HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-16-032 - 155 Woolner Trail AcquisitionStaff R port
T 1TC f I N R Infrastructure Services Department www.kirchener ca
REPORT TO:
Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING:
February 22, 2016
SUBMITTED BY:
Hans Gross, Director of Engineering,
519- 741 -2200, ext. 7410
PREPARED BY:
Nick Gollan, Manager, Stormwater Utility,
519- 741 -2200 ext. 7422
Melissa Ryan, Design and Construction Project Manager,
519- 741 -2200 ext. 7827
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward (2)
DATE OF REPORT: February 22, 2016
REPORT NO.: INS -16 -032
SUBJECT: Acquisition of 155 Woolner Trail in the Idlewood Creek
Subwatershed using Idlewood Creek Funds
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Offer to Sell from George
Michael Olinskie and Alta Louise Olinskie for the City's acquisition of Part Lot
117, GCT and Part Lot 15, Plan 591, as in Instrument No. 1321842, City of
Kitchener, Regional Municipality of Waterloo (being all of PIN 22713 -0561)
municipally known as 155 Woolner Trail (formerly 807 Zeller Drive), Kitchener at
a total purchase price of $1,000,000 dollars for the purpose of implementing
recommendations resulting from the Environmental Assessment on Idlewood
Creek, following which, any excess land not required for this purpose may be
disposed of by the City; said Offer to Sell to be to the satisfaction of the City
Solicitor; and further
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute all documentation required to
complete the transaction; said documentation to be satisfactory to the City
Solicitor.
BACKGROUND:
There are 200 m of Idlewood Creek in private ownership that is being impacted by
municipal decisions. An Environmental Assessment (EA) on Idlewood Creek to
investigate how to address sedimentation and erosion in the watercourse began in 2014
* ** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. * **
Please call 519- 741 -2345 or TTY 1- 866 - 969 -9994 for assistance.
and is nearing completion. Figure 1, shows the site's location with respect to other City
owned lands. There are two dams on Idlewood Creek between Fairway Road and the
outlet to the Grand River, with one being in public ownership and the other in private
ownership (on the subject property). Removal of these dams would greatly improve
sedimentation and water quality. The preferred alternative identified in the EA on the
subject property is to remove the existing dam and naturalize the creek into a
meandering watercourse however this work can't take place unless land rights are
acquired. Figure 2 provides a visual representation of the preferred alternative overlain
on an aerial photograph of the site.
This site has the potential to re- establish a naturalized creek, much like the work done
in Filsinger Park and could also provide a contiguous link to the Walter Bean Trail that
traverses the adjacent properties.
REPORT:
Purchasing 155 Woolner Trail would enable the City to be in control of the entire creek
and be able to better manage the water quality and sedimentation problems that have
plagued this watercourse in part due to upstream development as well as natural creek
processes. Upon completion of the necessary studies to remove the existing dam and
naturalize the creek, there may be an opportunity for other land uses to be explored for
any excess lands including residential uses. Through the EA process, the public was
consulted and the preferred alternative on the subject property was identified. The City
received support from the attendees on December 8, 2015 as well as a subsequent
email from another resident regarding acquiring the property in order to improve the
watercourse. The estimated retrofit works costs for the subject property are in excess of
$1.1 Million and would not likely be undertaken by a private landowner. The private
dam, though currently identified through the EA study as stable, will eventually fail and
has the potential to cause property damage as well as negative environmental impacts
to fish habitat. The City was unsuccessful in obtaining an easement over these lands.
This acquisition is conditional on the results of the environmental due diligence to be
undertaken by the City over the course of 180 days following execution of the
agreement by both parties.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority: Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure
Strategy: 4.2 Develop measures to manage stormwater and improve water quality in the
city's watersheds.
Other Council Policy
Parks Strategic Plan (2010)
The 2010 Parks Strategic Plan recommended that the City maintain ownership of City
lands and acquire additional land to create contiguous public open space along the
Grand River. The plan recommends completing the long range plan for the Walter Bean
Trail including the acquisition of land or access agreements.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Idlewood Creek account has approximately $1.24 Million and would be sufficient to
cover the cost of the purchase of the land. Additional budget is currently proposed for
2018 but would likely need to be increased to cover the detailed design and
construction costs. The prioritization of the Idlewood Creek improvements will be
assessed as part of the City -wide Stormwater Management Master Plan that is currently
under way.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report will be posted to the City's website.
CONSULT — Two Public Information Centres (PICs) were held during the course of the
Idlewood Creek Environmental Assessment study. The preferred alternatives, including
the one identifying removal of the private dam and replacement with a naturalized
creek, were shown during the second Public Information Centre (PIC) on December 8,
2015. Staff noted that work would not be undertaken by the City without Land Rights.
Subsequent to the Public Information Centre, the information was posted on the
Environmental Assessments webpage. Staff received an email from a resident outlining
all the reasons why the City should purchase the property. All comments received
during the study, will be summarized in the Final EA Report.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director of Infrastructure
Services
Figures:
Figure 1 — Parcel in relation to City owned lands and trails
Figure 2 — Photo of the property with an overlay in of the preferred creek alternative