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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-034-02 -'lIt- +.:!~, 'c.>. .- . a. u L~~ REPORT PLANNING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE C//I-/77-() :;L P/~ Date: Monday, April 29, 2002 Report #: PSD-034-02 File #: PLN 15.10.3 By-law #: Subject: STATUS REPORT PORT OF NEWCASTLE WATERFRONT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PSD-034-02 be received for information. Submitted by: Reviewed bY:O ~ ~- ~ Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer vi . Creme, MCIP, R.P.P. Director, Planning Services . CS*BN*DC*df*sn April 15, 2002 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623~0830 638 ". ~ . '.' ',> , REPORT NO.: PSD.Q34-02 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND On September 17, 2001 Council authorized the preparation of Waterfront Master Plan for the Port of Newcastle Neighbourhood. The consulting firm of Marshall Macklin Monaghan (MMM) was retained by Mr. Daniell to prepare the plan. To ensure the Plan met with the Municipality's desire to create a public place on the waterfront, Council retained a consultant to undertake a peer review of MMM's work on behalf of the Municipality. In addition, a coastal engineering firm was retained to examine options to protect the shoreline areas owned by the Municipality from further erosion. On March 15, 2002, Mr. Daniell wrote a letter to Mayor John Mutton urging Council to accelerate and finalize the Waterfront Plan in order to take advantage of funding opportunities such as SuperBuild. The correspondence was placed on the April 2nd, 2002 Council agenda. Council requested staff to provide a report on the status of the Waterfront Plan. 2.0 STUDY PROGRESS 2.1 Background Report In October 2001, Port of Newcastle Waterfront Project Opportunities Profile was issued. This background document examined the context for the study including the land use and planning policy framework, natural environment, infrastructure, and opportunities for culture, tourism and recreation. This document was reviewed by staff and circulated to various agencies and stakeholders for information. 2.2 Public Consultation On October 11, 2001 a Stakeholder's Workshop was held to determine the key elements that would contribute to the success of the Port of Newcastle waterfront and gain insight into the community's priorities. Approximately 24 individuals attended the workshop, including staff from the Municipality of Clarington, Region of Durham, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Clarington Board of Trade, Newcastle BIA, Newcastle Village and District Chamber of Commerce, 639 .1.. ... REPORT NO.: PSD-034-02 PAGE 3 Newcastle/Bondhead Ratepayers Association and the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management Advisory Committee. The key elements of a successful waterfront were determined and prioritized. They are listed below in order of importance; . Environmental Protection: shoreline protection, maintenance of the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area, protection of wildlife and the Wilmot and Graham Creeks are major concerns; . Public spaces: places for families with access to water, integration with proposed new clubhouse, providing community space with the development and rest places; . Connections and integration: need for the waterfront to have relationship to the village, connections to existing trails and a potential creek crossing; . Safety: security, safety related to bluffs, and traffic safety; and . Parking and physical programming: sufficient parking, and programming of facilities for events, playgrounds and picnic areas. Based on the prioritization, the consultant produced two development options which were presented to the public at a Public Information Centre on November 5, 2001 at the Newcastle Community Hall. Approximately 36 people attended the Information Centre. The comments received on the development options were used to formulate the Preferred Conceptual Plan, which was presented to the public at a. second Public Information Centre on December 6, 2001. These Public Information Centres were held at Newcastle Community Hall and the Clarington Beech Centre, to allow for input from the boarder community. Approximately 31 people attended both sessions. Generally, comments from public have been positive. Members of the public are pleased to see a plan being developed for the waterfront and many would like to see it come to fruition in the very near future. Boat owners have concerns regarding the increase in public access to the area and fear it may alter the peacefulness they currently enjoy. They are also concerned that there is not sufficient area allocated for winter boat storage. Mr. 640 ""- .. . . REPORT NO.: PSD-034-02 PAGE 4 Kelvin Whalen, representing the Kaitlin Group suggested that some boat owners may wish to seek winter storage off-site. In addition, some individuals are not in favour of pedestrian bridge connection over the Graham Creek to Bondhead parkette. They are concerned that increased pedestrian traffic will effect their privacy. 2.3 Peer Review Consultants Ms. Carolyn Woodland, of the consulting firm Hough Woodland Naylor Dance Leinster was retained by the Municipality of Clarington to undertake a peer review of the Preferred Conceptual Plan on behalf of the Municipality of Clarington. On February 6th, 2002, Ms. Woodland provided comments on the plan. Her comments take into consideration the ideas and facilities in the concept which resulted from an extensive public consultation process. Ms. Woodland recommends that many of the key elements in the Preferred Conceptual Plan remain in the plan, however, some elements need to be re- examined. They are summarized below: . Shoreline protection, as proposed in the concept plan, requires substantial regrading of the bluffs and for a considerable distance of the shoreline. The works proposed are both extensive and expensive. The lands effected are or will be owned by the Municipality of Clarington. The Plan should be examined by shoreline engineer to determine the feasibility of the proposed shoreline protection works. . There are too many recreational facilities proposed at the lower level marina, although these facilities were asked for by the residents, it becomes predominantly "hard" landscape. Space at the Graham Creek would be better used as multi-purpose space for strolling, sitting, viewing, picnicking and possible programming of small events. Some of the more active uses should be shifted to other areas of the site. The number of parking areas and lanes should be reduced to free up more open space. . Pedestrian connections from the west side of the harbour channel to the Bondhead parkette on the east side should be examined. 641 .... ~ ..-.' . REPORT NO.: PSD-034-02 PAGE 5 Coastal Engineering consultant WF Baird and Associates were retained to examine shoreline protection issues. A draft interim report was issued on April 3rd 2002. This document suggests the shoreline protection measures proposed in MMM's plan is not suitable to protect the shoreline over the long term and has proposed two alternatives. Staff have requested that the consultant provide additional information on the alternative methods. The final report will be issued in early May. 3.0 SUPERBUILD FUNDING It is intended that the completed and approved Waterfront Plan will form the basis for the Municipality's application to the 2002 SuperBuild Ontario Funding Program. Staff have contacted SuperBuild to determine the 2002 funding deadline. Staff at SuperBuild could not indicate when the deadline for 2002 funding proposals would be announced. 4.0 STAFF COMMENTS Staff have met with the consultants from MMM to provide feedback from the peer review consultant. Comments from the coastal engineer are pending but will be forwarded to MMM once available. Staff will meet with the representatives of the Kaitlin Group and their consultants again to discuss the study prior to it being finalized. Staff anticipate the final plan and implementation strategy will be forwarded to Council by June 2002. List of interested parties to be advised of Council's decision: Mr. Bill Daniell The Kaitlin Group Ltd. 1029 McNicol Avenue Scarborough, ON M1W 3W6 642