HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-07-054 - Huron Natural Area Update - Spring 2007
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Community Services
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Community Services Committee
May 28, 2007
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Ken Currier, Director of Operations (ext. 2657)
Dan Ritz, Supervisor of Design & Development (ext. 2348)
Dave Schmitt, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager
(ext. 2891)
Ward 4
May 14, 2007
CSD-07-054
HURON NATURAL AREA UPDATE - SPRING 2007
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following be appointed to the Huron Natural Area Joint Ventures Committee for
a term ending December 30, 2009:
Councillors & representing the City of Kitchener;
Trustee Wayne Buchholtz & John Shewchuk representing the Waterloo Catholic District
School Board; and, Trustee Patricia Adamson & Art Phelan representing the Waterloo
Region District School Board.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this report is to update Community Services Committee on the status of the
implementation of the Huron Natural Area (HNA) as approved by the Huron Natural Area Board
of Directors in January 2001. The last update to Community Services Committee was on
November 20,2006 (CSD-06-111).
Throughout late 2006 and early 2007, the City of Kitchener (CITY) has undertaken a number of
initiatives to implement and update the HNA Master Plan while at the same time being
consistent with the HNA vision and goals, which are to preserve and improve the ecological
integrity of the HNA while at the same time providing community opportunities for passive
recreation and environmental education. Ongoing initiatives include:
· Hosting two public information meetings. (June 28, 2006 & February 12, 2007)
· Completing land ownership transfers from the Waterloo Catholic District School Board
(WCDSB) and the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).
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· Refining the governance structure of the HNA through a Joint Ventures Agreement
between the CITY, WCDSB and the WRDSB.
· Execution of the SuperBuild agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
and the Region of Waterloo (REGION).
· Updating of the HNA Master Plan, database, environmental studies and ten year
management plan.
· Ongoing Phase 1 implementation and construction for the main access point off Trillium
Drive including a washroom and shelter facility, site trail construction, educational
signage, boardwalk and creek crossings.
These initiatives will continue throughout 2007 in order to complete the initial phase of the HNA
vision.
BACKGROUND:
The HNA land base is just over 100 hectares (250 acres) in size; it is bounded by Westmount,
Bleams and Huron Road. It is bisected by Strasburg Creek a cold water creek. The natural and
cultural history of the area has created a diverse natural area that includes; Provincially
Significant Wetlands, climax maple beech forests, cultural meadows, pine plantations and rare
plant species. In total there are sixteen (16) different vegetation zones found within HNA and
many of these are sustained by a complex glacial and hydro-geological system. Considering its
size, ecological quality and diversity it is Kitchener's most valuable natural area.
In 1990, the City of Kitchener, the WRDSB (-formerly Waterloo County Board of Education) and
the WCDSB (-formerly Waterloo Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board) made a
commitment to preserve and protect the site, legally known as the Huron Strasburg Natural Park
Conservation Project but more commonly referred to as the Huron Natural Area or HNA. To
achieve this it was necessary for the CITY to change the Huron Community Plan (1994), since
all of the developable lands had been zoned for industrial use. In creating HNA the three
partners have spent approximately 2.1 M dollars to acquire lands which are now key parts of
HNA. Addition expense has also gone into studying and planning the HNA over the last several
years.
In May 1995, the HNA was incorporated as a legal entity separate from any of its three major
partners: CITY, WRDSB and the WCDSB. The HNA Board operated through a defined vision,
mission and specific goals.
Between 1991 and 2001, the project partners, and others prepared a comprehensive Master
Plan to guide the parks management. This plan was approved by the HNA Board of Directors in
January 2001 and provides the basis for the implementation plan to move the project forward.
The two guiding principles for HNA are:
1. to maintain or improve the ecological integrity and stewardship of the park, and
2. to facilitate the understanding of the Waterloo Region's indigenous ecosystems by
visitors to the Huron Natural Area site.
In 2002, the CITY applied for and received approval to have the HNA included as part of the
SuperBuild Program. The HNA received funding approval from the Provincial Government in the
amount of $703,000 with supporting funding of $700,000 from the CITY and $1 00,000 from the
WRDSB.
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In 2006, Council accepted the offer of purchase for four acres of the Trillium Drive WRDSB
lands from Blue Top Properties in order to complete the obligation to the WRDSB (Report CSD-
06-025). Surplus proceeds from the sale of the Trillium Dr. lands, in the amount of $296,370
have been put in trust for the Development of the HNA.
In January 2005, the Council received the Leisure Facilities Master Plan for information.
Recommendation 29 - Park Master Plan Implementation and Under-Serviced Areas Approach,
recommended "that the city support the general direction of the Huron Natural Area Park Plan,
and continue to facilitate and give strong direction to resolving some of the key challenges that
have emerged within that planning process." That direction is being implemented during the
first phases of the HNA development.
REPORT:
The CITY has undertaken several initiatives during 2006 and 2007 to move the HNA Project
forward. A summary of these actions to date are provided below.
Public Meetinas
The first public meeting was held on June 28, 2006 in the gymnasium at Scholars' Hall, with 22
in attendance. The public was updated on the status of the HNA and introduced to the
development strategy for 2006.
A second public meeting was held on Monday February 12, 2007 in the Library at Huron
Heights Secondary School with 39 in attendance. Preliminary phase one plans were presented
through information panels and a walk-through visual presentation.
In addition, public meeting presentation materials have been made available on the city web site
since the first public meeting in June 2006.
Site Boundarv & Property Ownership Chanaes
In early 2007, the WRDSB and the WCDSB both transferred their remaining lands within the
HNA to the CITY as per Council recommendation to receive title to lands within the HNA
previously owned by the WRDSB and WCDSB (Report (CSD-06-091).
The proposed HNA boundary, recommended in the 2001 Masterplan was comprised of 149.6
hectares. Current HNA lands now under CITY ownership amount to 1 06.6 hectares. Land to be
considered to for future acquisition by the CITY and presently under private ownership amount
to 32.5 hectares.
Governance Structure
In June 2006 Council approved the authorization of the Joint Venture Agreement (Report CSD-
06-091) with the WCDSB and the WRDSB. A final agreement which is expected to be in place
by the summer of 2007 will provide the CITY full responsibility for the operations and long-term
management of the HNA. Major decision making related to the Huron Natural Area lands and
project will be made by the unanimous approval of a steering committee comprised of two
representatives from each of the Joint Venturers which may be Trustees of either School Board,
councillors of the City Councilor members of their respective staff.
SuperBuild Aareement
On January 22, 2007, the SuperBuild agreement with the MNR and the REGION was fully
executed. This agreement provided financial assistance in the amount of $703,000 within the
Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program. A progress draw in the amount of $242,634 for the
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period up to December 31 , 2006 has been submitted for approval. A final draw will be submitted
later this summer for the period up to June 30, 2007.
Master Plan - Implementation Strateay Update
An update of the Master Plan - Implementation Strategy is presently being undertaken in order
to develop and strengthen the long-term vision for the HNA. An invitational workshop will be
held on June 15, 2007 to review the project to date and discuss the long-term strategies.
Participants are drawn upon previous involvement and interest in the project and will include;
HNA Joint Venture members, CITY & REGION staff, CITY & REGION Councillors,
Environmental Committee members, Consultants, GRCA, MNR, WRDSB, WCDSB, outdoor
education teachers, local citizens, University of Waterloo, various environmental groups, etc.
The Master Plan - Implementation Strategy update will include a ten year implementation &
management plan covering:
1. Infrastructure (trails, boardwalks, fencing, main access area)
2. Vegetation Management (hazard tree removal, vegetation thinning, restoration, monitoring)
3. Ecological Monitoring (groundwater, surface water, rare plant, invasive species, wildlife)
4. Education & Stewardship (educational opportunities, signage, behaviour signage)
Phase One Site Development
Initiatives presently occurring within the phase one site development include:
Main Access Area - Tender 07-006 was awarded by Council on February 26, 2007 to Draftcon-
Calamar Corp. and G & A Masonry (Report FIN 07-019). The work will include a main access
area off Trillium Drive with a parking lot, bus drop-off, washroom & shelter facility, courtyard with
benches & tables, walkways & trails, signage & interpretive education walls and landscaping.
Completion scheduled for June 30, 2007.
Board of Education Pond Trails & Boardwalks - Tender 07-046 was awarded by Council on
April 24, 2007 to R & M Construction (Report FIN 07-047). Works will include the development
of trails, boardwalks across creek channels and outlook deck adjacent to the existing pond.
Completion scheduled for June 30, 2007.
Trail Development - 1820 meters of trails have been constructed by City Operations staff in
2006 and another 570 meters of trail will be completed in 2007. Works include, tree trimming
and removal, trail base preparation & surfacing and trail node construction.
Site Services - Water, sanitary and storm servicing have been installed by City Operations staff
in early 2007 for the main access building and parking area off of Trillium Drive.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Current Capital revenues for the HNA project are as follows:
Contribution from Capital $ 277,600.
Contribution from Parkland Reserve $ 491 ,600.
SuperBuild Funding $ 683,000.
Surplus from Sale of Trillium Lands $ 296~370.
TOTAL $1,748,570.
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Operational costs will be included in the Annual Operating Budget as site development
advances. Future Capital and Operating Budgets will be reviewed on approval of the HNA
Master Plan - Implementation Strategy update.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The Joint Venturers Steering Committee (formerly HNA Board of Directors), CITY Council and
the public have been notified of all public meetings with respect to the HNA Master Plan -
Implementation Strategy update and Phase One Site Development.
A SuperBuild construction site sign has been erected to satisfy the conditions of the SuperBuild
agreement.
The MNR and the REGION have been provided a project update with the submission of the first
progress draw as per the condition of the SuperBuild agreement.
CONCLUSION:
As we move forward with the current initiatives, we acknowledge the importance of keeping in
check with the HNA vision ... to create a special and precious place where people can play,
learn, relax and enjoy while setting standards of community stewardship and harmony with our
urban area.
Ken Currier
Director of Operations
AP