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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-056 - Blair Creek Dr Ext - Reidel Dr - Class EA,/� Relates to May 22nd Planning & Strategic StStaff �1 %� ?port Initiatives Committee report Infrastructure Services Department www kitchener ca REPORT TO: Mayor Zehr and Members of Council DATE OF MEETING: June 10, 2013 SUBMITTED BY: Hans N. Gross, P. Eng., Director Asset Management, 519- 741 -2200 x7416 PREPARED BY: Binu Korah, Manager, Development Engineering, 519 -741- 2200 x7974 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Wards 4 & 5 DATE OF REPORT: June 3, 2013 REPORT NO.: INS -13 -056 SUBJECT: BLAIR CREEK DRIVE EXTENSION — REIDEL DRIVE TO THE WEST, CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS RECOMMENDATION: THAT the alignment for Blair Creek Drive Extension from Reidel Drive westerly to the point of intersection with Strasburg Road Extension - South Section Alignment W1 (Blair Creek Drive Extension) be determined through the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Road Projects (Class EA process). BACKGROUND: During the May 22, 2013 Special Planning and Strategic Initiative Committee, staff were directed to review the Class EA process requirement for Blair Creek Drive Extension. REPORT: City staff advised Council via email on May 23, 2013 that the "Blair Creek Drive Extension from Reidel Drive westerly to the point of intersection with Strasburg Road Extension (W1) is not included in the Class EA process for Strasburg Road — South Section. Since this section of Blair Creek Drive is outside of the development boundary, a separate Class EA process will be completed for its extension." Blair Creek Drive from Reidel Drive to the east is within the Countryside Line development boundary and has been defined through draft plans of subdivision. Refer to attached Appendix A. Blair Creek Drive Extension is within the study area for the Strasburg Road Extension — South Section Class EA process. As part of that process, Blair Creek Drive Extension was shown as a straight line extension to the west to intersect with the seven Strasburg Road alternatives being considered. Environmental and engineering inventories including appropriate field surveys were undertaken and a very preliminary horizontal and vertical alignment was established to serve as the basis for the derivation of a Class "C" cost estimate of $3.624M ( -15% to +35% variance). Since Blair Creek Drive Extension was not the principal road component under consideration, the single alignment reduced the level of complexity for the Strasburg Road EA process. The Class EA process requires that alternative road alignments be identified, described, evaluated and presented to the public for review and comment. This activity has not been completed for the Blair Creek Drive Extension. It is therefore recommended that the alignment for Blair Creek Drive Extension be determined through a separate Class EA process. This recommendation will be included in the Environmental Study Report for the Strasburg Road Extension - South Section project. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The Blair Creek Drive Extension project will be included in the 2014 Development Charge Background studies to support the recommendation of the Strasburg Road Extension — South Section Environmental Study Report (ESR) requirements. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The Blair Creek Drive Extension and Strasburg Road Extension projects are aligned with the City of Kitchener Strategic Plan; refer to Strategic Plan document, community priorities — Development sections 1 & 3. Further, the projects are also one of the priority projects identified in the Kitchener Growth Management Plan, as it provides service to lands identified as Priority B. CONCLUSION: The alignment for Blair Creek Drive Extension will be determined through a separate Class EA process. This recommendation will be included in the Environmental Study Report for the Strasburg Road Extension - South Section project. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, DCAO Infrastructure Services Department a FPM I IDV, \Do'Dp so* !N k%4 0 0 0 ZI Sl 14 m C) cli 0 S I IL CL Cc L CT CT a cy as or ro rnm CL rn a, "D E u) E E 0 a) u C -0 -- P N 'Ell E -0 ps o c, (D 0 tlY C, E a) U) E Q) O N 8 F- Y 0 Wq ao L Lo N2 0 m �- z o Cn C n w z C: 0- p < o E 00 a) t5 E c c 0 0 M 0 at 0' c? —b N :3 0 0 c(n p E :3 46 ro- 0 E (D .r: 2 -o F.S or N t E ff)