Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-03-02, Page 7Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 7 Council asks for amendment to Environmental Assessment Lynda Hillman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance An amendment request will be sent to the province asking that • rinder pumps be taken off the table at this time, as an option for the Lambton Shores zone 4 sewer service strategy. That carne in a recorded vote, requested by Deputy mayor Eliza- beth Davis Dagg February 22, Davis Dagg, Councillors Dave Maguire, Doug Bonesteel, Lorrie Scott, Doug Cook and John Russell voting to retnove the option and Mayor Bill Weber, and councillors Martin Underwood and Ruth Inman voting against. The motion reads, "That the Municipality of Lambton Shores submits an amendment request to the Ministry of the Environment asking that the "grinder pump" option be removed at this time as a servicing option for "Zone 4", with the exception of the Pinery Provin- cial Park and South Bend Estates. " The municipality will be required to hold another public meeting, notice etc. with a recommendation that "Gravity Sewers" is the new "recommended option". That will then be submitted to the Minister requesting his approval of that and then move on. The proposed Ad Floc Commit- tee will then undertake a review of what option they prefer, I assume they will or may still consider a grinder pump option at that time. Going back a step, council at its January 24th meeting requested that staff report on how Council could remove "low pressure" sew- ers from further consideration in the servicing strategy for Zone 4. (:AO John Byrne said quite sim- ply council only needs to submit an "amendment" request to the Minis- try of the Environment, requesting that a "gravity" sewer option be considered the preferred servicing option for Zone 4. "While the current status of a servicing plan for Zone 4 recom- mends a "low pressure" sewer option, the Municipality had agreed to broaden the option considera- tion to include: "low pressure" "gravity" and a "hybrid" system that could include a combination of both "gravity" and "low pressure" sewers," said Byrne. Council at its January 24th Ai I am concerned that removing "low pressure" sewers from further consideration at this time would remove a viable and more importantly an affordable servicing option for property owners in Zone 4 as the estimated cost of a cost of a "gravity" sewer system could be two to three times more costly for property owners — John Byrne meeting deferred further consider- ation of these options. "I ant concerned that removing "low pressure" sewers from further consideration at this time would remove a viable and more impor- tantly an affordable servicing option for property owners in Zone 4 as the estimated cost of a cost of a "gravity" sewer system could be two to three times more costly for prop- erty owners," said Byrne. At the February 22 meeting coun. John Russell said he wanted to make a motion to keep all options -taking nothing off the table. Ilse said he would like to see an advi- sory goup with council members and people in the community. "We need to go forward, work with the citizens and get trust on the table." That did not pass. The second part of his motion was to have counci form a Sewage Collection Issues Advisory Committee with its mem- bers to include the mayor, the deputy -mayor, ward 2 councillor, ward 7 councillor, two citizens rep- resenting the rate payers from Zone 3 and two citizens representing the rate payers from Zone 4. Ward 1 coon. Dave Maguire asked that he too be part of this committee. Staff will report back with their thoughts on the dynamics of this committee. Bonesteel said he wanted to see the grinder pump taken right out the Zone 4 Environmental Assess- ment. Technically that can't be done as it is part of a system already 1n progress (Pinery Park and South Bend). They could though take it out of the undeveloped draft plan of subdivision. Underwood informed council there are people out there who want sewers- who are begging for sewers. Inman felt this was short sighted of this council to take an option off the table. Underwood agreed stating if the province or feds stepped in with legislation they would be ahead of the process - unlike many municipalities. "We should not be setting ourselves back," he saki. Bonesteel said they had to do what is best for the taxpayers. Dillon retained to complete Class EA from Mollard Line Lynda HIIIman-Rapley ;Lakeshore Advance Deputy mayor Elizabeth Davis Dagg was not in favour of Dillon Consulting being retained to complete a Class EA for the anticipated future improve- ments east of Grand Bend. In her motion to request tendering for this project, Davis Dagg said there is a perception that this company auto- matically gets the jobs. Dillon has to date completed 50 per cent of the work on this project for improvements to Main Street East from Mollard Line to Highway 21. Peggy Van Mierlo West, director of community services listed many of the projects being done at present and who the various tenders went to -that not being Dillon. Last year Dillon Consulting was retained by L.eunbton Shores to prepare a Traffic Study for Main Street East in Grand Bend in order ensure that future development of this corridor accom- modates anticipated future traffic in a safe and coordinated fashion. 'the area is subject to development pressures, • Ith Rice Developments and Matt 11),• �hnstone anticipating spring starts to (their developments. It is anticipated that the cost of required upgrades to Main Street East will exceed 2.7 million dollars and as such a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is required to be completed. 'lite Municipal Class Environmental Assessment identifies the improvements as being a Schedule "B" Class EA which is defined as "con- struction of localized operational improvements at specific locations (le turning lands at an intersection, but not a continuous tuning lane) where the anticipated construction costs value over $2.7 million. Class "B" projects are approved under the Environmental Assessment Act provided they follow Phases 1 and 2 of the Class EA process and are screened. The objective of an Environ- mental Assessment is to avoid or mini- mize adverse environmental impacts. Based on this, the screening process involves: ■ the identification and evaluation of design options ■ preparation of an inventory of the environment potentially affected by the project ■ public and agency consultation ■ assessment of the impacts of the preferred preliminary design ■ documentation of the environmen- tal assessment in a Project File 52 The cost of the Environmental Assessment is estimated to be $25,000.00. Senior Planner Patti Richardson said it is essential that this process start very soon as no additional entrances to Main Street East can be permitted and developers in the area need to ii 1 assure you the total will not be under $25,000. We have to define this and give others an opportunity to bid. --- Elizabeth Davis 1)ngg understand what improve- ments they will he required to construct or contribute to on Main Street East. Coon. Doug Bonesteel made a motion to have an upset limit of $25,000 and that motion was lost when there was no seconder. Davis Dagg said to be fiscally responsible they need a firm amount and that everyone should get a "kick at the can': "1 assure you the total will not he under $25,000. We have to define this and give others an opportunity to bid, Mayor Bill Weber saki this Need Mortgage Money? Faim ,\ Residential 1 ` . Moi !gage S 3.25 Interest oi Less • No upfront fees • Personal loans/mortgages • Consolidate your debts • Problem mortgage specialist Head Office Ph: 519.7446251 Uc. M 10163 If you qualify, payments: Amt.�mrox. Mo. Payment ' 5,000 ' 13.55 '10,000 ' 27.08 150,000 '135.42 '100,000 '270.83 ASTRAL FUNDING INC 84 101h Stieel. . 1-800-387-1932 Nancy ( I project was started by Dillon and they are half wary through. Ile said it would not he fiscally responsible to pay for the tivork done again. The motion to tender wits lost. ENT (; L('. Rate 3•45% mindeism!' ma) 'pith GRAND BEND 2.x•8464 EXETER 235.2420 4raaaiser CLINTON Knsal• �2 ';°01 MN. (leiIIID. SIMON IWSJARI)INF ('F'P, ('1.11, 81111, EPC ('.rt(JI.A FImam MJ I4aan.►. (Ammer -eft 14 , ('oderwrih► 519-238.6399 55 Ontario St. N. Grand Bend • Investment Funds • RRSP's, (:1("s • Insurance • Motgagcs "hi Rwsinru Simi lir 2O1), (lwr paaion u wrwr Jemmy." Sl'ERLI Nt: ,, •.I l,: \. i; 1.