenue so that development can proceed. The other commented that this study is premature until such time as the Farewell Creek Watershed Study is completed which is required prior to development occurring in Special Study Area 6. Comments from the meeting and letters are addressed in Section 3 and 4 of this report. 1.4 Currently a number of subdivision applications in the northern part of Courtice are awaiting the final alignment of Adelaide Avenue before subdivision design can be completed. 2.0 PHASE 1 FINDINGS 2.1 The Phase I findings determined that traffic volumes will grow significantly and by 2021, additional roads will be needed to relieve future congestion. The extension would provide relief to existing congestion on Nash Road and reduce congestion at the intersection of Townline Road and Durham Highway 2. 2.2 Most of the traffic that will utilize the extension of Adelaide Avenue will be local and will have destinations west of Trulls Road. The extension of Adelaide Avenue will also provide opportunities for emergency access to existing and future neighbourhoods and will support future transit service. 2.3 In accordance with the process for conducting Environmental Assessments, four alternatives to extending Adelaide Avenue were assessed. These included: o Do nothina and maintain the status auo - This alternative would not rectify the future congestion that is anticipated to occur with additional growth. 641 REPORT NO.: PSD-145-04 PAGE 3 o Pursuit of Transportation Demand Manaaement (TDM) Initiatives - These are initiatives that would decrease the number of vehicles using the road network in the future and may include initiatives such as transit. However, a major change to individual travel behaviour would be required to make this alternative effective as use of transit service would need to increase by more than double what the current Regional Transit use is today. o Improve Operation and Safety of Existina Road Network - This could include improved signage, road markings, signals and auxiliary lanes at intersections. But this alternative would not address long-term travel needs. o Widen Existina Roads - Widen Nash Road and Pebblestone Road to four lanes, widen Durham Highway 2 to six lanes. Widening these roads would create a number of problems with property access, proximity of buildings, parking areas and would not serve the desired travel patterns. 2.4 As none of the above alternatives would effectively provide additional capacity to meet future traffic demands, the preferred alternative is to extend Adelaide Avenue east to Trulls Road. This alternative may have some impacts on the natural environment particularly with respect to the crossing of the Harmony and Farewell Creeks and some impacts on private property. Construction of this two-lane extension would provide capacity to meet future needs and reduce traffic safety concerns at the intersection of Townline Road and Durham Highway 2. It would also provide continuity within the transportation network and support growth as planned in the regional and local Official Plans. 3.0 NEXT STEPS 3.1 A number of preliminary alignments for the extension of Adelaide. Avenue have been presented for consideration and evaluation (Attachment 1). Each of the preliminary alignments will be evaluated based on the following criteria: socio-economic environment; natural environment; transportation and cost. Following evaluation of the alignments, the Region will hold a second Public Information Centre in December 2004 or January 2005 to present the preferred alignment. . 3.2 Comments from this second public information session will be reviewed and assessed before filing the Environmental Assessment Study Report with the Ministry of Environment. If no objections are received within 30 days, the study and the preferred alignment is approved. 4.0 COMMENTS 4.1 Council Resolution #C-780-89 stated that no decisions could be made on any existing or proposed rezoning applications or application for plan of subdivision until the need for Adelaide Avenue and the alignment for this road are determined. As such, a hold has been placed on 3 plans of subdivisions within the north portion of Courtice. It is anticipated that once the alignment is approved, applicants for these plans of subdivision t>i2 .' REPORT NO.: PSD-145-04 PAGE 4 will revise their plans accordingly and seek approval. Construction of the road will occur predominantly through approval of plans of subdivision. 4.2 Adelaide Avenue is identified as a Future Type C Arterial Road in the Clarington Official Plan. Adelaide Avenue represents the northern limits of the Courtice Urban Area and the south limit of Special Study Area 6. The alignment of Adelaide Avenue will dictate the limit of residential development within Courtice, with the exception of Special Study Area 6. 4.3 Concern has been expressed that a Watershed Study for the Black and Farewell Creeks must be completed in accordance with Section 17.6.1 of the Clarington Official Plan prior to any development. The watershed study requirement applies to "development" as defined by the Official Plan and planning applications. The EA process is specifically designed for infrastructure projects and is not related to the watershed study. Concern was also raised that the alignment of Adelaide Avenue is being dictated by development interests and that the construction of the road will be paid for by Clarington taxpayers. Clarington has advocated that the alignment of Adelaide Avenue will be determined by a Study, not through the consideration of development applications. The Region of Durham is conducting the Environmental Assessment, not development interests. Once the alignment is determined, monies collected through development charges will be used to pay for those portions of the road that is not part of a plan of subdivision. For those parts of the road located within a plan of subdivision, it will be the responsibility of the developer to construct the road. 4.4 This is a Regional project and the Municipality has provided background information as to development approvals, building permits and development applications within the study area. The Municipality has also provided land use information, specifically interpretation of Clarington's Official Plan and Zoning By-law for lands within the study area. Staff will report to Council on the identification of the preferred alternative at such time that it is released. 4.5 The Draft Provincial Greenbelt Plan proposes to incorporate lands within the Greenbelt that are part of the Study Area. As a result, the northerly alignment options on the west side of Tooley Road would be within the Greenbelt. This would preclude development even up to this alignment. Staff are reviewing this issue in the context of preparing municipal comments on the Draft Greenbelt Plan. Attachments: Attachment 1- Preliminary Alignment Altematives Interested parties to be advised of Council's decision: Paul DePalma Martin Scott John Gerretson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Victor Doyle, Manager Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt Group 643 r " ATTACHMENT NO.1 I I : I h I. ~\{ '"'=~,~ J----------+--------4.-. ~ I,~ \\111'1 ~ %%.~ '/ ~// '/F; ~/- ,3;:; ~ ~1 ~ ~ :/,//1: t/. r:::11-:/ :;:~/A':V avo~S1'n~J. I : I -......,~ I) ~ ~ ',~ I ~\ 'll~~ \ I:~ ~ ~I ~ U\ , ~~~. I)) 17,~~.~" '::/ ~~ ' ~'/~ V ~ S< V ~ s"nw. , I , 1:% v: -?l ~'~ 'l~7, r/ ~ p,: 'l ~ ~ ~ '/ ~ :;; :;; - ~ry, I :;: ~ :;: ~ ~ rllMONO'o'O),l;ltJll"MOl I I III JLI.lI11111:i/'~ ~ , II "~i ~/~!j]~'~ !::~n ~r~ '~ ~ I J::;>a,.,"Z::I Q~ ~ I I ~rf }li~~~,.,r I E ~l lilT" ~ '''7 ~""<'<'I:ll f-" I .. I~ l' ;r, ''''^'=~" 1/ 11.0 " III,IIIII'! , / ,~","II"',IIII' ~ ~il-ti.~~.! 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