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FEATURE PLANNING PROJECTS

University Avenue Improvements Eastbridge

This project commenced with a Class Environmental Assessment and Traffic Study for the widening of University Avenue between Lexington Rd. and New Bedford Dr. The project was complicated by strong local resident objection from those backing onto the road who did not want the widening of the roadway despite the traffic study demonstrating need for the widening. Numerous public meetings were held, but in the end the project received a Part II Order. The MOE reviewed the study and denied the request. Despite the public opposition, the public commended PEIL on their coordination of the process.

The project involved two phases. The first phase, had construction of over three (3) kilometers of sidewalk. The second phase involved the widening of the existing road to four-lanes, urbanization, landscaping, modifications to a large Oil Grit Separator for quality control of road storm water runoff, two pedestrian refuges for pedestrian crossing of the widened road, and a section of the Walter Bean Trail. Construction staging was complicated by the requirement to maintain two-way traffic throughout the construction period.

Queen's Garden Development, City of Hamilton

The Queen's Garden development is a 128 unit long term care facility in the City of Hamilton. This development was one of the initial Brownfield projects which was the catalyst for further Brownfield's throughout the City of Hamilton. This project introduced City staff to Brownfield redevelopment and resulted in a variety of programs and policies, including the ERASE program (Environmental Remediation and Site Enhancement) which further enhanced Hamilton's Brownfield remediation projects.

This project was a former heavy industrial parcel property (industrial metals and wire factory) which was discontinued in the 1950's and subsequently demolished and replaced with a parking lot with heavy metal contamination beneath. The subject land encompasses four major streets and is approximately one hectare in size in the core of downtown Hamilton. PEIL's role was to create an adaptive re-use development for the inner-city core which was decided to be a retirement/long-term care facility. The subject lands and Brownfield development exemplifies the true meaning of a Brownfield Redevelopment and the utilization of a derelict vacant parcel in the inner-city core. There now stands a 128 bed retirement/long-term care facility including a local parkette.

Canadian Tire 'Q' Development, Various Locations

PEIL has fostered an excellent working relationship with Canadian Tire Real Estate Limited and we are proud to be connected with the new 'Q' Developments proposed throughout southern Ontario. 'Q' locations will combine a gas station, car wash, convenience store, dry cleaning, restaurant components and a small format grocery.

Our planning department has been actively involved in a number of sites along the 401 corridor. In addition to planning, PEIL has also provided engineering and landscape architectural services for these sites. One of the most current 'Q' developments has been proposed at the corner of Dixie Road and Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga.

The Landscape Architecture Department at PEIL, has provided presentation plans and working drawings for the project. The streetscape design features typical shrub plantings as per City standards along with upgraded items such as decorative armour stone and massed perennials and ornamental grasses.

* Image provided by Cohos Evamy Architects

Caledon Community Resources Study, Town of Caledon

For this project, we were the lead consultants for the 31 month study for the Region of Peel and Town of Caledon that compiled three major reports.

Caledon has historically been one of the top five aggregate producers in the Province and a significant contributor to the GTA west market. The overall goal of the study was to 'develop a sustainable community model for the management of the aggregate resource that will enable the Caledon ecosystem and community to be maintained and enhanced over the long term'. The result of our study was defining 10 distinct resource areas that comprised of primary and secondary sand/gravel resources and bedrock resources. An exhaustive public process was developed that involved the public politicians, the industry and others to establish the issues, strategies to deal with resolving the issues and policy formulation to implement the strategies.

One of the cornerstones of the CCRS was the development of prioritization areas where a substantive portion of the resource is available for extraction in the short and medium term as a result of specific criteria having been met. The remainder of the resource areas would be conserved and made available for medium to long-term use. Specific criteria utilized to determine the prioritization included:

• On a recommended haul route. Compatibility with Comprehensive Study Recommendations (Subwatershed Study)
• Existing Extraction in Resource Areas
• Resource Quality and Quantity and Economic Factors
• Impact on Natural Environment
• Impact on Community Values
• Land Use Compatibility
• Impact on Cultural and Heritage Resources

Greenwich-Mohawk Streets Brownfield Sites Remediation Study, City of Brantford

On October 23, 2003 the Canadian Urban Institute awarded a 2003 Brownie Award to the City of Brantford and PEIL in the Sustainability in Community Building category for the Greenwich-Mohawk Streets Brownfield Sites Remediation Study (GMSBSRS). The Canadian Urban Institute's annual Brownie Awards program recognizes leadership, innovation and environmental sustainability in brownfields redevelopment across Canada.

The GMSBSRS undertaken by PEIL and Wiebe Engineering Group provided the City of Brantford with a 'made in Brantford' solution for the approximately 20 hectare site. This was undertaken through a detailed inventory and analysis of environmental contamination, the conditions of existing buildings, and to prepare a land use strategy to guide the redevelopment of these properties.

PEIL provided professional project management, planning and engineering services together with broad based public consultation.

Hespeler West and Forbes Creek Subwatershed Studies, City of Cambridge

Development pressure in the northern part of the City of Cambridge necessitated the preparation of subwatershed studies in order to comply with provincial, regional and municipal planning documents and to ensure development proceeds in an environmentally sustainable manner. Municipally-driven, the study teams for these two projects were composed of a partnership of consultants and agencies. PEIL's role was to co-ordinate the consultant team, which was made up of several experts from within PEIL and five other consultants, covering such disciplines as ecology, hydrology, hydrogeology, geomorphology and agriculture.

The study included detailed investigations undertaken by the consultant team, analysis of the various opportunities and constraints within the watersheds, and development of a management strategy including a monitoring plan and implementation plan. A key component of both studies was the development of a Natural Heritage and Greenspace Management Strategy to best meet the intent of the Provincial Policy Statement, and relevant Region of Waterloo, City of Cambridge and Grand River Conservation Authority policies. Other issues included the development of watershed hydrologic and hydraulic models (GAWSER and HEC-RAS respectively), wellhead protection and impacted stream systems with the recommended removal of several dams and sections of gabion and concrete channels. Public participation throughout the studies included numerous public meetings and workshops.

Scoped Environmental Impact Statement for the Holiday Beach Campground, Township of Wilmot

The purpose of this scoped EIS was to assess the environmental impacts of recognizing an existing campground and proposed campground expansion that was subject to a Zone Change application. PEIL co-ordinated the project with input from two other consultants to complete a terrestrial assessment, an aquatic assessment and a hydrogeological survey. From these studies the team established an ecologically appropriate Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) boundary on the site, evaluated ecological impacts, evaluated the impact of an expanded wastewater management system on the adjacent watercourse, evaluated the impact of increased water-taking on adjoining creeks and wetlands, and provided methods for preventing or minimizing human impacts on the contiguous portions of the ESA. The approval process included a site walk and meeting with the Waterloo Region Ecological and Environmental Advisory Committee.

LIUNA Station, City of Hamilton

PEIL was instrumental in the restoration of the historic CN Station which now serves as the head office for the Hamilton Branch of the Labour's International Union of North America, as well as PEIL's Hamilton office. Once perceived as an eyesore by the surrounding community, PEIL provided planning and landscape architectural service in the rehabilitation and restoration of this brownfield site. The radial walkway pattern, formal seating areas, plant massing and the use of a fountain as a central focal point successfully link the historic building to the square and surrounding street frontage, by paying homage to the history of the site through period specific design elements and plant materials.

Aggregate Resources of Southern Ontario: A State of the Resource Study

This study undertaken by PEIL, Dr. McLellan, and our other associates involved a detailed assessment of the unlicensed aggregate resources, licensed aggregate reserves, and aggregate related operations in seven major market areas of Southern Ontario (including parts of Wellington County). It also entailed interviews and surveys of aggregate operators and assessments of the overall "state of aggregate resources" in several key market areas. Extensive computer modelling was undertaken to determine future demand, by market area, and conclusions regarding the demand/supply relationships in each of the market areas, and Southern Ontario as a whole. Numerous study findings were discussed, and a number of the initiatives recommended are already being implemented.

Specific qualifications and techniques applied to this assignment included:

• Intimate knowledge of aggregate resources and aggregate extraction operational considerations.
• Definition and calculation of aggregate resources and licensed aggregate reserves.
• Assembly of mapped and statistical data from various sources for presentation and analysis.

In-depth understanding of aggregate extraction operations within municipal planning, legislative, and regulatory frameworks and context.

Alternative Uses for Taro Aggregates Ltd. East Quarry, City of Hamilton (Stoney Creek)

This study involved the provision of an expert opinion report by PEIL to the City of Stoney Creek for their consideration in commenting on documentation and information related to a submission by Taro Aggregates Ltd. for rehabilitation of their East Quarry utilizing solid non-hazardous industrial wastes. In this case, the client was interested in receiving a qualified neutral third-party opinion regarding various options and alternatives for unique or innovative rehabilitation of the quarry.

Specific qualifications related to this assignment required a good understanding of the regulatory, design, and operational considerations, opportunities, and constraints with respect to rehabilitation of aggregate sites, especially that of a quarry.

Front Street Redevelopment, Thorold

The redevelopment of Front Street in Thorold required the full range of PEIL’s planning services to create a pedestrian oriented streetscape that celebrated the heritage of the town and the Niagara Peninsula. PEIL provided consulting services to a public-private partnership between a private sector consortium of six property owners, the Region of Niagara and the City of Thorold. This project featured several individual site plan applications to create new commercial, retail and residential developments, streetscape design, environmental remediation, heritage preservation, and industrial building conversions. The individual site plans were coordinated and connected through a new municipal walkway designed by PEIL together with a gateway entry feature, to the downtown core, commemorating the marine heritage of the municipality. The scope of this project and the associated awards (Canadian Urban Institute Brownie - Best Small/ Medium Project, 2002) helped establish PEIL's reputation in the development of Brownfield sites.

Woolner Pit, City of Kitchener

Located in the City of Kitchener on one of the gravel rich meander bends of the Grand River, this property has a split ownership between the Grand River Conservation Authority and Rockway Holdings Ltd. The 92 hectare property was licensed by PEIL in 1986 and again, illustrates the value of private/public partnerships. On site investigations by our firm provided the opportunity for extensive below watertable extraction to occur as well as providing a final landscape appropriate for estate housing and recreation. As residential development has approached the active pit, we have continued to work with the client to ensure future development of the rehabilitated pit is maximized.

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