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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-10-074 - Closure of a portion of Tilt Dr - Declaration of surplus land for easementJ KITC~i ~R ' • De~elopment& Technical5ervrces REPORT T0: Development & Technical Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: April 12, 2010 SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning PREPARED BY: Ronald Schirm, Supervisor of Crossing Guards (519-741- 2232) WARD(S) INVOLVED: South DATE OF REPORT: April 1, 2010 REPORT NO.: DTS-10-074 SUBJECT: CLOSURE OF A PORTION OF TILT DRIVE, AND DECLARATION OF SURPLUS FOR POSSIBLE EASEMENT PURPOSES RECOMMENDATIONS: "That the closure of a portion of Tilt Drive, (see attached Schedule "A")from Apple Ridge Drive to Robert Ferrie Drive, be approved in principle, and that Legal Services be instructed to obtain a reference plan and proceed with the preparation and advertising of a by-law to close that part of Tilt Drive, to permanently prohibit all motor vehicle traffic from using that part of the public highway known as Tilt Drive, subject to the following condition: That the portion of Tilt Drive to be closed, described as Part Lot 5, Biehn's Tract, City of Kitchener, to be further described on a Reference Plan to be prepared, be declared surplus to the City's needs for the purpose of conveying any possible easements for the affected agencies; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute all documentation, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, to close that portion of Tilt Drive and convey any necessary easements over the portion of road as required." BACKGROUND: Tilt Drive is located in the South Ward and is designated as a scenic road. The staged closure of the scenic roads in this area, including the subject portion of Tilt Drive, was established in the Doon South Community Plan and incorporated in the planning and approvals of the abutting subdivisions. Closure requirements for each stage are dependent on the construction of new roadways within the abutting subdivision developments. Staff are in receipt of a request from parents of students who attend J.W. Gerth Public School, located on Apple Ridge Drive, to provide pedestrian facilities along Tilt Drive from Robert Ferrie Drive to Apple Ridge Drive to address safety concerns. In reviewing the location staff determined that given the designation of the roadway and the intent to close the road at some io-i point, the most effective way to provide the requested facility is to close the portion of Tilt Drive to vehicular traffic prior to the start of the 2010 -11 School Year. REPORT: J.W. Gerth Public School opened on Apple Ridge Drive in the Doon South Subdivision in September 2008. 200 students attending the school are affected by the lack of pedestrian facilities on Tilt Drive between Apple Ridge Drive and Robert Ferrie Drive. Almost 300 students are bussed, the remainder, who fall outside school transportation criteria, are instructed to walk from the Robert Ferrie Drive area to Doon South Drive, along Doon Mills Drive to Apple Ridge Drive to access the school. Many school children do not follow this route but rather walk the far shorter route along Tilt Drive, which features no pedestrian facilities. At present three school busses serve this area and bussing needs for the 2010 - 11 School Year will likely see the demand increase to four busses with no changes to Tilt Drive. By providing a suitable pedestrian access along Tilt Drive from Robert Ferrie Drive to Apple Ridge Drive walking distances for the affected children will be reduced dramatically as most of the 200 bussed children would fall within the walking criteria. Thus the Waterloo Region District School Board will be able to reduce their bussing demand to a maximum of 2 school busses, saving a minimum of $36,000 annually in bussing costs. Fire services reviewed the impact of closing this portion of Tilt Drive and are satisfied that necessary emergency access is maintained in the built portion of the subdivision. Operations staff reviewed the impact of the potential closure on maintenance and the ability to provide the necessary winter maintenance for pedestrians using the affected portion of Tilt Drive. Staff felt that there was a negligible impact on maintaining the roads in the area and will be able to provide winter maintenance for the proposed closed section. Consultants representing plans of subdivision on the west side of Tilt Drive were asked to review the potential closure in terms of impact on their respective developments. The only issue raised was the presence of a temporary sales trailer adjacent to Tilt Drive approximately 200 metres north of Robert Ferrie Drive. It is intended to relocate the sales facility to a model home on Robert Ferrie Drive within the new subdivision by September 1, 2010. There is a possibility that the model home may not be completed by that date and be completed later in 2010. It was agreed that if this is the case that access to the sales trailer would be maintained and that the closure would be from Apple Ridge Drive to the sales trailer access until such time that the sales office is relocated, at which point the full closure would take effect. Pedestrian safety would not be compromised in that there would be virtually no vehicular traffic accessing the sales trailer during the times that school children would be walking to and from school. All construction traffic in this area is directed to use Robert Ferrie Drive to access the development. In that the closure of Tilt Drive has already been identified in the Community Plan, a Class A+ Environmental Assessment will be conducted, which entails a newspaper advertisement and signed notification at each end of the proposed closure. This will be accomplished within the normal process of the Bylaw as recommended. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: As part of the road closure process the following, with associated costs, is required: $2000 for the procurement of a reference plan io-2 - $1200 for the advertisement as per the requirements of the bylaw - $200 for Registry Office Disbursements for the registration of the bylaw and possible easements - $200 for the manufacture and placement of signs at each end of the proposed closure. - $2000 for the placement of gates and landscaping at each end of the closure. The Waterloo District School Board will bear the costs of advertisement, the reference plan and the Registry Office Disbursements. The City will bear the cost of sign manufacture and placement, which will be drawn from the sign installation account, and the placement of the gates and landscaping, which will be drawn from the trails maintenance account. CONCLUSION: It is requested that the above resolution be approved by Council to facilitate the completion of the road closure and conveyance of required easements. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Interim General Manager, Development and Technical Services 10-3 Schedule "A" DTS Report 10-074 Tilt Drive ems: - ~ _ .. ya ~ _ a ~ ~ ~~ F r,~~ov ~±rr ~ 5 ICY ~, ~ ~ e 3j,, A ~ 6 C I 5 ~~~ ~ I ~~«: F ~ 3 k .- t ~ ~fi t _ '`-'r: r1'ti n" f g ~ . V~ 7 x[C. 9, ~!~ .. f+~ s ~,: d~ ,,, ,~ '~. ~~'~ ~ `~`~~~ kA ~ ~' a~~ y "~~`~' . °~ ~~~ .C b~f~'~y-~~ ~ e ~~ §, ry ~, ~~ e 10-4