REPORT TITLE: GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE

Transcription

1 P Region cf Peel Wo~tkittq lfj!t qfjtt REPORT Meeting Date: February 13, 2014 Regional Council DATE: December 19, 2013 REPORT TITLE: GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE FROM: Dan Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works RECOMMENDATION That Regional staff work with Area Municipal and Provincial staff to establish a "GTA West Secondary Plan (SP) 47 Working Group", maintain an ongoing dialogue and address issues of concern; And further, that a copy of the report of the Commissioner of Public Works dated December 19, 2013 and titled "GTA West Corridor Environmental Assessment- Update" be forwarded to the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton, Town of Caledon and Ministry of Transportation, for information. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Stage Two of the GTA West Environmental Assessment Study has now commenced and is expected to take three to five years. Ministry of Transportation staff anticipates releasing lands from the corridor following each of the following phases of Stage Two: development of route alternatives, a preferred alternative and a final alignment. Planning efforts are continuing in the three priority areas across Peel Region. Regional staff continue to work closely with their area municipal and provincial counterparts to appropriately plan for and protect a preferred alignment for the GTA West Corridor, while calling upon the Province to expedite the release of lands from the corridor protection area to sup12_ort planned and needed develo_pment. DISCUSSION 1. Background The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA} study to examine long term transportation problems and opportunities, and consider alternative solutions to provide better linkages between Urban Growth Centres in the western Greater Toronto Area (GTA). V-<J /09

2 December 19, 2013 GTAWEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT- UPDATE The EA study was launched in The Terms of Reference for the study were approved by the Minister of the Environment in March Stage One of the EA study concluded with the release of the Transportation Development Strategy (TDS) in November The TDS confirmed that in addition to new and expanded non-road infrastructure and widening/improvements to existing roadways, a new freeway stretching from Highway 400 in Vaughan across Peel Region, and north-south along the Halton-Peel boundary, with connections to Highways 401 and 407 in Halton Region, would be necessary to serve growth to 2031 (see Appendix 1). The MTO is in the process of retaining a consultant to conduct Stage Two of the study, which will result in route alternatives; a preferred alternative; and a final alignment. Initiation of Stage Two is expected in early Stage Two of the EA is expected to take three to five years; however, the MTO (through discussions with Ministry of the Environment staff) has expressed that lands that can be reasonably excluded from the corridor may be released at each of the three phases of Stage Two as identified above, following public consultation. This planned phased release of lands from the study area is a departure from the typical Individual EA process and has been supported by MTO staff as a mechanism to balance the need for development to proceed with the need to protect lands for the GTA West Corridor. 2. Regional Official Plan Amendment 26 Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 26 was modified by the Province to include policies and mapping intended to protect for the GTA West Corridor. The modifications were subsequently approved by Regional Council, and are currently under appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. 3. Priority Areas in Peel On July 5, 2012, Regional Council passed a resolution ( ) which requested that MTO staff work collaboratively with Regional and municipal staff in prioritizing three study areas across the Region, namely the Highway 410 connection to the GTA West (Mayfield West), the Highway 427 Industrial Secondary Plan (Area 47)/South Albion-Bolton area, and the North West Brampton/Osmington area (as illustrated in Appendix 1). Staff have been working diligently with their municipal and provincial counterparts to advance local planning efforts in the three Peel priority areas while balancing the need to protect for the GTA West Corridor. Status updates for each of the three areas are provided below: a) Mayfield West As previously reported to Regional Council, staff have entered into an agreement with the Town of Caledon and Province, which Identified Mayfield West as a "prioritt area to be considered early in Stage Two of the EA study Provides for the phased release of lands not required for the corridor

3 December 19, 2013 GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - UPDATE Provided for the withdrawal of two of the four appeals relating to development applications in the Mayfield West area; and the adjournment of those appeals until at least December 31, 2014 Led to the formation of the GTA WestJ41 0 Connection Working Group, which has proven to be an effective forum for discussion and resolution of issues relating to development in Mayfield West. Developments not under appeal are proceeding through the planning and construction processes. Staff are utilizing the Working Group forum to discuss and resolve other issues as they arise, including servicing. b) Secondary Plan (SP) 47/South Albion Bolton Regional staff have been involved in the development of a Secondary Plan for Area 47 (SP 47). City of Brampton staff advises that the plan is proceeding towards City Council adoption in Spring/Summer Both Provincial and Regional staff have advised the City that the area and extent of the GTA West Corridor protection area provided for on the draft land use plan for SP 47 is inconsistent with both the Province's Preliminary Route Planning Study Area (November 2012) and the Regional Official Plan. Furthermore, the area that shows the inconsistency is a highly constrained portion of the GTA West Corridor, and any further narrowing of the corridor may compromise the ability of the MTO to generate sufficient route alternatives. Recognizing that the Region's Official Plan policies related to the protection of the GTA West Corridor have been appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board, Regional staff has advised the City that Regional Council expressed its support for the Provincial modifications to strengthen the policy direction to protect this important infrastructure corridor. Therefore, the matter of conformity with the intent of Region Official Plan policies in this regard must be reconciled prior to City of Brampton adoption of Secondary Plan 47. Accordingly, staff recommend the development of a SP 47/GTA West Working Group comprised of MTO, Brampton and Peel staff, to discuss and resolve this and other issues in the SP 47 area. Similar working groups have or will be formed in the other two priority areas, and in Mayfield West, the working group has proven to be an effective forum for the discussion and resolution of issues. Staff are also in receipt of The South Albion Bolton Rural Service Centre Boundary Expansion Study. This proposed amendment to the Regional Official Plan was deemed complete by Regional staff in 201 0; however processing of the application was placed on hold pending approval of ROPA 24 and Caledon Official Plan Amendment 226. The application has now been circulated to the appropriate Regional staff for comment. c) North West Brampton As previously reported to Council, extensive local and Regional planning efforts have been undertaken in the Halton-Peel boundary area, as part of the Halton-Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study (HPBATS}. That study confirmed the need for a north-south transportation corridor with connections to Highways 401 and 407 in Halton Region. The study also recommended an east-west connection, linking Georgetown and Brampton via the Guelph Street/Bovaird Drive corridor. MTO's Transportation Development V /11

4 ?J.I~- 4 - December 19, 2013 GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT- UPDATE Strategy resulted in the locally identified north-south corridor largely coinciding with the GTA West Corridor. A subsequent analysis led by the original HPBATS partners (Halton Region, Peel Region, the City of Brampton, and Towns of Caledon and Halton Hills) and involving an examination of best practices and precedents; discussions with key staff from the Ministries of Transportation and the Environment; independent legal and EA advice; and staff and consultant input, concluded that it was not feasible to continue local planning efforts to implement the Halton Peel Freeway, given the concurrent GTA West Corridor EA. The City of Brampton is currently developing the Heritage Heights Secondary Plan and component studies as part of the overall secondary planning for areas 52 (Huttonville North) and 53 (Mount Pleasant West). Since that time, the Minister of Transportation has confirmed that the HPBATS work and any work completed as part of the Heritage Heights Secondary Planning Background Studies will be used as input into the GT A West EA. The Minister has also confirmed that as requested by Peel Region, a GTA West/Northwest Brampton Working Group will be developed as a forum to maintain an ongoing dialogue and address issues of concern (see Appendix II). 4. Other Planning Studies Caledon staff has advised that the Mayfield West Phase 2 Secondary Plan application to amend the Regional Official Plan will be submitted to the Region in the near future. Regional staff will work with Caledon and MTO staff to ensure that the proposed amendment balances the need for development with the need to protect for the corridor. a) City of Mississauga A small portion of the GTA West Corridor is located within the City of Mississauga. Regional staff will engage in discussions with City staff to ensure any issues are addressed appropriately. V / 11

5 ~-~~ -5 - December 19, 2013 GTAWEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE CONCLUSION Regional staff continue to work closely with their area municipal and provincial counterparts to appropriately plan for and protect a preferred alignment for the GTA West Corridor, while calling upon the Province to expedite the release of lands from the corridor protection area to support planned and needed development. Staff will report back to Council at key milestones of the GTA West Corridor EA study. Dan Labrecque Commissioner of Public Works Approved for Submission: D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer For further information regarding this report, please contact Tina Detaramani at extension 4554 or via at tina. detaramani@peelregion. ca Authored By: Tina Detaramani c. Legislative Services V / 11

6 December 19, 2013 GTAWEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE APPENDIX I GTA West Preliminary Route Planning Study Area (November 2012) and Peel Priority Areas V /11

7 APPENDIX II December 19, GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - UPDATE APPENDIX II Correspondence from Minister of Transportation dated September 4, 2013 Ministry of Infrastructure Ministry Qf Transportation Olfce ollhe Minister Ferguson BJod<, 3.. Floor 77 Wellesley St West Toronlo, Ontario M7A WW"N.mto.gov.on.ca SEP Ministere de!'infrastructure Mlnlstore des Tran1ports Bureau du mlnislre Edifice Ferguson, 3' etage 11. rue Wellesley ouest Toronto (Ontario) M7A1Z ww.v.ontaoo.ca~ nlrastruc ture RGgional Mu;"'''' '.: ", ~ Offic~ of the i{~, :.' ' '"..? Onl w S~: 0 v L:(Ji3 RECEI\tk:D M Mr. Emil Kolb Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer Regional Municipality of Peel 10 Peei Centre Drive Brampton ON L6T 4B9 Dear Mr. Kolb, Thank you for your letter about the Hatton-Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study (HPBATS) Update and the ministry's GTA West study. I appreciate the opportunity to respond. I welcome Peel Region's support for the GT A West Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment (EA) study, and llook forward to continued collaboration between the ministry and Peel Region municipalities. Planning for the GTA West Corridor is a provincial interest as it represents significant transportation infrastructure for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and is of critical importance to improving the overall transportation system in the GTA to support Ontario's economy. The GTA West study was initiated in 2007 and is being carried out under the Environmental Assessment Act in two stages. The broader Stage 1 area of the study has now been refined to a Route Planning Study Area for Stage 2, within which we will be generating and evaluating alternate route alignments. We are moving expeditiously in retaining a consultant for Stage 2 of the EA. and expect to have the consultant on board this fall. Public Notice of Commencement of Stage 2 will occur shortly after the consultant is acquired. Stage 2 of the EA to determine the preferred route alignment, and complete the preliminary design for that route, will take approximately five years. Ministry of Environment review and approval will follow. We appreciate Peel Region's support for the project and offer to provide the HPBATS work, as well as the City of Brampton Heritage Heights Secondary Planning Background Studies as input to the GT A West project. Ministry staff will continue to work with Peel Region staff on acquiring this information. REFERRAL TO RECOMMENDED DIRECTION REQUIRED RECEIPT RECOMMENDED_.:..~ /2

8 December 19, 2013 GTAWEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT- UPDATE -2- The ministry must be careful to maintain the integrity of the EA process. Removing objection to development prematurely before routes are confirmed could be seen as presupposing an outcome. Ministry staff have met with Ministry of the Environment staff to explain the need and approach to remove objections to some development at certain study milestones: once routes are generated and again when a preferred route is identified. In each case, public input on the routes would be collected before removing any objections to development. We are committed to moving the GT A West Corridor project forward as expeditiously as possible. At the same time, we need to ensure that proper technical and consultation work is done so that the integrity of the EA process is not compromised. Peel Region, among other regional municipalities, has supported the study and included corridor protection policies in their Official Plan for the GTA West Corridor. We appreciate this support, and are working with Peel Region to resolve the appeals that have been brought to the Ontario Municipal Board by developers. Regarding your request to establish a "GTA West/Northwest Brampton Working Group, we agree this would be an excellent forum to maintain an ongoing dialogue and to discuss any areas of concern. Staff from the Central Region Planning and Design Office will contact Peel Region staff to arrange for an initial meeting in the fall. Should there be any questions in this regard, please contact Bob Stephenson, Area Manager for Route Planning and Transit Initiatives, at Thank you again for bringing this resolution to my attention.... r: Sincerely,,.... \ /. ~ dren- urray Minister I c. Damian Albanese, Director, Transportation Division, Regional Municipality of Peel

9 APPENDIX II December 19,2013 -'3 - GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE Office of the Chair July 4, 2013 Resolution Number Honourable Glen R Murray Mm1ster of Transportation Mimstry of Transportation Ferguson Block, 77 Wellesley St W, 3rd Fl Toronto, ON M7A 1Z8 Dear Honourable Murray Subject Halton-Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study Update I am wnt1ng to adv1se that Reg1onal Council approved the follow1ng resolutron at tts meettng held on Thursday, June 13, 2013 Resolutron ~ Moved by Councillor Palleschi, Seconded by Councillor Thompson, That Region of Peel staff work With provincral staff to advance the refinement of the GTA West Prehmrnarv Route Plann1ng Study Area through Northwest Brampton and other pnonty areas across the Reg1on of Peel (Mayfield West and SP 47JSouth Alb1on Bolton), And further. that the Mtmster of Transportation be requested to uttlize the Halton Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study (HPBATS) work and the City of Brampton Hentage Hetghts Secondary Plannrng Background Stud1es as input 1nto Stage 2 of the GTA West Enwronmental Assessment (EA) to ass1st m the expeditious refmement of the GTA West Preltmmary Route Planning Study Area and release of lands not requ1red for the corndor, And further, that Reg1on of Peel staff work with provincial and area municipal staff to establish a "GTA West/Northwest Brampton Workmg Group" as a forum to mamtam an ongoing d1alogue and address 1ssues of concern: And further, that a copy of the report of the Commissioner of Public Works, dated May 13, 2013, titled "Halton-Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study Update'' be forwarded to the Mm1stry of Municipal Affairs and Hous1ng, M1nlstry of Transportation, Cities of M1sS1ssauga and Brampton, Towns of Caledon and Halton Hills, and Reg1on of Halton, for tnformat1on The Reg1onal Municipality of Peel 10 Peel Centre Dr", Brampton, ON L6T 4B Fax Website peelregion ca

10 APPENDIX II December 19, '\}w-~~-\0 GTA WEST CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UPDATE I..,.., A copy of the subject report rs prov1ded for your information Sincer~ # Emil Kolb RegJonal Chair and Chref Execut1ve Officer EKjs Enclosure c Dam1an Albanese. Drrector, Transportation DIVISion, Regron of Peel Bob Stephenson, Area Manager, Route Plannmg and Transit JnrtJatJves, Plannmg and Oes1gn, Central Region, Mmrstry of Transportation