Report to/Rapport au :

 

Transportation Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

21 July 2006 / le 21 juillet 2006

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : John L. Moser, Acting Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint par intérim,

Planning and Growth Management / Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Michael Wildman, Acting Manager/Gestionnaire interimaire, Infrastructure Approvals/Approbation des demandes d'infrastructure

(613) 580-2424, 27811  Mike.Wildman@ottawa.ca

 

Cumberland (19)

Ref N°: ACS2006-PGM-APR-0160

 

 

SUBJECT:

mER bLEUE rOAD AND TENTH LINE ROAD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

 

 

OBJET :

ÉVALUATIONS ENVIRONNEMENTALES DU CHEMIN MER-BLEUE ET DU CHEMIN TENTH-LINE

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That Transportation Committee recommend Council:

 

1.                Receive the results of the Mer Bleue Road Environmental Assessment, as shown in Document 2 of this report, that were developed in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

1.

2.                Request staff prepare the Environmental Study Report for the Mer Bleue Road Environmental Assessment for the 30-day public review, in accordance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

 

3.                Receive the results of the Tenth Line Road Environmental Assessment, as shown in Document 6 of this report, that were developed in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

 

4.                Request staff prepare the Environmental Study Report for the Tenth Line Road Environmental Assessment for the 30-day public review, in accordance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

 

5.                Request staff undertake necessary property acquisition for the construction of Mer Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road.  Funding for the first stages of these tasks are approved through capital accounts 903211 Mer Bleue Road and 903219 Tenth Line Road, as approved in the 2005 Capital Budget.

 

 

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité des transports recommande au Conseil :

 

1.         de recevoir les résultats de l'évaluation environnementale du chemin Mer-Bleue, constituant le document 2 ci-annexé, qui ont été obtenus sous le régime de la Loi sur les évaluations environnementales de l'Ontario et conformément aux exigences de l'Évaluation environnementale municipale de portée générale;

 

2.         de demander au personnel de rédiger le rapport d'étude relative à l'évaluation environnementale du chemin Mer-Bleue en vue de l'examen public de 30 jours prescrit par la Loi sur les évaluations environnementales de l'Ontario;

 

3.         de recevoir les résultats de l'évaluation environnementale du chemin Tenth-Line, constituant le document 6 ci-annexé, qui ont été obtenus sous le régime de la Loi sur les évaluations environnementales de l'Ontario et conformément aux exigences de l'Évaluation environnementale municipale de portée générale;

 

4.         de demander au personnel de rédiger le rapport d'étude relative à l'évaluation environnementale du chemin Tenth-Line en vue de l'examen public de 30 jours prescrit par la Loi sur les évaluations environnementales de l'Ontario;

 

5.         de demander au personnel d'entreprendre les acquisitions de terrains nécessaires à la construction des chemins Mer-Bleue et Tenth-Line; le financement des premières étapes de ces travaux proviendra des comptes d'immobilisation 903211 (chemin Mer-Bleue) et 903219 (chemin Tenth-Line), approuvés dans le budget des immobilisations de 2005.

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

Assumptions and Analysis:

 

Ottawa’s East Urban Community is anticipated to continue growing to a population of 131,000 people and 45,000 jobs by 2021.  In recent years, significant residential and commercial development has occurred along the Innes Road corridor.  New infrastructure and roadways will be required to accommodate this growth.  Two roadways identified for improvements are Mer Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road.

 

The City of Ottawa initiated the Mer Bleue Road Environmental Assessment (EA) at the beginning of 2006 to obtain environmental approvals to proceed with constructing a portion of the roadway, between Innes Road and the future Vanguard Drive extension.  Similarly, the Tenth Line Road EA began at the same time in order to meet 2006/07 construction deadlines for a trunk sanitary sewer, as well as a roadway section between Innes Road and Lakepointe Drive.

 

The result of the Mer Bleue Road EA is a new development plan for the roadway.  At the north end, the roadway will be widened to the west, where the City currently owns the majority of the property.  Travelling south of Renaud Road, the plan calls for a new road corridor to extend west of the Notre-Dame-des-Champs community and intersect with Navan Road, at a new intersection.  The improvements for this roadway will include pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle lanes.  This plan was developed through a detailed evaluation exercise.  Moving the alignment outside of Notre-Dame-des-Champs avoids any negative social impacts to the community.

 

The Tenth Line Road EA concluded that widening about the centreline to a four-lane urban, divided arterial, which includes exclusive bicycle lanes and pedestrian facilities is the appropriate development plan for the roadway.  This plan will be implemented throughout the length of Tenth Line Road, from Innes Road to the Urban Boundary.

 

Financial Implications:

 

The funding for the Mer Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road EAs was approved in the 2005 Capital Budget in accounts 903211 and 903219 respectively.

 

Public Consultation/Input:

 

Both EA studies were undertaken as Class C Municipal EAs.  The details for each project are listed below:

 

Mer Bleue EA:

 

Public Open House #1 - February 15/21, 2006;

Public Open House #2 - April 5, 2006;

Public Open House #3 - May 23, 2006;

Agency Consultation Group (ACG) Meetings - four held throughout the course of the study;

Public Consultation Group (PCG) Meetings - two held throughout the course of the study;

Transportation Committee – August 16, 2006.

 

Tenth Line EA:

 

Public Open House #1 - February 15/21, 2006;

Public Open House #2 - April 11, 2006;

Public Open House #3 - May 30, 2006;

ACG Meetings – three held throughout the course of the study;

PCG Meetings – three held throughout the course of the study;

Transportation Committee - August 16, 2006.

 

In addition to these events, web pages for both studies were developed and hosted on the City of Ottawa's site, within the Public Consultation link.

 

RÉSUMÉ

 

Hypothèses de travail et analyse :

 

Il est prévu que la Communauté urbaine Est d'Ottawa continuera de croître et qu'elle comptera 131 000 habitants et 45 000 emplois d'ici à 2021. Ces dernières années, il y a eu beaucoup de développement résidentiel et commercial le long du corridor du chemin Innes. Une telle croissance nécessitera l'aménagement de nouvelles infrastructures et de nouvelles routes. Des améliorations sont prévues notamment pour les chemins Mer Bleue et Tenth Line.

 

Au début de 2006, la Ville d'Ottawa a amorcé l'évaluation environnementale (ÉE) du chemin Mer Bleue dans le but d'obtenir les autorisations nécessaires en matière d'environnement pour procéder à la construction d'un tronçon de cette route entre le chemin Innes et la promenade Vanguard, qui sera éventuellement prolongé. Parallèlement, on a entrepris l'évaluation environnementale du chemin Tenth Line afin de respecter les échéances fixées en 2006-2007 pour l'aménagement d'un égout collecteur et d'un raccordement routier entre le chemin Innes et la promenade Lakepointe.

 

L'évaluation environnementale du chemin Mer Bleue a débouché sur un nouveau plan d'aménagement pour cette artère. Dans la partie nord, la chaussée sera élargie du côté ouest, où la Ville possède la plupart des terrains. Au sud du chemin Renaud, le plan prévoit l'aménagement, en direction ouest à partir de la communauté Notre-Dame-des-Champs, d'un nouveau corridor routier qui croisera le chemin Navan. Cette voie publique sera dotée notamment de trottoirs et de voies cyclables. Ce plan est le fruit d'un travail d'évaluation soigné. En modifiant le tracé de la route pour qu'elle contourne Notre-Dame-des-Champs, il n'y a pas de conséquences sociales indésirables pour cette collectivité.

 

Selon l'évaluation environnementale du chemin Tenth Line, le plan d'aménagement qui convient pour cette artère comprend l'élargissement de la chaussée à quatre voies avec terre-plein au centre, des voies pour les cyclistes et des installations pour les piétons. Un tel plan viserait le chemin Tenth Line d'un bout à l'autre, du chemin Innes jusqu'à la limite du territoire urbain.

 

Financement requis :

 

Le financement des évaluations environnementales visant les chemins Mer Bleue et Tenth Line a été approuvé dans le Budget d'immobilisations de 2005, aux postes 903211 et 903219 respectivement.

 

Consultation/participation du public :

 

Les deux études sont menées conformément aux dispositions de l'annexe C pour une évaluation environnementale municipale de portée générale. Les détails concernant chaque projet sont énumérés ci-dessous :

 

Étude ÉE Mer Bleue :

 

Réunion portes ouvertes no 1 - 15/21 février 2006;

Réunion portes ouvertes no 2 - 5 avril 2006;

Réunion portes ouvertes no 3 - 23 mai 2006;

Réunions du Groupe de consultation des organismes (GCO) - tenue de quatre réunions au cours de l'étude;

Réunions du Groupe de consultation publique (GCP) - tenue de deux réunions au cours de l'étude;

Comité des transports – 16 août 2006.

 

Étude ÉE Tenth Line :

 

Réunion portes ouvertes no 1 - 15/21 février 2006;

Réunion portes ouvertes  no 2 - 11 avril 2006;

Réunion portes ouvertes no 3 - 30 mai 2006;

Réunions GCO – tenue de trois réunions au cours de l'étude;

Réunions GCP – tenue de trois réunions au cours de l'étude;

Comité des transports - 16 août 2006.

 

Outre ces activités, des pages web ont été élaborées pour les deux études et affichées au site de la Ville d'Ottawa sous le lien Consultations publiques.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Report Organization

 

This staff report presents the results of two different EA studies, for both Mer Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road.  While they are distinct projects, they are being presented together in this staff report as they are both located in the same vicinity in the east end of the City, have similar need requirements and construction schedules and, are both funded by development charges.  As well, presenting them together allows any member of the public to address Transportation Committee about both projects at the same time.

 

This staff report is organized in the following manner:

 

 

Attached Documents to this report are the study area graphics, illustrations of the Recommended Plan, detailed summaries of the public consultation exercise and evaluation process for each study.

 

Planning Context for Both Studies

 

Ottawa’s East Urban Community is anticipated to continue growing to a population of 131,000 people and 45,000 jobs by 2021.  In recent years, significant residential and commercial development has located along the Innes Road corridor.  As well, several on-going s south of Innes Road, abutting both the Mer Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road corridors are in the planning stages.  These communities include:

 

 

New infrastructure and roadways will be required to accommodate this growth.  Two roadways identified for improvements are Mer Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road.

 

The City initiated the Mer Bleue EA at the beginning of 2006 in order to obtain environmental approval to proceed with the first phase of the roadway construction, between Innes Road and future Vanguard Drive.  This section of roadway requires widening in 2006/07 to accommodate the growth demands in the Orléans Industrial Park.  Similarly, the Tenth Line Road EA was conducted over the same time period in order to meet the 2006/07 construction deadlines for its first phase between Innes Road and Lakepointe Drive.

 

Following the Municipal Class EA process and the advice of the Ministry of the Environment, these studies determined and recommend the future alignment and configuration for Mer Bleue Road between Innes Road and Navan Road and Tenth Line Road between Innes Road and the Urban Boundary.

DISCUSSION

 

SECTION A – MER BLEUE ROAD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

 

The requirement for improvements to Mer Bleue Road can be described in two time horizons.  In the near term, the northern section of this roadway needs to be widened to accommodate the traffic demands of the adjacent development.  Approximately 45,000 square metres of retail space will be located on the southwest corner of Innes Road and Mer Bleue Road.  The traffic impact study for the development revealed a growth in trips to/from this destination.  The site will have several accesses to Mer Bleue Road.  As such, opposing through and turning movements create the need for properly designed intersections and auxiliary lanes.  The ultimate cross section will need to include four lanes.  As stated in the BACKGROUND section, Mer Bleue Road, between Innes Road and the future Vanguard Drive is intended to be built in 2006/2007 to meet the pace of development.

 

In the longer term, there will be approximately 6,850 new dwelling units with a population of 18,400 and 575 new employment opportunities in Phases 1 and 2 of the East Urban Community, south of Innes Road.  In addition, the Mer Bleue Community Design Plan (CDP), that was presented to Planning and Environment Committee in April of this year, predicts this area will have 8,000 residents occupying some 2,800 new dwelling units and 4,500 new jobs.  A transportation review for the new development was completed in March of this year as a supporting document to the CDP.  The study projected the future volumes for Mer Bleue Road south of future Vanguard Drive to Navan Road will require a widening to a four-lane facility.  The timing for these improvements will be driven by the pace of development and have been identified in the City’s Development Charge By-law and Long Range Financial Plan.

 

Study Area Features

 

Mer Bleue Road is a two-lane roadway that runs southerly from Innes Road to Navan Road (see Document 1).  At the north end, it is adjacent to a proposed commercial site, which is currently under development.  The planned Cumberland Transitway (currently under study as part of the East-West Light Rail EA) runs parallel to the Hydro Corridor and will be protected for a future grade separation at Mer Bleue Road.  This crossing of the Transitway at Mer Bleue Road is just north of the future intersection with the Blackburn Hamlet By-pass Extension.  On the west side of the corridor, Council recently approved the CDP for the East Urban Community, Phase 1 in 2005.  McKinnons Creek also traverses the road, running west to east.

 

Continuing south, rural lots/homes, farms and treed areas flank the roadway.  Mer Bleue Road intersects with Renaud Road, where Renaud Road terminates at a tee intersection.  Just south of Renaud Road, on the west side, a place of worship is planned, however to date no site plan has been submitted to the City.  There also exists a woodlot that has natural environmental value as it is a groundwater recharge area for the Mer Bleue Bog.  On the east side, south of Renaud Road, the land use is primarily farming with some wooded areas.

 

The south end of the study area is the village of Notre-Dame-des-Champs.  A number of homes and businesses front onto Mer Bleue Road and the remainder of the community is located off local road connections such as Du Palais, Du Domaine and Wall Roads.  Behind these dwellings, on the west side, is the wooded recharge area for the bog.  Sabourin Creek and a recreational trail run through this area.

 

Alternative Planning Solutions

 

In accordance with the Environmental Assessment Act, as well as good planning principles, several planning and alignment alternatives were developed.  They were analyzed in a hierarchical methodology to scope the higher level solutions that should be carried forward, then provide a detailed analysis of various alternative designs.

 

The planning level alternative solutions tested the assumption that a roadway is needed.  The following is a list of these solutions and the rationale for carrying them forward or not:

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis and Evaluation Process

 

The project was divided into two sections for evaluation purposes.  The two sections were:

 

 

 

Document 3 contains a detailed description of the analysis and evaluation process, including drawings of the different alternatives.

 

For Section 1 (Innes Road to Hydro Corridor), the alternative which widens Mer Bleue Road to the west was selected as the technically preferred alternative.  This alternative has minimal property required on the west because much of the property has already been dedicated to the City and is currently vacant.  The alternative has no impact on the existing residential homes on the east side of Mer Bleue Road.  An unequal widening to the west is consistent with the Official Plan protection for Mer Bleue Road as this plan will ensure proper alignment with Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard to the north of Innes Road.

 

The technically preferred alternatives for Section 2 widens Mer Bleue Road to the west (Hydro Corridor to Renaud Road) and realigns to the west, in a new corridor (from Renaud Road to Navan Road) with a curvilinear alignment at Renaud Road avoiding impact to the existing Notre-Dame-des-Champs community.  The current Mer Bleue Road will remain and serve the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Community as a collector road, with the larger volumes of traffic, including trucks, travelling on the new alignment.  The existing Mer Bleue Road will continue to be a two‑lane roadway with the introduction of a sidewalk on the west side of the road from the new intersection southerly to Navan Road.

 

The recommended cross section is a 37.5 metre, four-lane divided roadway with bicycles lanes, sidewalks, median and landscaping.  This is a typical cross section containing all elements specified in the City’s Arterial Roadway Design Guidelines.

 

These alternatives and cross section were assembled to create the overall technically preferred plan.  This plan was reviewed and endorsed by the Agency and Public Consultation Groups.

 

Refinements

 

Based on comments received from the public following public open house #2, at which the technically preferred plan was presented, several refinements were made.  The refinements included:

 

1.      Section 1 - Recommendation to provide a dropped median for homeowner at 2107 Mer Bleue Road (School bus driver) for school bus access/egress.  The dropped median will remain in place until the future Vanguard Drive is constructed or if the ownership changes at which time the median will be rebuilt as a raised median.

 

2.      Section 2 - For the future site located south of Renaud Road, which is planned to be a place of worship, discussions with the land owners revealed that a site plan was prepared in the 1990s but not approved.  They have not had the resources to proceed with development.  The technically preferred plan includes a shift in the roadway alignment that minimized the impacts on this site and avoided the need to purchase two homes immediately to the north.  Discussions with the homeowners at PCG meetings revealed that given their proximity to an arterial roadway, they would prefer to be purchased.  As such, the EA is recommending that the homes be purchased and the residual land available be exchanged to the place of worship.  This scenario is beneficial to the City as it removes the driveway entrances from the intersection and provides a safer alignment for the roadway, which will be there for decades to come.

 

These recommendations were presented to the public at open house #3 and are included in the final recommended plan developed through the EA process.

 

Recommended Plan

 

The Recommended Plan and Cross Section are illustrated in Document 2.  The following is a summary of the Plan:

 

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

The Mer Bleue Road EA Study was carried out in accordance with the Municipal Engineer’s Association Class EA Process for Municipal Road Projects (2000) as a Schedule C project.  During the course of the study, regular update meetings were held with the ACG and PCG to seek input, direction and concurrence on the study findings and recommendations.

 

The following is a list of public consultation activities for this study:

 

 

In addition to these events, web pages for both studies were developed and hosted on the City of Ottawa's site, within the Public Consultation link.

 

The public consultation efforts for this study were successful.  The various committees, public associations members of various agencies and public groups/individuals were kept informed of the ongoing activities of this study as well as the outcome through the events listed above.  At the conclusion of the study, the majority of comments received from members of the public were of a positive nature.

 

 

SECTION B – TENTH LINE ROAD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

 

DISCUSSION

 

Current and future land development in the East Urban Community is the key driver behind the need for Tenth Line Road improvements.  The ongoing development of residential units in the Avalon Subdivision (Neighbourhood 4); the planned development of the Bilberry Creek Industrial Park and Neighbourhood 5 (Mer Bleue CDP) all contribute to a much higher demand in transit, automobile, bicycle and pedestrian travel.  In general, population in the land immediately adjacent to Tenth Line Road is projected to grow from a current population level of approximately 6,000 (2005) to 25,000 in 2021; with employment levels growing from 1,200 (2005) to over 7,000.  At this time revised planning applications (CDP, Subdivision Agreements, etc.) for these lands are rising to the municipal application process.  These applications are expected to re-align development lands to current markets and demands with overall growth in population being greater than that identified in the 2001 Official Plan, and employment levels somewhat lower than originally forecast.  These possible variances were addressed through sensitivity analysis undertaken in the EA needs analysis.

 

Tenth Line Road will be constructed in stages.  Initially, the section from Innes Road to Lakepointe Drive will be built primarily to accommodate the additional traffic demands generated by the Avalon Subdivision. This will be followed over the coming five years with one or more additional road construction contracts resulting in road improvement between Innes Road and the edge of the Urban Boundary.  These first phase of works and subsequent phases of construction, have been included in the City’s Development Charge By-law and Long Range Financial Plan.

 

Study Area Features

 

Tenth Line Road is a north-south arterial serving the Orleans Community.  The study area for this EA begins at Innes Road, extending southerly approximately 1.8 km to the Urban Boundary limit.  Document 5 illustrates the study area.

 

Tenth Line Road is a two-lane rural roadway constructed on a flat plateau of clay soils which is well drained by an historic ditch and drainage system.  The study area contributes run off into the McKinnon’s Creek (South Nation Conservation Authority) and Bilberry Creek Industrial Park trunk storm sewer (Rideau Valley Conservation Authority) watersheds. There are no virgin natural environments, limited tree stock (poplar) in the study area and no significant tree stock within the proposed right-of-way.  There were no animal or vegetative population of significance, and no Provincial or Regional populations at risk within the study area.

 

Alternative Planning Solutions

 

Consistent with the EA process, developing alternatives for Tenth Line Road considered a broad range of options from ‘do nothing’, to continued use of rural road cross-sections (with shoulders and ditches) through to alternative urban road designs (with catch basins and storm sewers).

 

Adhering to transit ridership and auto-trip reductions provided in the Official Plan, alternatives were developed using Council approved assumptions such as an overall 30 per cent transit modal split, policy targets for Travel Demand Management (TDM), Transportation System Management (TSM) as well as a percentage of short and mid-distance trips being assigned to travel on bicycle or pedestrian modes.

 

While the study considered options for re-aligning the roadway (horizontally and vertically), these were rejected early in the alternative development process as there was no basis for altering the road from its current straight horizontal alignment and no short or mid term basis for raising or lowering the roadway.  The remaining issues to be addressed through the ‘alternatives generation’ process were the identification of various elements to be provided within the roadway.  These were brought into a larger discussion with the public by drawing various roadway cross-sections which showed how the various elements would be provided within the road right-of-way (e.g.: the road cross-section).

 

Analysis and Evaluation Process

 

A broad range of alternatives were reviewed prior to undertaking a detailed evaluation process.  In general, those alternatives which did not meet the minimum requirements (four lanes, with pedestrian facilities and bicycle lanes) were screened out.

 

Subsequently, those alternatives that met the minimum requirements were subjected to an analysis and evaluation process used to arrive at a preferred alternative, that being an urban cross section with bicycle lanes and sidewalks.  The preferred alternative is illustrated in Document 6.

 

This alternative was developed through consultation with the ACG and PCG.  Subsequently, during consultation with the general public at the open house, the preferred alternative was recommended for the roadway and comments were solicited on this option versus others considered.  No negative comments were received to this recommendation.  The general response of the public was one of confirmation, and inquiries as to when the road construction would begin.

 

Refinements

 

A final design for the roadway was developed from the preferred cross-section selected by the PCG, ACG and open house attendees. It was then refined to address anticipated environmental impacts and prepared for a final round of input the PCG and ACG.  The final cross-section, very similar to the preferred plan, was refined to include a multi-user pathway (west side), a concrete sidewalk (east side) and some ditching of storm water at the southerly end of the roadway as it approaches the end of the urban area.

 

Recommended Plan

 

The refinements are shown in Document 6.  The plan includes:

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

The Tenth Line Road EA Study was carried out in accordance with the Municipal Engineer Association Class EA Process for Municipal Road Projects (2000) as a Schedule C project.  During the course of the study, regular update meetings were held with the ACG and PCG to seek input, direction and concurrence on the study findings and recommendations.

 

The following is a list of public consultation activities for this study:

 

Public Open House #1 - February 15/21, 2006;

Public Open House #2 - April 11, 2006;

Public Open House #3 - May 30, 2006;

ACG Meetings – three held throughout the course of the study;

PCG Meetings – three held throughout the course of the study;

Transportation Committee - August 16, 2006.

 

In addition to these events, web pages for both studies were developed and hosted on the City of Ottawa's site, within the Public Consultation link.

 

Consultation efforts through EA process has met or exceeded the requirements of the EA legislation and guidelines and that issues raised by the public have been addressed within the study process.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The funding for the Environmental Assessments for Mer Bleue and Tenth Line Road was approved in the 2005 Capital Budget in Accounts 903211 and 902319 respectively.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1      Mer Bleue Road EA Study Area

Document 2      Recommended Plan for Mer Bleue Road

Document 3      Mer Bleue Road EA Analysis and Evaluation Details

Document 4      Mer Bleue Road EA Public Consultation Details

Document 5      Tenth Line Road EA Study Area

Document 6      Recommended Plan for the Tenth Line Road EA

Document 7      Tenth Line Road EA Analysis and Evaluation Details

Document 8      Tenth Line Road EA Public Consultation Details

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

DISPOSITION- FOR SECTIONS A AND B

 

Planning and Growth Management Department to prepare the Environmental Study Report for Mer Bleue Road and initiate the 30-day public review period.

 

Planning and Growth Management Department to prepare the Environmental Study Report for Tenth Line Road and initiate the 30-day public review period.

 

Corporate Services Department, Real Property Asset Management (RPAM) Branch to begin acquiring necessary property needed for the construction of the first phase of the Mer Bleue Road reconstruction.

 

Corporate Services Department, RPAM to begin acquiring necessary property needed for the construction of the first phase of the Tenth Line Road reconstruction.

 

 

 

MER BLEUE ROAD STUDY AREA GRAPHIC                                                 DOCUMENT 1

 

 
MER BLEUE ROAD - RECOMMENDED PLAN AND

CROSS SECTION                                                                                                   DOCUMENT 2



MER BLEUE ROAD EA ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION DETAILS             DOCUMENT 3

 

The project was divided into two sections for evaluation purposes.

 

Section 1 extends from Innes Road southerly to the Hydro Corridor.  A total of three alternatives were developed and carried forward for a qualitative analysis for this section.

Section 2 extends from the Hydro Corridor southerly to Navan Road.  A total of four alternative corridors were reviewed for this section.  The alternative corridors considered routes to the east and west of Notre-Dame-des-Champs as well as the existing alignment through the community.  Routes to the east were not carried forward because of greater impacts to active farmland, increase spacing of arterial roadways and separation from planned development in the urban area.  Corridors through and west of Notre-Dame-des-Champs were carried forward.  Following the selection of the preferred corridors, a quantitative assessment was undertaken for alignment alternatives.

 

Section 1:

 

A total of three alternatives were developed and carried forward for a qualitative analysis for this section.  They included:

 

·        Alternative 1-1 - Widen to the west along Mer Bleue Road;

·        Alternative 1-2 - Widen on centre on Mer Bleue Road;

·        Alternative 1-3 - Widen to the east along Mer Bleue Road.

 

Since there are a limited number of alternatives to be compared with few measurable differences among the alternatives, a qualitative evaluation approach was used.  The Alternative which widens Mer Bleue Road to the west (Alternative 1-1) was selected as the Technically Preferred Alternative for Section 1.  This Alternative has minimal property required on the west because much of the property has already been dedicated to the City and is currently vacant.  This alternative has no impact on the residential homes on the east side of Mer Bleue Road.  An unequal widening to the west is consistent with the Official Plan protection for Mer Bleue Road as this plan will ensure proper alignment with Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard to the north of Innes Road.

 

Section 2

 

Five alternative alignments were carried forward for analysis and evaluation.  They included:

 

·        Widening to the west along Mer Bleue Road;

·        Equal widening along the centreline of Mer Bleue Road;

·        Widening to the east along Mer Bleue Road;

·        Unequal widening to the east along Mer Bleue Road;

·        Shift Mer Bleue Road to the west of Notre-Dame-des-Champs.

 

Within these five general alternatives, a total of 19 alignment alternatives were developed for a detailed analysis and evaluation.

 

A comprehensive evaluation approach was followed given the large number of different alternatives to be examined.  The ACG undertook the quantitative analysis for Section 2 alignment alternatives.  This exercise utilized the advice from the public and PCG on the relative importance of competing criteria.

 

The Technically Preferred Alternative for Section 2 was an Alternative which widens Mer Bleue Road to the west (Hydro Corridor to Renaud Road) and realigns to the west, in a new corridor (from Renaud Road to Navan Road) with a curvilinear alignment at Renaud Road avoiding impacting the existing Notre-Dame-des-Champs community.

 

This result was presented and reviewed by the PCG, who endorsed this conclusion.

 

Cross Section

 

Eight cross section alternatives were carried forward for evaluation for Sections 1 and 2.  They included:

 

·        two-lane rural;

·        two-lane urban;

·        four-lane rural undivided arterial;

·        four-lane rural divided arterial;

·        tight four-lane urban (3.2 metre lanes);

·        four-lane undivided urban arterial;

·        four-lane divided urban arterial;

·        five-lane with continuous two-way left turn lane.

 

A qualitative analysis and evaluation of cross section alternatives was undertaken based on the Technically Preferred Alignment Alternatives for Sections 1 and 2.

 

Following the Qualitative Analysis, the four-lane urban divided cross section alternative was selected as the Technically Preferred Alternative.

 

 






Mer Bleue Road EA Public Consultation Details                      DOCUMENT 4

 

Agency Consultation Group (ACG)

 

The ACG was composed of representatives from the City of Ottawa Planning and Growth Management, Public Works and Services and Real Property Assessment Management.  In addition, external agencies such as the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation Authority, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, area developers (Taggart Realty, Minto, First Pro and Richcraft) and consultant staff contributed to the study through this group.  The ACG’s role in this study was to vet all technical information presented and ensure the outcome avoided or properly mitigated any natural, social or physical features of the study area.  The group met six times throughout the course of this study and all members endorsed the final recommendations of the EA.

 

Public Consultation Group (PCG)

 

The PCG was comprised of homeowners from the surrounding Mer Bleue Road community and representatives from an Ottawa based religious association.  The PCG met two times during the course of the study, providing local knowledge of the study area and assisting the study team with developing alternative alignments.  This group was presented all study background, analysis and results and endorsed the recommendations of the study.

 

Public Open Houses

 

In addition to the ACG and PCG meetings, three public open houses were conducted to present the study and its findings to the general public.  The first open house was held on February 15, 2006 at which the study process, preliminary corridor alternatives, issues and next steps were presented for public review and comment.  The second open house, held on April 5, 2006, presented existing conditions, the long list of alignment and cross section alternatives, the evaluation methodology and results, the TPP and the next steps for the study.  The third open house, held on May 23, 2006, presented refinements to the TPP and the overall Recommended Plan for the project.

 

The public open houses were advertised in local and community papers.  Notices were mailed to homeowners and flyers were hand delivered to all homes in the community and within the study area boundaries prior to meeting dates.  The meetings were well attended with 87, 53 and 54 visitors at the first, second and third open houses respectively.  At each of these events, members of the public were asked to provide comments, in writing, so that they may be included in the official project record.

 

The consultation exercises proved to be valuable exchanges of information.  The recommended plan and other study outcomes have been strongly supported by the public.

 

Study Issues

 

Throughout the study, several issues were discussed with the ACG, PCG and at open houses.  While some are mentioned in the DISCUSSION section of this report, they are repeated here for completeness:

Heritage Building

 

2226 Mer Bleue Road was listed on the City’s heritage inventory.  As such, consideration was given to this property while developing, analyzing and evaluating alternative alignments.  The study team’s heritage specialists indicated that the actual building structure is of heritage significance, the façade has been altered over the years.  However, the owner and family members expressed interest in the preservation of this built feature.  They have various artefacts in their possession that they would like preserved in some form.

 

The study’s conclusion is that the best alternative does include the purchase and removal of this home, however, commitments have been made that in preparation for construction, a Stage 2 heritage assessment will be undertaken.  This will include detailed assessment and documentation of interior and exterior aspects of the building.  Should any artefacts of significant importance be found during the assessment they will be preserved.  The City’s heritage experts will consult with the homeowners and develop a plan whereby the history of this site is not lost.  It is premature to determine the exact mitigation measures, however, one possible outcome would be to document and preserve various artefacts which can be displayed in a local museum.

 

Fish Habitat and Creek Relocations

 

The recent work undertaken as part of the CDP revealed issues related to fish habitat in McKinnons Creek, where it crosses Mer Bleue Road.  It is understood that the City has approved the East Urban Community, Phase 1 CDP with the understanding that approvals will need to be in place to modify the creek and address any fish habitat issues.  Mer Bleue Roadway modifications will not impact this analysis.  However, at the time of roadway reconstruction, the design will accommodate any new (and/or temporary) culvert crossings.

 

Urban Natural Areas

 

The study area contains several natural areas, such as the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Woods, the Navan Road Woods and the McKinnon’s Creek area.  The study team’s natural environmental specialist identified the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Woods as the only area warranting a ‘moderate’ importance level.  This is a result of the Mer Bleue Bog recharge area located in these woods.  With this in mind, the study stakeholders carried out the evaluation process and chose an alternative alignment that did not impact this area.

 

Water Recharge Area

 

The forested area to the west of Notre-Dame-des-Champs was identified by the natural environment specialists on the ACG, as a water recharge area for the Mer Bleue Bog.  Within this area, there are varying degrees of ground permeability.  These areas were taken into consideration during the evaluation of alternative alignments.  The recommended plan avoids much of this treed area thereby minimizing impacts.

 

Property Impacts

 

The recommended plan was developed in consideration of both impacts to residences and new/future development.  The solution developed though this study results in the avoidance of any residential properties within the Notre-Dame-des-Champs community and will be well integrated with current and future community design planning exercises.  This said, there is potential need for seven residential purchases, however none are required for Phase 1 construction.  This includes a potential heritage property located at 2226 Mer Bleue Road, the two or four properties immediately south of Renaud Road and two homes on Navan Road where the new Mer Bleue Road will intersect.  All property owners have been involved in discussions throughout and understand at the time of design/construction, the City will look to acquire these properties for the implementation of the roadway.

 

Wells

 

Many residents of the Notre-Dame-des-Champs community and others located along Mer Bleue Road expressed concerns about groundwater quality for their existing wells, the effect roadway construction will have on it and the possibilities of connecting to the City’s water services.  Geotechnical research indicates that groundwater in this area generally has a high water table.  As such, the majority of wells in the Notre-Dame-des-Champs community will not be impacted by roadway construction.  Regardless, the City will conduct well water reviews prior and post construction to ensure that water quality is maintained.

 

Water service will eventually be constructed to this area over the course of time, as the new suburban areas develop.  Connection to the water supply may be available to those adjacent to Mer Bleue Road if they are within the Urban Service Area of the Official Plan, however, the cost to connect to the individual residences will be born by the homeowners themselves.

 

Drainage/Sump Pumps

 

The recommended cross section for Mer Bleue Road consists of four-lanes for vehicles, bicycles lanes and sidewalks.  This results in the replacement of ditches with a storm sewer system and catchbasins.  Members of the public identified the implications this construction will have on the drainage of their home’s sumps, which currently drain into the ditches.  As part of the reconstruction of the roadway, residential sump pumps will be connected to the new storm sewers.

 

 

TENTH LINE ROAD EA STUDY AREA                                                              DOCUMENT 5

 


Recommended Plan for the Tenth Line Road EA                        DOCUMENT 6

 

 

 






Tenth Line Road EA Analysis and Evaluation Details             DOCUMENT 7

 

The Tenth Line Road EA project was studied as a single section of roadway for evaluation purposes.  As the existing road alignment is relatively flat and straight with only two remnant occupied dwelling units and no other natural areas or built structures within the road right-of-way, no partitioning or subdivision of the overall study area was considered necessary.

 

Alternatives for the project initially considered the widest possible range of options including: ‘do nothing’, alternate vertical and horizontal road alignments, and alternate cross-section elements to be considered within the road cross-section.

 

Following a detailed review of existing conditions, it was confirmed that there was not justification to vary the road from its current alignment.  In addition there were geotechnical reasons to restrict changes to the vertical alignment of the existing roadway.  This, combined with a plan to install a trunk sanitary sewer down the easterly edge of a widened Tenth Line Road right-of-way, meant that alternatives were restricted to variations in the road cross‑sectional elements (number of lanes, pedestrian facilities, cycling facilities, etc.).  Decisions to screen out variations in vertical and horizontal alignment were evaluated and confirmed by the PCG and ACG.

 

Following the screening of alternatives, the seven cross-sectional alternatives reviewed in detail included:

 

 

A comprehensive evaluation methodology was developed for use by the PCG and ACG.  Based on their input a single preferred cross-section alternative, Alternative 5, was selected.  Through a second public open house, the public was asked to comment on the evaluation methodology and findings.  No negative comments were received on the preferred cross-section.

 

Based on the evaluation and consultation process , Alternative 5 (a four-lane divided roadway with exclusive bicycle lanes, curbs and sidewalks) was selected as the preferred design for the roadway.

 

Tenth Line Road EA Public ConsuLtation Details                      DOCUMENT 8

 

Agency Consultation Group (ACG)

 

The ACG was composed of representatives from the City of Ottawa Planning and Growth Management, Public Works and Services and Real Property Assessment Management.  In addition, external agencies such as the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation Authority, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, area developer (Taggart Realty and Minto) and consultant staff contributed to the study through this group.  The ACG’s role in this study was to vet all technical information presented and ensure the outcome avoided or properly mitigated any natural, social or physical features of the study area.  The group met six times throughout the course of this study and all members endorsed the final recommendations of the EA.

 

Public Consultation Group (PCG)

 

The PCG was comprised of various public and private corporate parties (developers, property owner’s representatives, land owners, etc.) as well as special interest groups (municipal advisory groups, etc.) who expressed an interest in participating in a more formal consultation process than the open house format.  The PCG met on three separate occasions during the study process and contributed to the identification of broad policy issues as well as property-specific issues.

 

Public Open Houses

 

A total of three open house sessions were held over the course of the study to provide an opportunity for the general public to participate and share insights into the planned study process; the preliminary findings and alternatives generation and finally to review and provide comment on the proposed preferred widening plan.

 

Open houses were held on February 15 and 18 (first open house was offered on two occasions on Tenth Line Road (Ray Friel Centre) and at the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Community Centre) ; April 11 and May 30 respectively.  Advertising for the open houses was published in the major city newspapers as well as community newspapers serving the study area.  In addition flyers were distributed to addresses within the study area for the first open house, and to all registered open house participants for the second and third meetings. Attendance at the events were 98, 12 and 21 respectively. Members of the public were asked to submit their comments in writing through the provision of Comment Sheets at each of the public meetings.

 

Study Issues

 

The majority of issues raised through the study were identified through the technical studies which were associated with the EA.  These were addressed above in the DISCUSSION section of this report.

 

To clarify those items summarized through the DISCUSSION section, the following section is provided as additional detail on issues which were addressed through the consultation process offered through the ACG, PCG and three open houses:

 

Fish Habitat

 

Anticipated downstream impacts from the Tenth Line Road widening (preferred Alternative 5) are limited to those already considered the Master Drainage Plan for the Bilberry Creek Industrial Park (BCIP) trunk storm sewer within the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and the McKinnon’s Creek catchment area within the South Nation Conservation Authority.  Recent approval of the East Urban CDP Phase 1 included various stormwater management (SWM) facilities aimed at limiting the quantity of run-off into the various catchment areas while also meeting quality requirements. Through the EA it was determined that both quality and quantity targets established in the Master Drainage Plan could be achieved through on-road and off-site SWM facilities as provided in the CDP.

 

Urban Natural Areas

 

The study area was reviewed to identify sensitive natural environments and species at risk.  In general, the study area is comprised of lands which are devoid of original natural environment, as all lands have been used for agricultural purposes.  No species at risk were identified as being native to the study area.

 

Property Impacts

 

As part of the EA evaluation, additional lands required for road construction were identified.  In general, right-of-way widenings are consistent with those provided in the Official Plan which calls for a widening to 37.5 metres on the existing centre-line for there is a provision for an additional five metres of land to the West of the centreline over the most southerly lot to accommodate a transition to a ditch network as provided in the exiting rural road design.

 

In some cases additional lands beyond the OP specified 37.5 metre right-of-way, are required including:

 

 

Property-Specific Issues

 

Beyond the general issues identified above, a number of specific issues were identified during the study process.  These have been carefully considered in the development of refinements to the preferred plan.

 

·        The feasibility of having an all-directional access on to the widened Tenth Line Road from property on the south-west corner of the Tenth Line Road / Future Blackburn Hamlet By-pass Extension was raised by Dan Paquette (Dan Paquette Associates on behalf of Petro Canada).

·        Concern that any road reconstruction would include replacement of existing driveway culverts to reduce potential for Spring flooding, etc.

·        Right-of-way widenings impact on a variety of properties within the study area [Petro Canada land (per above); Minto lands; private houses (two)].

·        The veracity of existing property lines shown on existing conditions documents, in particular property lines for Tenth Line Road right-of-way widths south of the Urban Boundary, beyond the limit of construction, on property owned by Mr. Marcel Bisson (Lot 4, Concession 11). Mr. Bisson contested that a right-of-way widening approved by Cumberland Township Council was never formally acquired or paid for and that the right-of-way should be shown as remaining at the original measure of approximately 66 feet (20 metres).  Because Mr. Bisson’s lands are beyond the extent of the project, it is also outside the mandate of the EA to address this issue.

·        The timelines for the City to purchase right-of-way widenings, in particular for the two remaining home-owners, was identified as a concern through the study process.

·        Access to existing driveways at 2385 Tenth Line Road was identified as a concern.

·        Traffic islands, as a proposed design element, were objected to due to impact on pedestrians.

·        Concern that the studies conducted for the EA were incomplete and that members of the public did not receive sufficient responses to questions asked.

·        Concern that a complete road (network) study is required for lands south of Blackburn Hamlet By-pass Extension (North of Regional Road 28) for Mer Bleue Road, Tenth Line Road and Milton Road to assess the requirement for the future before road is included in Official Plan.

·        Concern that no land base has been identified (for development) between the proposed Blackburn Hamlet By-pass and the CPR Rail Tracks (South of Navan Road) to justify a north-south four-lane arterial.

·        Concern that existing road pavements marking (near Vanguard Drive/Innes Road Commercial properties) are incorrect.

 

Each of these issues has been carefully dealt with, where feasible, through the study process and the specific manner in which the issues have been received and addressed is documented in the open house Summary Reports.