Report to: Development Services Committee Date of Meeting: May 10, 2011
SUBJECT: Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan - Request for Funding from the Rouge Park Alliance
PREPARED BY: Ruth Rendon, Senior Environmental Planner, Planning and Development, extension 6922
RECOMMENDATION:
That the staff report entitled “Rouge
Park North Consolidated Plan – Request for Funding from the Rouge Park Alliance” dated May 10, 2011, be received;
And That Council support the preparation of Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan and the participation of Town staff throughout the planning process;
And That Council be kept informed of the planning process at key milestones throughout the study process, including presentations to Development Services Committee prior to finalization of the Plan by the Rouge Park Alliance;
And That, funds in the amount of $50,000 approved in the 2011 Capital Budget “Rouge
Park Projects” Account No. 620101539911012 be made available to the Rouge Park
and/or Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for the hiring of consultants
for the preparation of the Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan, subject to
adequate funding being secured from other Rouge Park partners to undertake the
study;
And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to bring forward the
request from the Rouge Park Alliance for funding in the amount of $50,000 to
assist in the preparation of the Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan. The Rouge Park Alliance request is attached
as Appendix ‘A’.
BACKGROUND
The Rouge Park in Markham
comprises approximately 1558 hectares (3850 acres) of land owned by the Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority, Province of Ontario (Ontario Realty Corporation)
and the Town of Markham. The Park was
created through the securement of four parcels of land as described below (see
Figure 1).
Tompion Lands
In 2002, the Town of Markham, Region of York and Province
of Ontario jointly purchased a 16 hectare (40 acre) parcel at the northwest
corner of Steeles Avenue and 9th Line. The lands are held by the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority. The lands have
been planted by the Rouge Park. These
lands are not included in any of the Rouge Park Management Plans.
Little Rouge Creek Master Plan
In 2004, the Province of Ontario dedicated
lands comprising the Little Rouge Creek Corridor for Rouge Park purposes. These
lands generally comprise a 600 metre corridor of lands centred around the
Little Rouge Creek from Steeles Avenue to north of 16th Ave with an
area of approximately 544 hectares (1344
acres) conveyed by the Province of Ontario to the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority and the Town of Markham.
The Town received approximately 92 hectares (227 acres) which include
the valley and a 10 metre buffer, generally located north of Highway 7 adjacent
to the Cornell community.
In early 2005, the Rouge Park Alliance and the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority commenced the Little Rouge Corridor Management Plan
study. The Town of
Bob Hunter Memorial Park
In October
2005, the Province of Ontario announced the dedication of a 193 hectare (477
acre) parcel of provincially-owned land in the Town of Markham to be part of
Rouge Park. The dedication was to honour
the late Bob Hunter, lifelong environmentalist and co-founder of Greenpeace,
and to provide protection to the area’s natural character and functions. The
lands have been transferred to the Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority. The Bob Hunter Memorial Park
(BHMP) is bounded by Highway 407 on the north, the CP Rail (Havelock
Subdivision) on the west, the Rouge Park (Little Rouge Corridor Public Lands)
on the east and north of Steeles Avenue. There is a Hydro Corridor and CN Rail
to the south of the site.
In November 2007, the Rouge Park Alliance
received and released the BHMP Master Plan for review and was endorsed by the
Rouge Park Alliance partners. On February 19, 2008 Council received a staff report on the BHMP and
created the Rouge Park Implementation Task Force to address matters relating to
the Management Plan. The Region of York
has allocated funding of approximately 6 million dollars through the Southeast
Collector Enhancement Program for the construction of trails, parking lots and
woodland and wetland restoration projects over a 5 year period (2010 to 2014). The BHMP was prepared by the Rouge Park and TRCA and included extensive
consultation with the Bob Hunter family.
Eastern Markham Lands
In February
2007, the Province of Ontario announced the dedication of lands in eastern
Markham for Rouge Park purposes. These
lands are located east of the Little Rouge Creek Corridor, between Steeles
Avenue and 16th Avenue and extending to the most easterly boundary
at the York-Durham Town Line. The Eastern
Markham Lands are comprised of approximately 600
hectares (1500 acres) which is still under the ownership of the Ontario Realty
Corporation (ORC), but managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
and the Rouge Park.
In 2009, Rouge Park Staff began to develop the Rouge Park East Lands Management Plan. A draft Background and Strategy were developed, but never completed due to a new strategic approach to develop a Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan which would integrate the BHMP Master Plan, Little Rouge Corridor Management Plan and the East Lands Management Plan.
PURPOSE OF STUDY AND TERMS OF
REFERENCE APPROVED
The Rouge Park Alliance has determined that the Management Plans
now need to be reviewed and integrated to address new emerging priorities,
including a strong agricultural presence in the Rouge Park and the need to
identify public use areas in Markham.
The purpose of the study is to update and consolidate the plans prepared
to date and the work undertaken on the Eastern Markham Plan. The Rouge Park Alliance will take the lead
role in the preparation of the Rouge Park North
Consolidated Plan with support from Rouge Park partners including Markham staff. The Draft Terms of
Reference was prepared by the Rouge Park Alliance and the consultant selection
process is underway by the Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan Steering Committee.
Alan Wells the Chair of Rouge Park presented to Development Services Committee on November 2, 2010, and is scheduled to present again on May 3, 2011. The presentation will include a brief update on Rouge Park management and planning and an overview of the Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan Process including study administration, study objectives and components, consultant selection and funding request.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The total cost of the Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan has been identified as approximately $150,000. The Rouge Park request is for $50,000 funding from the Town of Markham. A funding allocation in the amount of $50,000 was established in the approved 2011 Capital Budget “Rouge Park Projects” Account No. 620101539911012. This report is to authorize the release of the funds to the Rouge Park and/ or the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The Rouge Park will be seeking the remainder of the funding from other Rouge Park partners.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Rouge Park North Consolidated
Plan will provide a detailed management framework for all of the Rouge Park
lands in Markham. The Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan supports the Town’s environmental
protection goals and is consistent with the Rouge River Watershed Plan 2007.
TOWN PARTICIPATION
It is recommended that Town of Markham staff be actively engaged in every level of this process as active team members of the consultant Selection Committee, Project Management Team, Core Team and Steering Committee. Markham Council will also be updated on the study process during key milestones of the study.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND
AFFECTED
This report
has been reviewed by the Town Clerk and the Finance Department.
RECOMMENDED BY:
|
|
|
|
|
T. J.
Lambe, M.C.I.P, R.P.P. Manager,
Research and Policy Planning |
|
Jim
Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner
of Development Services |
ATTACHMENTS
Figure 1: Rouge Park Lands in
Markham
Appendix
‘A’: RPA Request for Funding
Letter RPNCP Jan 3, 2011
File Path: Q:\Development\Planning\MISC\MI
532 Rouge Park North Consolidated Plan\Reports\May 10 2011 DSC Staff Report\DSC
Staff Report on RPNCP May 10 2011.docx