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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR.D.H.P. Advisory Board 1982 ~ 1-1 , the metropolitan toronto and region conservation authority minutes R D.H.P ADVISORY BOARD 1982.05.03 '1/82 - The R.D H P Advisory Board met at the Town of Pickering Municipal Office, Brock Road at Highway 12, p.ckering, 1982.05.03:1300. PRESENT Chairman Mrs. Norah Stoner Vice-Chairman Mrs. Maureen prinsloo Members Mrs. P.T. Clark D. Jackson W.G. McLean Dr. J.K. Reynolds J.S. Scott Authority Vice-Chairman Mrs. F. Ge 11 Save the Rouge Valley System Allan Greenbaum Lois James Brenda Sabharwal Doris Schwar ABSENT Members J.E. Anderson Mrs. C. Bell E. Fulton E. King Mrs. A. Walker MINUTES Res. 11 Moved by: Mrs. P.T. Clark Seconded by: D. Jackson THAT the Minutes of Meeting '2/81 be approved. CARRIED, PROGRESS REPORTS Waterfront Development .The st~ff outlined progress with respect to completion of the Bluffers Park Waterfront Area: .Up-dating and revisions to the Master Plan of the East Point Park Waterfront Area due to funding constraints and the fact that the Waterfront Project has only been approved for a one-year period, implementation of the East Point Park Waterfront Area has been delayed. Staff advised the Board that the Waterfront Advisory Board recently recommended adoption of a Waterfront project to continue waterfront work during 1983: .1982 Programme: commencement of development of the toplands and construction of a new, enlarged washroom building at Bluffers; road, landscaping, interior shoreline, and services for the eastern section of Bluffers Park; some land- scaping and grading of waterfront lands in Ajax; .The Board was advised that the Town of Pickering has developed a legal case with respect to the Frenchman Bay Waterfront Area. Erosion and Sediment Control . Completed work,: Highland Creek in the vicinity of Markham Road Metro Parks & Recreation Yard, Morningside Avenue Rouge River at Kennedy Road, York Region . Petticoat Creek at Altona Road, Durham Reg ion Lower Rouge, Woodgrange Road area 1-2 -2- In 1982, major erosion works will commence on the Highland Creek south of Ellesmere Road Flood Control .Simcoe Engineering has been encouraged to investigate alternatives for flood control measures in the Lower Duffin Creek from Brock Road to just south of Highway 12. The most cost-effective method and that which creates the least amount of environmental impact is the construction of dykes. The majority of the works are located on Authority lands. It will, however, be necessary to acquire additional lands in certain areas. Reports will be completed in the very near future On the basis of present scheduling, the first opportunity for commencement of work would be 1984. Watershed Recreation There was increased school attendance at the Cross-Country Ski Programme at Bruce's Mill during the 1981-1982 winter season. School use of the Maple Syrup Programme also increased. Due to poor weekends, however, public visitation decreased slightly .Winter use of the Greenwood Area was up, and special programmes offered at Bruce's Mill were well-attended .The pond at Bruce's Mill was stocked with fish and this proved to be a very popular and successful programme. .The Ministry of Citizenship & Culture granted funds to modify existing facilities in Conservation Areas for use by the disabled The Executive Committee recommended a lQ82 Conservation Area Development Programme which would nclude impro~Lment of facilities in Conservation Areas, erosion control works, fisp, and forest management .Tree planting 29,000 - Claremont Conservation Area; 49,000 - Glen Major Conservation Area; Undertaking final planting of restored Glen Major gravel pit; Contract with the Ministry of the Environment to re-habilitate, through planting, portions of the sewer easement for the; York/Durham Sewage System; Some landscape planting to be undertaken in the eastern section of Bluffers Park; A Canada Community Development grant has been received for painting, energy improvements, tree maintenance, and improvements to Conservation Area facilities Employment & Immigration Canada has made a grant from the Summer Canada Student Employment Programme, and three students have been hired to rehabilitate fire guards in the Glen Major Conservation Area SOI~e larger trees became available for planting in the Ajax Waterfront Area Land Acquisition Programme Approval of the Land Acquisition Project has not yet been received from the Province of Ontario; therefore, no new property acquisitions have been made Rouge Study .1979 public interest groups were concerned with the co-ordinated approach to the preservation of the Lower Rouge valley; 1980 Metropolitan Toronto Planning Department appointed a sub-committee to study in detail the resources of the Lower Rouge valley from Highway '401 south to Lake Ontario; 1981 report completed in 1ge2, circulated for comment, and approved by Metro in late 1981 The second stage of the study, from Highway #401 north to Steeles Avenue, commenced in December, 1981, information is presently being gathered, and a draft report is expected by June, 1982; -3- I-J Related studies are "Me{ro Green" - a proposal for botanical gardens and a nursery adjacent to the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo: and a planning study in the Borough of Scarborough on the north-east section of the Rouge, involving lands owned by the Ontario Land Development Corporation. Staff will continue to keep the Board up-to-date on these related matters. Beare Road Landfill Site .The Chairman advised that the proposal of Metropolitan Toronto regarding the removal of nuclear-contaminated soil to temporary storage has been sent to the Province of Ontario. It is unlikely that a permanent site will be established for approximately 5-10 years. Res 12 Moved by W.G. McLea n Seconded by Mrs. P.T. Clark THAT the Staff Progress Reports be received for information. CARRIED: ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS STUDY Res. IJ Moved by J.S. Scot t Seconded by: Mrs. M. prinsloo THAT the Environmentally Significant Areas Study be received: AND THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT the report "Environmentally Significant Areas Study be forwarded to interested provincial ministries, municipalities, agencies, and groups for comment. CARRI ED: URBAN WATERSHED MANAGE~ENT . Th~ Rouge River watershed was used as an example to illustrate the impact of urban development on a waterst.ed Nine percent of the Rouge is in urban development, and ninety-one percent is open or rural. By the year 2000, based on existing Official Plans, twenty-four percent of the watershed will be in urban development and seventy-six percent open or rural. There are three damage centres on the Rouge on the West Branch at Unionville, on the Beaver Creek, and on the Bruce's Creek. As a result of urbanization on the Beaver Creek, under the 5-year return frequency, there will be a forty-five per- cent increase in runoff, a forty-seven percent increase under the lOa-year storm, and twenty-one percent increase under the Regionai Storm. In the mid-stream area of the river, the 5-year storm would result in a five percent increase, the 100- year in four percent, and in the Regional Storm - eleven percent. The increase at the river mouth in the 5-year flood would be five percent, in the lOa-year - three percent, and in the Regional Storm - thirteen percent. One of the major problems to be dealt with by the Authority is the continuation, in the region under its jurisdiction, of urban development: increasing run-off, and erosion, and having impact on stream stability and environmentally sensitive areas. One of the major objectives of the Watershed Pian is to encourage municipalities to undertake, in co-operation with the Authority, master drainage planning and to incorporate storm water planning in all future development. ROLE OF THE R.D H P. ADVISORY BOARD .Meetings of the R.D.H.P. Advisory Board provide opportunity for all members to learn what is going on in the watershed: .The role of the Vice-Chairman of the Board is to represent the Chairman in herlhis absence .It was felt that the functional advisory boards' contribution is to deal with det~ils of Authority conservation projects and to add expertise. .Watershed boards provide an opportunity for citizen involvement on a regional bas is. .The R.D.H.P Advisory Board felt that two meetings of the board annually are sufficient 1-4 -4- Res 14 Moved by J.S Scott Seconded by Mrs. M. prinsloo THAT the R.D.H.P Advisory Board endorse the role of the watershed boards as they are presently constituted. CARRIED; OTHER BUSINESS Mrs. prinsloo brought to the attention of the Board the report which had been prepared by the Borough of Scarborough Planning Department on environmentally sensitive areas in the Borough. The first phase of the study has been completed in areas to be developed in the near future. The report covering the entire Borcugh of Scarborough will be completed in 1982. Authority staff are familiar with the study, and a copy is on file at this office. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the relationship between the Authority and The Regional Municipality of Durham Some problems discussed were the lack of support from the Region for a contribution to the Black Creek pioneer Village Visitors Centre, failure of Durham to endorse the Canadalontario Flood Damage Reduction Programme, and to approve the 1982 Conservation Area Development Project. Res. IS Moved by W.G. McLea n Seconded by: J.S. Scott THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT the staff be requested to prepare, for presentation to The Regional Municipality of Durham, a slide presentation outlining the work completed by the Authority in the Region, together with proposals for additional works to be carried out under the Watershed Plan; AND FURTHER THAT arrangements be made for presentation at a luncheon meeting preceding a regular meeting 0:: the Council of the muhicipality. CARRIED; Mrs. Lois James of .Save the R~uge Valley System. addressed the Board. She drew attention to World E,1vironment Week being sponsored June 5. Mrs. James is appreciative of the work of the R D.H.P Advisory Board, the only committee which is looking at the total Rouge watershed Her association has received a grant from the federal government to carry out a study of land ownership and land use adjacent to the Rouge River, and she stated that the future of the Rouge will be determined in the next five years. Mrs James expressed concern regarding proposed development of the Glen Eagles area and the impact on the Morningside tri bu tary. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned 1982.05 03 1240, followed by lunch and a tour of the Highway it 2 (former Pickering village) Flood Damage Centre; proposed erosion control works on the Highland Creek and Ellesmere Road; the mouth of the Rouge, and the Lower Rouge valley, including the new pedestrian bridge constructed by the Metropolitan Toronto Parks and Property n~partment. Mrs. Norah Stoner K.G. Higgs, General Manager Chairman Secretary-Treasurer KGH/KC.