Acquisition of Former Landfill Site Owned by the Ministry of

Transportation - Ward 16 - Scarborough Highland Creek

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations in the following transmittal letter (May 27, 1998) from the Budget Committee:

 Recommendations:

 The Budget Committee on May 26, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, and Council:

 (1)the adoption of the report (February 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services; and

 (2)that the land acquisition be financed from Development Charges Reserve Funds.

 Background:

 The Budget Committee on May 26, 1998, had before it a letter of transmittal (May 11, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that on May 6, 1998, the Scarborough Community Council concurred with the recommendations of the Corporate Services Committee.

 (Transmittal letter dated May 11, 1998, addressed to the

Budget Committee from the

City Clerk)

 Recommendations:

 The Scarborough Community Council, on May 6, 1998, directed that the Budget Committee be advised that Scarborough Community Council concurs in the recommendation of the Corporate Services Committee that the following report be adopted:

 (February 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services, recommending that:

 (1)the City purchase the lands shown on the attached sketch being Part of Lot 12, Registrar=s Compiled Plan 10303, at the price of $120,605.00, based upon a land area of 4.89 hectares (12.08 acres), with the final price to be adjusted upon completion of a survey plan; and

 (2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 Background:

 The Scarborough Community Council had before it a communication (April 6, 1998) from the City Clerk, advising that the Budget Committee, on April 3, 1998, referred to the Scarborough Community Council, the letter of transmittal (March 30, 1998) from the Corporate Services Committee, wherein the Committee recommended the adoption of the foregoing report (February 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services.

 (Transmittal letter dated April 6, 1998, addressed to the

Scarborough Community Council from the

City Clerk)

 Recommendation:

 The Budget Committee on April 3, 1998 referred the letter of transmittal (March 30, 1998) from the Corporate Services Committee, regarding the acquisition of the former landfill site owned by the Ministry of Transportation, to the Scarborough Community Council.

 Background:

 The Budget Committee on April 3, 1998, had before it a letter of transmittal (March 30, 1998) from the Corporate Services Committee wherein the Committee on March 30, 1998 recommended to the Budget Committee the adoption of the report (February 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services.

 (Transmittal letter dated March 30, 1998, addressed to the

Budget Committee from the

City Clerk)

 Recommendation:

 The Corporate Services Committee on March 30, 1998, recommended to the Budget Committee the adoption of the report (February 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services.

 Background:

 The Corporate Services Committee on March 30, 1998, had before it a report (February 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services advising that to continue with the Morningside Landfill remediation project, the City must acquire a 4.89 ha (12.21 acre) parcel owned by the Ministry of Transportation; that this report seeks authority to complete the purchase of that property; that the land acquisition is charged to Capital Account No. 59204-00000-00000-481 and funded from the General Development Reserve Fund, No. 71290; and recommending that:

 (1)the City purchase the lands shown on the attached sketch, being part of Lot 12, Registrar=s Compiled Plan 10303 at the price of $120,605.00, based upon a land area of 4.89 hectares (12.08 acres) with the final price to be adjusted upon completion of a survey plan; and

 (2)appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 (Report dated February 20, 1998, addressed to

the Corporate Services Committee from the

Commissioner of Corporate Services.)

 Purpose:

 To continue with the Morningside Landfill remediation project, the City must acquire a 4.89 ha (12.21 acre) parcel owned by the Ministry of Transportation. This report seeks authority to complete the purchase of that property.

 Funding:

 The land acquisition to be charged to Capital Account #59204-00000-00000-481 and funded from the General Development Reserve Fund, No. 71290.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)the City purchase the lands shown on the attached sketch, being part of Lot 12, Registrar=s Compiled Plan 10303 at the price of $120,605.00, based upon a land area of 4.89 hectares (12.08 acres) with the final price to be adjusted upon completion of a survey plan; and

 (2)appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 Background:

 Between the period 1960 to 1967, the then Township of Scarborough, in accordance with the standard practices of the day, utilized an existing gravel pit located at the south-east corner of highway 401 and Morningside Avenue as a sanitary landfill facility. Although a large part of the gravel pit was owned by the Township, both the University of Toronto and the then Department of Highways (now MTO) owned portions of it as well. Despite extensive research into the City=s archives, no agreement permitting the City=s landfill on the Province=s property has been located.

 The Ministry of Transportation owns 9.15 ha (22.6 acres) along the south limit of Highway 401 between Morningside Avenue and Conlins Road. Only 4.89 ha (12.08 acres) of this property were used as part of the landfill operation.

 Extensive research into methods of containing the methane gas and leachate within the landfill site resulted in the former City of Scarborough approving an extensive remediation plan. This plan contemplated the construction of a barrier adjacent to the east, west and part of the south sides of the landfill to prevent the migration of gas and leachate from the site. Natural physical features prevent gas and leachate from migrating north or south.

 The first phase of the plan, completed in 1996, included the construction of an underground barrier adjacent to Morningside Avenue north from Military Trail almost to Highway 401 to protect properties on the west side of Morningside.

 The next phase includes construction of a barrier along the east and part of the south sides of the landfill area. The presence of landfill almost to the property limits required the acquisition of land or easements from the abutting owners to the east. Agreements with the University of Toronto and Torchin Developments, two of the three abutting owners, were approved by Scarborough Council in 1997. Acquisition of the 4.89 ha parcel from the Ministry of Transportation will permit the construction of the final phase of the barrier to proceed. All subsequent remediation efforts will occur within the landfill area itself.

 Subject to approval by City Council, a tentative agreement has been reached with the Province for the acquisition of the 4.89 hectares (12.103 acres) adjacent to Highway 401, at a price of $120,605.00.

 Comments:

 Discussions with MTO to acquire the property have been ongoing since the fall of 1995. The property was appraised by an independent appraiser in 1996, and the Province has now agreed to sell at the appraised value of $120,605.00.

 The zoning of the property is I - Institutional. The Official Plan designation is Waste Disposal Site, within an area indicated as District Park. Ministry of Environment regulations discourage the construction of buildings on any part of the site. The surface of the property may, however, serve as a storage area for the adjacent Works Yard.

 The market value estimate of the site was predicated on the assumption that the portion of the property closest to Morningside Avenue would have limited utility in conjunction with the works yard, with the remainder of the property having only marginal value. The overall value of $24,710.00 per ha ($10,000.00 per acre) is only slightly above Aconservation@ land values.

 Conclusion:

 Acquiring this parcel will give the City complete control over the landfill area, and permit the next phase of the Morningside Landfill remediation project to proceed. Remediation will enable the rehabilitation and possible future sale of part of an adjacent city property which does not contain landfill.

 Contact Name:

 R. Mayr, AACI, Telephone: (416) 396-4930 Fax: (416) 396-4241 mayr@city.scarborough.on.ca (cs98020.wpd).

 Insert Table/Map No. 1

scarborough highland creek