October 22, 1998

To:Works and Utilities Committee

From:Michael A. Price, General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services

Subject:Acquisition of Ontario Hydro Corridor - Kennedy Road to Birchmount Road

(Scarborough City Centre)

Purpose:

The Ontario Hydro Corridor, between Kennedy Road and Birchmount Road, is being considered for urban development. The recently completed regional flood plain map shows significant flooding on the Hydro lands and the adjacent Dorset Park community. If the City could acquire the Dorset Park portion of the Hydro corridor (about 5 hectares/12 acres), the City could enhance stormwater management facilities to protect existing development vulnerable to flooding.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The XCG Consultants Ltd. report, commissioned at the request of Council, describes a number of funding options, one of which is for the City to purchase the lands. If City Council approves the recommendations in this report, the Wastewater 1999-2003 Capital Works Program will be amended to identify the required funding. (Currently, an amount of $1.45 million has been included in the request under the Watercourse Improvements Project.)

Recommendations:

1.That Council endorse the conclusions in the report prepared by XCG Consultants Ltd. and Hough Woodland Naylor Dance Leinster and Anthony Usher Planning Consultant entitled "Ontario Hydro Corridor (West Highland Creek) Investigation of Stormwater Management, Naturalization and Open Space Opportunities".

2.That Council authorize staff to negotiate the purchase of the highest priority area south of 401 identified by the XCG report, Kennedy Road to Birchmount Road and report back.

3.That Council agree in principle to use the funds from the Water Reserve for the acquisition of the enhanced watercourse lands as part of the on-going Watercourse Land Acquisition Program.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Ontario Hydro determined that the transmission corridor, comprising about 65 hectares (160 acres) running from Lawrence Avenue north to McNicoll Avenue, was surplus to their requirements. In 1996, Scarborough Council endorsed a preliminary study process to review the redevelopment alternatives for the lands. After a series of Planning reports, Council adopted an official plan amendment to designate the lands "Open Space" in late 1997.

Ontario Hydro sold the lands north of Highway 401 to Graywood Investments Ltd. Graywood proposes to develop the lands, largely as residential and appealed their application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The hearing on this matter began October 5, 1998.

Ontario Hydro has conditionally sold the Hydro lands south of Highway 401 to Norstar Development Corporation. Norstar have applied for low density residential development and have appealed their applications to the Ontario Municipal Board. The OMB have set February 22, 1999 to begin the hearing, with a pre-hearing in early December 1998.

In July 1998, Council directed " the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to initiate a study to determine what lands, if any, are required or desirable for acquisition by the City or appropriate public body, to implement modern stormwater quantity and quality standards and opportunities for renaturalization".

Staff hired a team of consultants led by XCG Consultants Ltd. (environmental engineering specialists) and Hough Woodland Naylor Dance Leinster (design and environmental planning consultants) and Anthony Usher Planning Consultant. The consultants prepared the report "Ontario Hydro Corridor (West Highland Creek) Investigation of Stormwater Management, Naturalization and Open Space Opportunities".

XCG concluded that the Ontario Hydro corridor represents a significant opportunity to protect lands for watershed management, naturalization, open space and trail linkages. Protection of lands in the Ontario Hydro corridor will have local, community and regional benefits. The report suggests there are several options. One is the full open space option which would require the acquisition of the whole corridor. A second option, "Essential Open Space" identifies features that will be of significant benefit in addressing local and regional stormwater management and open space issues. The report included two maps which identified priority areas (see Figures ES 3 and ES 4 attached). The pages of the report titled "Conclusion" are attached.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

In July of this year, we received completed flood plain mapping commissioned by the former City of Scarborough for the Dorset Park Branch of Highland Creek. This watercourse abuts the easterly edge of the Hydro corridor. The flood plain mapping indicates part of the Hydro property would be flooded during a regional storm rainfall event as well as significant lands adjacent to the corridor. See attached flood plain map. To provide protection from a regional storm event the Ontario Hydro Corridor could be acquired to enhance stormwater management facilities in Dorset Park for adjacent residential properties.

These Hydro lands provide a unique opportunity to construct storm water management facilities and could also incorporate natural enhancement features thereby creating a community asset.

Conclusions:

The Ontario Hydro corridor from Birchmount Road to Kennedy Road represent a significant opportunity to address flooding from a regional storm. The adjacent residential area is within the flood plain of the creek.

Contact Name:

R. T. QuinnAnn Rexe

Works and Emergency ServicesWorks and Emergency Services

Phone: 396-7113Phone: 396-7156

Fax: 396-4156Fax: 396-5681

E-mail: rtquinn@city.scarborough.on.caE-mail: rexe@city.scarborough.on.ca

Michael A. Price, P.Eng., FICE

General Manager

Water and Wastewater Services