HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-37-83 �V .
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CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT T.T.EDWARDS,M.C.I.P.,Director
HAMPTON,ONTARIO LOB 1JO TEL.(416)263-2231
REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 1983
REPORT NO. : PD-37-83
SUBJECT: BOWMANVILLE VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA AND
BOWMANVILLE HARBOUR CONSERVATION AREA MASTER
PLANS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the
following:
1 . That Report PD-37-83 be received; and
2. That the Central Lake Ontario Conservation
Authority be advised that the Town of Newcastle
supports the Master Plan for the Bowmanville
Valley Conservation Area and the Bowmanville
Harbour Conservation Area, subject to the
following concerns being given consideration :
a) that the Land Acquisition Program for and
the development of the Bowmanville Valley
Conservation Area and the Bowmanville Harbour
Conservation Area be considered as the Town's
priorities for conservation areas within
Newcastle ; and
b) that the Bowmanville Valley Conservation
Area Master Plan be modified to incorporate at
least the flood-prone lands along Bowmanville
Creek between Baseline Road and Highway 401 in
the Conservation Area ; and
3. That a copy of Report PO-37-83 be forwarded to
the Central Lake Ontario Conservation
Authority.
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Report No: PD-37-83 . ./2
BACKGROUND:
On December 20th, 1982, the Town of Newcastle received
copies of the Bowmanville Valley Conservation Area and the
Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area Master Plans from the
Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (C.L.O.C.A. ), as
advance circulation for the Authority's presentation of the
Plans at the February 21st , 1983 meeting of the General
Purpose and Administration Committee.
The Bowmanville Valley Conservation Area stretches in a
linear fashion along the banks of the Bowmanville Creek
between Regional Road 57 and Baseline Road, and is almost
entirely contained within the floodplain of the Creek (see
key map) .
The Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area is located at the
confluence of the Bowmanville and Soper Creeks and is
bounded on the north by Highway 401 . The Area incorporates
a large wetland lying in the floodplains of both Creeks, and
some of the surrounding higher land.
The Master Plans are intended to provide long-term policy
guidelines for the development and management of their
respective Conservation Areas. Based on an assessment of
the natural resource base, the Plans propose to provide
opportunities for primarily passive summer and winter
recreational activities combined with educational
opportunities. This is to be accomplished through a variety
of day use areas , fishing opportunities, and a network of
trails. As well , the Bowmanville Harbour Plan proposes the
development of beach facilities , a non-motorized boat launch
facility, and a wetland interpretation facility.
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Report No: PO-37-83 . . ./3
Both Plans identify those portions of the Conservation Areas
which have been extensively disturbed through human activity
and propose appropriate rehabilitative measures for these
sites. This will improve the aesthetic qualities of the
Conservation Areas, as well as improve the quality of
habitat for the various birds, water fowl and small mammels
which utilize the Areas. However, the Master Plans
recognize that, because of the urban settings of the creek
valley and harbour, the Conservation Areas are not capable
of supporting large, diverse mammal populations.
Currently, C.L.O.C.A. owns 24.34 hectares (60.13 acres) in
the Bowmanville Valley Conservation Area, and 33.6 hectares
(83.7 acres) in the Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area .
Both Master Plans incorporate assumptions that the future
land acquisition programs will result in ultimate land
parcels covering 109 hectares (270 acres) and 68.7 hectares
(170 acres) respectively. C.L.O.C.A. intends to phase the
development of the two Conservation Areas over a number of
years , with the pattern of development dependent , to a
certain extent, on the progress of land acquisition.
* As can be seen on the attached key map, the two Conservation
Areas are not contiguous since that portion of the
Bowmanville Creek Valley which lies between Baseline Road
and Highway 401 is not proposed for inclusion in either of
the Conservation Areas. Both Master Plans propose the
creation of a pedestrian trail along Bowmanville Creek to
link the two areas. As well , the Bowmanville Valley Master
Plan proposes to extend the trail beyond the northern limit
of the Conservation Area.
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Report No: PD-37-83 . ./4
In accordance with the Town 's procedure for reviewing plans
prepared by other agencies, copies of the Master Plans were
provided to various departments. The following is a summary
of their comments :
Bowmanville Valley Conservation Area Master Plan
Public Works Department
Having reviewed the above document, I offer the following
comments :
Section 8.2.1 to 8.2.5 : With respect to the circulation
system and day-use areas, it should be indicated that
parking facilities must be of adequate size to preclude
parking on Town roads.
General : The Town presently experiences problems in
controlling access to the valley lands from Town roads. The
Conservation Authority should therefore maintain strict
access control to the day-use areas from the associated
parking areas, otherwise unauthorized vehicles will operate
in the valley lands.
Map : The map shows closure of existing Jackman Road and
realignment of Jackman Road. These are long-range concepts
which may or may not occur. The map should probably
indicate these as possibilities rather than proposals."
Community Services Department
"The recommendations in t is report, if approved, would
provide this area with a well varied selection of passes and
recreational pursuits.
At the present time, the Creek Valley needs a "face lift".
Bowmanville Anglers have put forth a good effort to clean up
the creek and surrounding area, plus enforce fishing
regulations. The recommendations in this report, if carried
out, would develop the valley land into a well used
recreation facility."
Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area Master Plan
Public Works Department
Section 8.2.1 : With respect to the Beach Access Road, the
report should indicate whether this is proposed to be an
Authority road or a Town road. j
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Day-Use Areas: Adequate parking should be provided in all !
day-use areas to ensure that there is no spill-over of
parked vehicles onto Town Roads.
Report No: PD-37-83 . . ./5
Section 9.4.2, Circulation System : It is assumed that any
existing roads to be removed will firstly have road closure
arranged, and that any newly constructed roads will not form
part of the Town 's road system.
Map : The map indicates Day-Use Area Number 4 at the present
location of the Town's Bowmanville Public Works Yard. There
should be some qualification in their report which indicates
that relocation of the Yard will have to be negotiated with
the Town. Probably Section 8.2.5 would be the location in
which to make this qualification."
Community Services Department
I have no problem with the contents of this Master Plan,
because it spells out the needs of the people in this
community for an authentic recreational area.
The recommendations in this report, if approved, would
eliminate the shabby and messy appearance of the marsh, wood
areas and the so-called beach.
There is no doubt that if this Plan is carried out, it would
attract not only people from Bowmanville, but from other
communities. At the present time, fishermen come from
Toronto, Ajax, Oshawa, Lindsay, Peterborough and other
places."
COMMENT:
The preparation of Master Plans for the Bowmanville Valley
and the Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Areas is welcomed
by Planning Department staff. Currently, these two areas
are heavily used because of their proximity to Bowmanville,
and extensive damage to portions of the valley and harbour
environment has occurred. The regulation of this heavy user
demand is necessary if further and perhaps irreversible
damage to the two areas is to be avoided.
With respect to those concerns raised by other agencies , it
is recommended that the Master Plans be changed to address
the concerns raised by the Town of Newcastle Public Works
Department as outlined in this Report.
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Report No: PD-37-83 . ./6
Planning staff have reviewed the Master Plans and note that
the site layout and uses recommended by C.L.O.C.A. would
have the effect of creating user-oriented, semi-natural
parks. However, since the urban setting and heavy use of
the valley and harbour limits the potential for creating
natural environment parks, staff feel that the Authority has
taken the most realistic approach to the development and
management of these Conservation Areas.
With respect to the specific site lay-outs suggested by the
Master Plans, it is of interest to note that Day-Use Area 4
in the northern portion of the Bowmanville Valley
Conservation Area is to be located on a rehabilitated
sanitary landfill site closed by the Town in 1974.
C.L.O.C.A. identifies a part of the site as being suitable
for development as a sports field by interested
organizations. Day-Use Area 5, just south of Highway 401 in
the Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area , is also to be
located on a rehabilitated landfill , which is now being
managed as a young pine/spruce plantation.
As was mentioned previously, the Bowmanville Valley and the
Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Areas are heavily used
because of their accessibility to residents of the
Bowmanville Area. Staff feel that by proceeding quickly
with the land acquisition program for, and the development
of these two Conservation Areas, C.L.O.C.A. would be better
able to regulate the use of the valley and the harbour, and
thereby restore the environment to its natural state and
avert any possible future damage. As well , the proximity of
these two areas to Bowmanville create a greater potential
for attracting tourist dollars to Bowmanville, than would
the development of other Conservation Areas in Newcastle,
such as Stephen's Gulch.
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Report No: PD-37-83 . . ./7
Staff are concerned that the portion of the Bowmanville
Creek Valley between Baseline Road and Highway 401 is not
recommended for inclusion in either of the Conservation
Areas. Although the Master Plans proposed the creation of a
pedestrian trail through this land to link Bowmanville
Valley and Bowmanville Harbour, it may be difficult to
establish and maintain such a trail over private property.
As well , this area is similar to the remainder of the Creek
Valley and would seem to be a logical extension of the
Bowmanville Valley Conservation Area. Staff therefore
recommend that the Authority modify the Bowmanville Valley
Conservation Area Master Plan to indicate the inclusion of
at least the flood-prone lands along Bowmanville Creek
between Baseline Road and Highway 401 in the Conservation
Area.
Staff respectfully recommend that Council advise C.L.O.C.A.
that the Town of Newcastle supports the Master Plans for the
Bowmanville Valley and the Bowmanville Harbour Conservation
Areas; that the land acquisition program for and the
development of these two Conservation Areas be given
priority over other Conservation Areas in the Town of
Newcastle ; and that Bowmanville Valley Conservation Area
Master Plan be modified to incorporate at least the
flood-prone lands along Bowmanville Creek between Baseline
Road and Highway 401 .
Respectfully
'submitted,
T. T. Edwards, M.C.I.P.
Director of Planning
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AS*TTE*mjc
February 11, 1983
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