HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-12-056 - Laurentian Pumping Station - Commence of EAREPORT TO:Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING:
June 25, 2012
SUBMITTED BY: Binu Korah, ext. 2974 & Steve Ross, ext. 2266
PREPARED BY:
Binu Korah, ext. 2974 & Steve Ross, ext. 2266
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 5
DATE OF REPORT: June 25, 2012
REPORT NO.:
INS – 12-056
SUBJECT: Request re Commencement of Environmental
Assessment - Laurentian Sanitary Pumping Station
(Ottawa-Trussler area sewage Facility)
RECOMMENDATION:
That Staff be directed to initiate a Class Environmental Assessment study for a new
Laurentian Sanitary Pumping Station (Ottawa-Trussler area sewage facility) and related
infrastructure to support the developments within the Laurentian West area; and further,
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into a Credit for Service agreement with
Activa Holdings Inc., to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, for the cost to complete the
Environmental Assessment study for the Laurentian sanitary pumping station (Ottawa-
Trussler area sewage facility), forcemain, and related infrastructure , once the cost of
such study is determined.
BACKGROUND:
Activa Holdings Inc. applied for an amendment to the Official Plan in 2005 and applied for
zoning and Plan of Subdivision planning approvals in 2008, to permit a residential subdivision
for lands to the northeast corner of Trussler Road and Ottawa Street, extending to Highway 7/8.
The Subject Lands have a long planning history, being identified as early as 1990 as a logical
extension of the Laurentian West community. In 2009 City Council promoted the lands to
Priority B from priority C in the Kitchener Growth Management Plan, with a condition that
sanitary servicing constraints be addressed through an Environmental Assessment and that
recommendations on the Environmental Assessment be addressed concurrently with the draft
plan of subdivision. Activa filed OMB appeals in 2011 with respect to the lands. Activa also
undertook the commencement of an Environmental Assessment for the construction of a
sanitary pumping station. The City of Kitchener refused to participate in or acknowledge
Activa’s privately initiated Environmental Assessment as the City, the Region and the Ministry of
Environment were not consulted in creating the terms of reference, and the study area extended
beyond the boundary of lands owned by the private developer.
In late 2011, as a result of the first OMB prehearing in this matter, Activa agreed to stand down
its OMB appeal and abandon its original Environmental Assessment in order that the City may
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undertake its own Environmental Assessment to identify the appropriate location for the
pumping station and related infrastructure to support the developments within this area.
Activa has agreed to pay the cost of the consultant to be retained by the City to complete the
Environmental Assessment study, to be recovered through a Credit for Service Agreement.
In addition to the cost of the study, and dependant on the outcome of the Environmental
Assessment, Activa has agreed to pay for the detailed design and construction of the sanitary
pumping station, forcemain, and related downstream gravity sewer improvements, through a
second Credit for Service Agreement upon the completion of the study.
To ensure objectivity and transparency, it has been agreed that the consultant who carried out
the Environmental Assessment on behalf of Activa is disqualified from bidding on this
Environmental Assessment when tendered by the City of Kitchener.
The parties participated in several more pre hearings since late 2011, developing a framework
for working toward an approval for development of these lands.
REPORT:
City Engineering staff has worked diligently in the past two months to prepare Terms of
Reference for this Environmental Assessment (EA) as part of the OMB hearing process. As
part of the OMB hearing, Activa has agreed to pay the cost of the consultant to be retained by
the City to complete the Environmental Assessment study. In order to facilitate the draft plan
process and plan the engineering services for the Laurentian West area, the sanitary sewer
pumping station Class EA and infrastructure upgrade review is required. As such staff
recommend that City should enter a credit for service agreement with Activa to complete the EA
process.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This project is fully funded through the Development Charges. In accordance with the approved
2012 Capital budget forecast, this project is supposed to commence in 2020. However, In 2009
City Council promoted the lands to Priority B from priority C in the Kitchener Growth
Management Plan, with a condition that sanitary servicing constraints be addressed through an
Environmental Assessment and that recommendations on the Environmental Assessment be
addressed concurrently with the draft plan of subdivision. As part of the OMB hearing, Activa
has agreed to pay the cost through a credit for service agreement to complete the EA including
staff time and other administrative charges. As part of the credit for service agreement the City
has to determine the exact time frame to reimburse the above cost to the developer.
CONCLUSION:
In order to facilitate the draft plan process and plan the engineering services for the Laurentian
West area, the sanitary sewer pumping station Class EA and infrastructure upgrade review is
required. As such staff recommends that City should enter a credit for service agreement with
Activa to complete the EA process.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dan Chapman, Deputy CAO & City Treasurer, Finance and
Corporate Services
Jim Witmer, Acting Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Service
Department
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