HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-038 - Huron Road Land AcquisitionStaff Re~p~r~
I~~rc~~nT~~ lnfrastrurture Services Department
REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING: April 18, 2011
www.kitchenerca
SUBMITTED BY: Steve Ross, Assistant City Solicitor, Assistant City Solicitor
K. Grant Murphy, P.Eng, Director of Engineering Services
PREPARED BY: Binu J. Korah, P.Eng., Manager of Develop. Engineering,
(519) 741 2974
Steve Ross, Assistant City Solicitor, (519) 741 2266
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 5
DATE OF REPORT: April 11, 2011
REPORT NO.: INS 11-038
SUBJECT: LAND AQUISITION PROCESS FOR HURON ROAD
IMPROVEMENTS FROM STRASBURG ROAD TO
FISCHER HALLMAN ROAD
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to execute Agreements of Purchase
and Sale for the acquisition of several properties by the City of Kitchener, for the
purchase price considered in camera, to accommodate the Huron Road Improvements
from Strasburg Road to Fischer Hallman Road; said Agreements to be to the satisfaction
of the City Solicitor.
BACKGROUND:
Huron Road is a secondary arterial road generally consisting of two lanes with a rural cross-
section from Fischer-Hallman Road to Strasburg Road, carrying traffic between the east and
western portions of the City of Kitchener. Huron Road is currently in poor condition within this
corridor and requires an immediate upgrade. At this time, there is no sidewalk, streetlights,
shoulders and also the road surface is in a deteriorating condition. Further, the storm water
issues also need to be addressed as part of this project.
In May 2008, the City retained MTE Consultants Inc. to complete a Schedule "C" Class
Environmental Assessment (EA), along with the detailed design and contract administration for
Huron Road Improvements from Strasburg Road to Fischer-Hallman Road in accordance with
Municipal Engineers Association document, October 2000, as amended in 2007. In March 2010,
the City completed the Environmental Study Report (ESR) for this portion of the road and
received approval from the Ministry of Environment.
Staff Re~p~r~
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REPORT:
The City completed the detailed design of the Huron Road widening from Strasburg Road to
Fischer Hallman Road in accordance with the approved ESR and tendered the project. As part
of the detailed design and ESR, the City is required to purchase portions of several properties to
complete the proposed road widening, (see attached map, Appendix A).
In May of 2010, the City retained an independent appraiser, Terry Macklin of Waterloo Regional
Appraisals Ltd. to appraise the required lands for the purpose of acquisition. Subsequent to the
valuation of the subject lands, Coldwell Banker Realty was retained to negotiate/facilitate the
land acquisition process on behalf of the City. As a result, the City of Kitchener is in a position
to purchase almost all of the properties. At this time staff recommends that the Mayor and City
Clerk be authorized to execute the Agreements of Purchase and Sale for the City to
accommodate the proposed Huron Road improvements.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The Huron Road Improvements from Strasburg Road to Fischer Hallman road is aligned with
the City of Kitchener strategic plan; refer to strategic plan document, community priorities -
Development sections 1 & 3. Further, this project is also one of the priority projects identified in
the Kitchener Growth Management Plan as it provides service to lands identified as Priority A.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This project was identified in the City's 2004 and 2009 Development Charge Background
studies and is required to support the developments within this area. Further this project funding
was also approved in 2011 Capital Budget process. The property acquisition cost will be
discussed at the caucus of April 18, 20111.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
As part of this Class EA project, three (3) Public Information Centres were conducted to provide
the public, agencies, stakeholders, interested and affected parties with an opportunity to review
and comment on the study findings including preferred alternative, along with the other
alternatives considered. The direct mail-outs, along with the newspaper advertisement advising
the public and property owners of the project start and the Public Information Centres, provided
a project overview, as well as contact names and information for those interested. Furthermore
many project meetings were conducted to discuss specific issues with stakeholders and
affected landowners. City staff and the consultant also met several times with the Huron Heights
Secondary School principal, board members, and School council to present the study findings.
Further to EA process, Coldwell Banker's met with all the property owners and they are in
agreement to sell the property to City to accommodate the Huron Road widening.
CONCLUSION:
The City of Kitchener is responsible for the management and rehabilitation of Huron Road.
Therefore, it must be ensured that the required improvements are completed in a timely and
efficient manner.
Huron Road is currently in a poor condition within this corridor and requires an immediate
upgrade. Further, the road improvements have to be completed in a timely manner to support
Staff Re~p~r~
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the developments within this area. The detailed design was completed in accordance with the
approved Environmental Study Report (ESR) for Huron Road Improvements from Strasburg
Road to Fischer Hallman Road.
Coldwell Banker is currently completing the land acquisition process with the project limit for
City of Kitchener. Therefore staff recommends that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized
to execute the Agreements of Purchase and Sale for the City, in a form satisfactory to the City
Solicitor, and in accordance with the purchase prices considered in camera.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dan Chapman, Deputy CAO & City Treasurer, Finance and
Corporate Services
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services
De artment