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Home My WebLink AboutCRPS-09-082 - Env Comm Recommendation - Strategic Disposition of City-owned LandsJ c~~R CorporQte Services REPORT T0: Councillor C. Weylie, Chair and Members of the Development and Technical Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: June 1, 2009 SUBMITTED BY: Environmental Committee PREPARED BY: Colin Goodeve, Committee Administrator - ext 2278 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: May 21, 2009 REPORT NO.: CRPS-09-082 SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: STRATEGIC DISPOSITION OF CITY-OWNED LANDS RECOMMENDATION: WHEREAS Council Policy I-477 (Parkland -Not Disposed of) states that as a general principle City-owned parkland be retained and not disposed of; and, WHEREAS established parkland andlor natural areas should not be sold or used for development; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that only on a case-by-case basis following a public review of its characteristics 1 features should any City-owned lands identified as `parkland', whether it is active or passive parkland or a natural area, be sold or used for development. -and - That the following parcels of City-owned lands be declared surplus to the City's needs: 1. West side of McLennan Park gate; 2. East side of McLennan Park gate; 3. Kehl Street; and, That the following parcels of City-owned lands be retained as open space parkland: 4. Stirling Avenue 1 Homer Watson Boulevard; 5. Kiwanis Park Table Lands; and further, That the funds generated from the sale of those properties declared surplus to the City's needs, be allocated to the Parkland Trust Fund, Local Environmental Action Fund, or another similar program. 12.b-1 BACKGROUND: In October 2008, Council directed staff to prepare a prioritized list of City-owned lands for consideration as surplus to the City's needs. Additionally, staff were directed to give a higher priority to those lands from which the sale and development of the property would achieve one or more significant community benefits. At the March 2, 2009 Development and Technical Services Committee meeting, staff presented report DTS-09-014, identifying 14 City-owned properties which were prioritized for consideration as being surplus to the City's needs. From this list, five properties were identified for potential declaration as being surplus. At the April 16, 2009 Environmental Committee meeting, a discussion was held concerning the public consultation that was being undertaken regarding those five properties. The Committee was advised that if any of the properties were declared surplus, they could be sold and redeveloped; however, the parcels would only be sold under strict conditions aimed at contributing to the achievement of the City's overall environmental objectives. Subsequent to this, the Committee established the Strategic Disposition of City-Owned Lands Sub-Committee to: examine each of the five properties; recommend on a case-by-case basis whether the City should pursue disposition; and, how the proceeds from any potential sales should be reinvested in the community. REPORT: At the May 21, 2009 meeting, the Environmental Committee considered the findings of the Strategic Disposition of City-Owned Lands Sub-Committee. Several members spoke to the irreplaceable nature of parkland and natural areas, stating that once those lands are sold they are extremely difficult to reacquire. The Committee noted the important role that parkland and natural areas have in the community and resolved to make a general statement identifying that only on a case-by-case basis should consideration be given to the sale of lands identified as `parkland'. It is requested that this recommendation be considered separately from the one pertaining to the five subject properties. The following are the results of the Sub-Committee's evaluation of the five parcels of City- owned lands that were identified for potential declaration as surplus to the City's needs: MCLENNAN PARK GATE -WEST SIDE 12.b-2 • flat, mown turf, no woody vegetation. Potential Land Use potential trail and open space linkage from McLennan Park to other area parks; public land available for potential urban forest establishment; • wide centre boulevard of McLennan Park Gate has potential for creating an enhanced entrance to the neighbourhood; and, • proposed multiple unit housing compatible with surrounding land use. Environmental Committee Recommendation: declare as surplus land; purchaser applies for zone change; City issue an RFP to establish design, green building and landscape expectations, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) level and low- maintenance landscape that incorporates native plant materials where possible, and trail connection from Lion's Park to McLennan Park; and, allocate any revenue received to the Park Trust Fund. MCLENNAN PARK GATE -EAST SIDE ~. ~ _': } .. ,~ _ p ~~ ~.. .. ` , ~ ~, `:,~ r 1 i -:-e ~ _ w?~ ' 1 Site Description • relatively flat, mown turf, no significant woody vegetation. L TTT ~ ~ f F~ - ~ ~,~' i4 ' Y - -- [~ ~~ ~.~t~~~~f I' 4~1 ~. -b __ Potential Land Use potential trail and open space linkage from McLennan Park to other area parks; public land available for potential urban forest establishment; • wide centre boulevard of McLennan Park Gate has potential for creating an enhanced entrance to the neighbourhood; and, • proposed multiple unit housing compatible with surrounding land use. Environmental Committee Recommendation: declare as surplus land; purchaser applies for zone change; City RFP to establish design, green building and landscape expectations, including LEED level and low-maintenance landscape that incorporates native plant materials where possible, and trail connection from Lion's Park to McLennan Park; and, allocate any revenue received to the Park Trust Fund. 12.b-3 ~ ~ ~ ~ q1 i , ~, f • '" ~ .~'=c_ y6} thy' ~ , ~ri~ `~~ [ ~.~,` ~ l " ; °' ~ _ '~~ k- lily ' .J"F ~y,.~ ~gA~ _ _ E& ~~."_y' F ~l ' eP'.~4I+S~RUa ~' ~ ' 1. ~ ~ ki `f ~.i.. ., ~ s~~ ~,~ ptlA ~ ~~ k .x ~ '.}+ 5 9~~ icy ~ r' ~;,~itR1k~~,. .~ ~ ~~. ~~ ~"' ~ '~~~°Sa~~ ,fir ~~,.~ ~~,~~;~ i~ ."vim r ~ ~ ,~i ~I~~~ ~r s '*~~° '~Y4yNI ~' 4 °,:4~f ~l i M.. L .;r ~y'F'~ d~k'r~r~` ~ ,, ~ ~ _..ys~~`g -.e ~ '~ ~"~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ p L ~~~ A ~~ ~ ~ ~'~ ~ ro ~ 9~ d`q_~ ~,~~ ^~ 'ate' '~°~' _ - ~~ Y`L ~ ~y l h~'~ ` .z ~~ ~.~ ~ ~; ss E- ` 3'~ -~4' ~ ~~ F1 ~~ ~,~y ~t ~~ ,! 4 R a _ r .... "i .y `ice r. ... . ~: x .e..i, a. ~ ' rv] 5 a . Y~"' '~v 2 all M °. f~ ~ ., r,,. .~ c F~ 1~~ h ~~ t, ., 4 >~- Site Descri tion ~~ ,,4 ~ ~ k ~~; '°`` ~~ ~ ~, ~~~~ • narrow, deep lot with steep slope; area has accumulated a large amount of garbage and is overgrown with vines and shrubs; and, • playing fieldslopen space at Queen Elizabeth Public School across Kehl Street from site. Potential Land Use • proposed low-rise dwelling compatible with surrounding land use. Environmental Committee Recommendation: declare as surplus land; site is unsuitable for parkland as its contours and shape preclude good site lines from the street, and as a result may provide opportunities for anti-social behaviour; purchaser applies for zone change if required; City RFP to establish design, green building and landscape expectations, which include LEED level and low-maintenance landscape that incorporates native plant materials where possible; and, allocate any revenue received to the Park Trust Fund. STIRLING AVENUE I HOMER WATSON BOULEVARD ~~, ~q 1, hr P v4~ 1 y '~ <~r a~ i '~• ..~ t ~ J ~, ~~ 1. r k ( I i d ~ a •, ~N l r ~ ~~ ~, i. ~ e 7~{ u i J i ~ 2 I } s y~ ~' * .~,3 ~ aJJ~~. ~ sue' ".~#. g ~ ,~ F }, s{ t ~ "^'T` '~F~rv'L 4s 11~ j, .e* ~*..t.P : _ a~ 54 F ~ tom' s~ u x ~¢ -+ir1n ~" .~."'i of ~. M~ ~ ~ s~ Y ?~` r -_ -• # n. ' . . ~ ~ .-~~ s "~~ P7R }1' ~~ ~~~ Y ,~. yea s~y~_Rx .s ~ ~ {" Yi .w. T9e E ~,~ ~.. ~ ,Ps ~w ~ tt~ -, ~ J: t- ~;~~ .~ In *,. ,•t `~.' 1 P -B'k t.~ _ r - :. ~s ~ qq a I,.~~ w ~~~~ l ~ , ~ . 12. b-4 Site Description site is regenerating with primary succession vegetation, including black walnut; spring ephemerals noted (bloodroot); and, site is used for walking and mountain biking. Potential Land Use part of the large tract of open space and recreational land of the Lakeside Park complex. Environmental Committee Recommendation: • retain as open space parkland; • not suitable for development because of: o possible need to remediate the site due to contamination; o destruction of healthy, urban forest; o loss of passive recreation land; o fragmentation of existing large tract of open space; site should be maintained as an urban forest. Site Description ~ ~ parking lot and information kiosk (sponsored by Marsland family) for Walter Bean Grand River Community Trail, and entrance to Kiwanis Park; and, • flat, open, grassed field, (used for community group activities, such as kite and model airplane flying), and deciduous and conifer plantation. Potential Land Use part of large tract of open space and recreational land of the Kiwanis Park complex. Environmental Committee Recommendation: • retain as open space parkland; • not suitable for development due to: o loss of large open space used for community activities; o loss of existing Kiwanis Park entrance and Walter Bean Trail facilities and expense of relocating entrance and trail facilities; o fragmentation of existing large tract of open space and recreational land; 12.b-5 KIWANIS PARK TABLE LANDS • maintenance costs could be reduced by decreasing turf mowing; and, • maintain and expand urban forest. The Environmental Committee is requesting Council's endorsement of the recommendations outlined herein. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: N/A ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Troy Speck, General Manager of Corporate Services 12.b-6