East Don Trail Environmental Assessment Community Liaison Committee Meeting #1 April 22, 2013
Agenda 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Community Liaison Committee 3. Project Background 4. Environmental Assessment (EA) 5. Public Consultation 6. Existing Challenges and Issues 7. Next Steps 8. Closing East Don Trail Environment Assessment
1. Welcome and Introductions • Opening Comments • Role of the Chair • City of Toronto Welcome • CLC Member Introductions • Your Name • The Organization you are with (if applicable) • Your interest in the East Don Project Environmental Assessment East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Project Team Introductions • City of Toronto • Daniel Egan, Project Sponsor • Jennifer Hyland, Project Manager • Wendy Strickland, Governing Group • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority • Lisa Turnbull, Project Advisor • Violetta Tkaczuk, Project Manager • Natalie Seniuk, Public Consultation Coordinator • Erica Dewell, Intern East Don Trail Environment Assessment
East Don Trail Project Team City of Toronto • Transportation Infrastructure Management Consulting Team: • Daniel Egan, Jennifer Hyland • Aquafor Beech Limited • Parks, Forestry & Recreation • Schollen & Company Inc. • Garth Armour, Wendy Strickland • Delcan • Public Consultation Unit • Terraprobe Inc. • Maogosha Pyjor Toronto and Region Conservation Authority • Project Management Office • Lisa Turnbull, Violetta Tkaczuk, Natalie Seniuk, Thomas Sciscione, Erica Dewell • Conservation Lands • Deanna Cheriton • Water Resource Engineering • Amy Winterhalt East Don Trail Environment Assessment
2. Community Liaison Committee 1. Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meetings 2. Ground Rules 3. Purpose and Objectives 4. Terms of Reference 5. Member Agreement East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Meetings • Meeting Format • Series of formats based on content • Tonight – Presentation & Facilitated Discussion • Materials • Handouts and Binders • Time and Duration • Approximately 2 hours in length • Evenings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm • Location • Local facility East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Ground Rules Common ground rules for members and staff: • Avoid use of jargon • Listen to each comment with respect • Avoid use of cellphones • Ask questions • Share information with the group East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Purpose and Objectives Purpose: • Provide additional public input concerning the planning and design process of the East Don Trail EA Functions or objectives: • Identify items of public concern related to the impact and design of the project. • Offer potential advice or solutions to resolve these concerns. • Mechanism to reach out to the community. • Act as the voice of the community. East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Terms of Reference • Requirements and Responsibilities • Chairing of CLC Meetings • Membership • Length of Term • Attendance • Record Keeping • Media Protocol East Don Trail Environment Assessment
CLC Member Agreement • Provided with Terms of Reference • To be signed by all CLC Members • Please provide before leaving today • Conflicts of Interest East Don Trail Environment Assessment
3. Project Background 1. Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan 2. Feasibility Study East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan 2011 • Audit of existing major multi-use trail • Identification, evaluation and prioritization of new trail connections 2012 • Public Open House • Council Approval of Plan on June 6 East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan 77 km of new trails to be added to existing network was proposed East Don Trail • Largest and most complex project • Identified as a short term priority East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Feasibility Study • RV Anderson retained in 2011 • Also called “East Don Trail Master Plan Update” • Assessed the potential for a trail system through the East Don Valley Corridor • Determined a trail was possible • Identified potential issues • East Don Trail EA to build upon this Study East Don Trail Environment Assessment
4. East Don Trail EA 1. Study Areas 2. Opportunity Statement 3. Project Objectives 4. Environmental Assessment (EA) Process 5. Proposed Timeline East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Study Areas Regional Study Area • Lawrence Avenue • Victoria Park Avenue • O’Connor Drive • Don Mills Road Local Study Area • Encompasses potentially useable East Don Corridor Land East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Opportunity Statement A significant gap in the multi-use trail network exists within the East Don Corridor between the north end of Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, the Gatineau Trail and the Lower Don Trail. The East Don Trail will fill this existing gap in the trail network thus creating a continuous connected trail network. East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Project Objectives Connections • Key multi-use trail connection route Public Safety • Safe access to valleylands • Safe off-road option for cycling and recreational use • Options to accommodate emergency and maintenance vehicles Natural Environment • Respectful of the natural environment • Provide single focused route • Avoid or minimize negative environmental impacts East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Project Objectives Recreation • Create outdoor recreation opportunities for variety of users and neighbouring communities • Increase access to natural areas • Function as a recreation destination Transportation • Function as a commuter route for a variety of users East Don Trail Environment Assessment
EA Process •work plan on how the EA and public consultation will Terms of Reference/Identify proceed Opportunity •identify the opportunity/need for the undertaking • prepare a detailed inventory of existing conditions Environmental Baseline within the study area • identify all reasonable alternatives to the Prepare Alternatives opportunity • evaluate all identified alternatives for Evaluate Alternatives environmental effects ** Preferred Alternative • select a preferred alternative based on evaluation • detailed environmental analysis of the preferred Refine Preferred Alternative alternative ** Environmental Study Report • file ESR with MOE for 30 day review **Evaluation Process will consider the biological, physical, socio-economic, and cultural environments East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Proposed Timeline Terms of Reference/Identify TAC #1 CLC #1 PIC #1 Opportunity Nov. 2012 - May 2013 Review TAC #2 CLC #2 Environmental Baseline Prepare Alternatives TAC #3 May - Sept. 2013 Review Evaluate Alternatives TAC #4 CLC #3 PIC #2 Preferred Alternative Oct. 2013 - Jan. 2014 TAC #5 CLC #4 PIC #3 Refine Preferred Alternative Feb. – June TAC #6 Review Environmental Study Report 2014 East Don Trail Environment Assessment
5. Public Consultation 1. Public Consultation Plan 2. Public Consultation Schedule 3. Summary of Public Meeting #1 East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Public Consultation Plan • To provide all those with a potential interest in the project opportunities to contribute their views during the planning stages of the project. • Techniques: INFORM - Project Newsletter & Websites - Frequently Asked Questions CONSULT - Public Information Centres (PICs) INVOLVE COLLABORATE - Community Liaison Committee (CLC) EMPOWER East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Public Consultation Schedule Date Meeting Topic Project Introduction April 11, 2013 CLC Meeting #1 Environmental Assessment Process Existing Challenges and Issues Existing Conditions May 29, 2013 CLC Meeting #2 Evaluate Options including “Do Nothing” August 2013 CLC Meeting #3 Evaluation of Preliminary Alternatives September Public Information Centre #2 Evaluation of Preliminary Alternatives 2013 October 2013 CLC Meeting #4 Preferred Alternative January 2014 Public Information Centre #3 Preferred Alternative East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Summary of Public Meeting #1 • Public Information Centre (PIC) #1 held on February 13, 2013 • Open house format • Feedback collected through: • Interactive mapping • Comment form • Discussions with staff • Summary of event available on project website www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/eastdontrail East Don Trail Environment Assessment
Summary of Public Meeting #1 • Support: • Increasing opportunity for recreation • Larger cycling network connections • Providing safe routes for cyclists • Improving access for a wider demographic • Concerns: • Potential environmental impacts • Impact on personal enjoyment with increased use • Trail etiquette with multiple types of users East Don Trail Environment Assessment
6. Existing Issues and Challenges • Share knowledge about the Study Area as it relates to: • Physical Environment • Natural Environment • Socio-Economic Environment • Cultural Environment • Questions to think about: • Is there additional information that could provide value to the EA process? East Don Trail Environment Assessment
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