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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-045-01 ~ '" " ~ DN,P045-01 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARlNGTON REPORT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee Pile # CCf/ Monday, May 7, 2001 Res. # 01'//-;;2 ~-o / _ Date: Report #: PD-045-01 File #: PLN 17.2.8 By-Iaw#_ Subject: COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF APRIL 17, 2001 REGARDING OUTDOOR PARK FACILITY FILE NO.: PLN 17.2.8 Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: I. THAT Report PD-045-01 be received; and 2. THAT Council reconfirm its commitment to the establishment of a conservation area for the Bowrnanville Westside Marshes, including the lands immediately west of West Beach Road, and to the Management Plan Terms of Reference. 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 On April 17, 2001, Council passed the following resolution: "WHEREAS as the March 5, 2001 General Purpose and Administration meeting, Council passed a resolution approving in principle in developing of a major outdoor park facility; WHEREAS an appropriate parcel of approximately 22 acres is available west of West Beach Road; AND WHEREAS the sports park could be developed in the former cornfield, not affecting the present woodlot or the proposed re-routing of the creek, and still leave a link between the marshlands; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff investigate the feasibility of locating the park facility at this location." The resolution stemmed from a report, WD-09-01, regarding concerns over the lack of outdoor active park facilities, specifically baseball diamonds and associated support 6H>> ... , REPORT PD-045-00 PAGE 2 facilities. Public Works recommended that Council approve in principle, to developing a major outdoor park facility. The report anticipated that one of the future community parks would be expanded to incorporate these facilities creating a major community/district park. Council approved this recommendation. 1.2 Subsequent to Council's resolution of April 17, 2001 Planning Staff received a number of inquiries from residents of the Port Darlington community concerned about Council's interest in the lands west of West Beach Road for an outdoor park facility (see Attachment I). On April 27, 2001 the Mayor and Planning Staff met with area residents and they expressed three concerns: . Council is not honoring its commitments under the Principles of Understanding to save a portion of the Westside Marsh and create new habitat and habitat linkages in the reconfigured Westside Marsh, the Bowmanville Marsh and the lands that link them (the subject lands); . Members of the community felt that Council had already made a decision to build a major park at this location and felt that assisting the Municipality and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority in preparing a Management Plan for the marshes was futile; and . That lights and noise generated by the park would interfere with the enjoyment of their property and decrease their quality of life. 1.3 This report will not address the merits of this site for a sports park facility for baseball. Due to previous commitments and binding agreements identified below, a sports park facility is not feasible on these lands. The Public Works Department is addressing the locational needs of a new sports park facility by a separate report. 2. DISCUSSION 2.1 Principles of Understanding with Blue Circle Canada Inc. In November 1997 the Municipality of Clarington and Blue Circle Canada entered into the Principles of Understanding, an agreement that implements the recommendations of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust for saving a portion the Westside Marsh. After years of consultation with federal and provincial agencies and the general public the Waterfront Regeneration Trust recommended that the southern portion of the Westside Marsh be 611 -~ , REPORT PD-045-00 PAGE 3 retained, enhanced and augmented with additional habitat on site, or on adjacent lands, which included the Bowmanville Marsh and the lands in between the marshes, referred to as the Link Lands. Joining the two marshes and the lands in between provides a corridor for wildlife, birds and amphibians to migrate between the marshes. Retaining these lands as a corridor is a key element in the overall compensation package recommended by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and agreed to by the Municipality and Blue Circle. 2.2 Open Space Lands Transferred to CLOC Blue Circle was required to convey the remnant Westside Marsh Link Lands, a portion of the Bowmanville Marsh and some lands in the Bowmanville Creek valley lands to the Municipality, creating 110 acres of public open space. The Municipality, in turn conveyed these lands to CLOC to manage. The transfer of land occurred in the fall of 2000. The Municipality no longer owns the lands referred to in Council's resolution. 2.3 Management Agreement Under the Principles of Understanding, the Municipality and CLOC were required to enter into an agreement for managing the newly created public open space. The Management Agreement was executed in Spring 2000 and is binding on the Municipality. The agreement requires among other things, the preparation of a Management Plan, which would provide direction of the restoration and preservation of the natural heritage features and recommend the appropriate level of public access. Both the Municipality and Blue Circle contributed money, $100,000.00 and $94,000.00 respectively, towards the preparation of the plan and seed money for initial projects. 2.4 Management Plan Process is Underway In January 2001, Council approved the Terms of Reference and authorized Staff to prepare a Management Plan. The study relies on public's participation to create a vision of the area. Some area residents feel Council has already made a decision to create a sports park in this location and therefore felt that participating in the Management Plan process was 612 " ~ REPORT PD-045-00 PAGE 4 futile. It is important to reconfirm Council's earlier commitment so that the study can proceed with the trust ofthe participants. 3. CONCLUSIONS 3.1 Given Council's obligations under the Principles of Understanding, the transfer of the lands to CLOC, the Management Agreement, and Council's previous initiation of a study of these lands as a conservation area, these lands should not be considered for a major outdoor sports facility. It is recommended that Council reconfirm its commitment to the study process previously initiated in light of the April 17, 200 I resolution. The Public Works Department will be reviewing a number of possible locations for a major outdoor park facility and will be bring them forward by a separate report. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, a' J. Crome, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning and Development ov~-~ Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Chief Administrative Officer CS*DJC*sn 01 May 2001 Attachment 1 Site Map 613 .. ( ATTACHMENT 1 SUBJECT SITE FREEWAY \RiIER ROAD Ir Westside ~ Marsh ~ LAKE ONTARIO BOWMANVILLE KEY MAP I ~ 1 4