FRENCHMAN’S BAY HARBOUR ENTRANCE CLASS EA
SUMMER 2009 PROJECT UPDATE
On December 3, 2008, the City of Pickering,
working in partnership with Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority (TRCA), commenced
the Frenchman’s Bay Harbour Entrance Class
Environmental Assessment. The Frenchman’s
Bay Harbour Entrance Project will result in the
creation of a safe harbour entrance that
supports the marine functions of the Bay, while
preserving or enhancing the ecological
conditions. The project will also consider
opportunities to improve public use and
recreation, environmental sustainability,
enhanced tourism and commercial linkages.
Public Consultation
To facilitate ongoing stakeholder involvement at the planning level of the project a Community
Liaison Committee made up of stakeholder representatives was established. The Committee
met four times between January and May, 2009: January 29, February 12, March 26, and April
16. Each meeting was held at the Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club in the City of Pickering and
was chaired by the facilitator who led the discussion and recorded the key questions,
comments, and discussion points. The main function of the Committee was to identify items of
public concern related to the impact and design of the project and to offer potential advice or
solutions to resolve these concerns. Over the four meetings, the Committee reviewed the
existing conditions, developed targets for evaluating alternatives, evaluated proposed
concepts, helped refine the alternatives, and finalized the draft preferred alternative.
In compliance with the approved environmental assessment process, two Public Information
Centres were held to allow for public comment on the project. These public meetings provided
opportunities for the community to be made aware of the project and to have their concerns
addressed.
The first Public Information Centre was held on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 in the Council
Chambers at the City of Pickering Civic Complex. The meeting was attended by 45 members
of the public, including several members of City Council and the Community Liaison
Committee. Discussion points included the pros and cons of each alternative based on the
experience of the various stakeholders. There were concerns regarding channel width and
depth, water exchange between the Bay and the lake (including impacts to water quality and
warm water fishery), and long term dredging.
The second Public Information Centre was held on Thursday, May 5, 2009. The meeting was
attended by 22 members of the public, several members of City Council, and several
Community Liaison Committee members. Feedback on the draft Preferred Alternative during
the meeting included many comments expressing satisfaction with the design and questions
regarding scheduling for construction, funding, timing, and long-term maintenance.
The Preferred Alternative incorporated input from all stakeholders as well as recommendations
from the City of Pickering’s Waterfront Coordination Committee (WCC) regarding the provision
for formal pedestrian access on both the east and west breakwaters. The Preferred Alternative
received widespread endorsement from the City of Pickering’s Executive Committee on July 6,
2009. Following the Executive Committee meeting, the staff report and recommendation was
taken to the City of Pickering Council on July 13, 2009. Resolution #182/09 states:
“1. That Report OES 41-09 of the Director, Operations and Emergency Services concerning
the Frenchman’s Bay Harbour Entrance Environmental Assessment be received for
information;
2. That both the East and West breakwater walls be proposed and built fully accessible and
included as part of the preferred alternative submitted with the EA documents; and
3. That Council endorse the submission of the Draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) to the
Ministry of the Environment.”
The Preferred Alternative
The Preferred Alternative proposes enclosure of the east crib in steel sheet pile lined with
sloped rip rap and armourstone to reduce wave reflection and wave overtopping. Enclosing
the existing eastern crib in steel sheet piling facilitates inclusion of a reinforced concrete
pedestrian walkway, providing pedestrian access consistent with the existing public amenities
and community character on the east side of Frenchman’s Bay.
On the west side of the harbour entrance the Preferred Alternative proposes removal of the
existing western crib and construction of a new armourstone breakwater further west to
facilitate creation of an entrance channel 30 m wide at the navigation depth of 3.2 m below
datum. The western breakwater has an increased crest width to facilitate construction of a pilesupported concrete walkway. The natural stone breakwater ties into the passive waterfront
recreation theme of Rotary Frenchman’s Bay Park West and offers waterfront access for
anglers, waterfront trail users, and birdwatchers.
Both the eastern and western breakwaters will have a series of access steps with ladders
spaced approximately 60 m apart; along the length of the breakwaters to allow emergency
egress from the entrance channel. The design of the eastern breakwater also includes railings.
The design of the railing is based on conventional breakwater walkway designs, to resist the
higher wave and ice forces that will occur near the offshore end of the breakwater. The ends of
the breakwaters will have a capped steel pile rail that is at elevation 77.5 m for a length of
approximately 10 m. It will reduce to an elevation of 77.0 m over a 2 m long transition then
remain at that elevation for approximately 40 m. The remainder of the walkway will have a 200
mm high pipe curb intended to act as a barrier for only small-wheeled non-vehicular traffic such
as strollers or wheelchairs.
Preferred Alternative Plan View
Preferred Alternative Cross-Section
Preferred Alternative Detail
Next Steps
The project is now in Phase 4 of the environmental assessment process. The Environmental
Study Report (ESR) has been finalized and will be filed with the Ministry of the Environment
(MOE). A Notice of Completion will be issued on September 2, 2009, which will signal the start
of the 30-day public review period. The Notice of Completion will appear in The News
Advertiser on September 2, 2009 and September 9, 2009. The ESR will be available for review
at: www.cityofpickering.com and www.trca.on.ca and at the following locations:
City of Pickering
Clerk’s Office
One The Esplanade
Mon. to Fri. 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Pickering Public Library
Petticoat Creek Branch
470 Kingston Road
Mon. to Fri. 9:30 am to 9:00 pm
Sat.
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Please forward comments to the study contacts, listed below, by Friday, October 2, 2009.
If concerns regarding this project cannot be resolved in discussion with the TRCA or the City of
Pickering, a person may request that the Minister of the Environment make an order for the
project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act, which addresses individual
environmental assessments (referred to as a “bump up”). Requests must be received by the
Minister at the address below by Friday, October 2, 2009. A copy of the request must also be
sent to the study contacts. If no requests are received by October 2, 2009, the project may
proceed as outlined in the ESR.
The Honourable John Gerretson
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5
Pending Ministry approval, the project will enter Phase 5 of the environmental assessment
process. Phase 5 activities will include completion of detailed designs, a long term monitoring,
maintenance and operation plan, and a fisheries compensation plan. TRCA and the City of
Pickering will also continue to work co-operatively to secure the necessary property, permits
and approvals required to implement the project.
TRCA will work in partnership with the City of Pickering to secure funding to implement the
planned improvements to the harbour entrance. The final cost, timing, and potential phasing of
construction will be based on the availability of funding and the conditions of various regulatory
approvals. Construction activities will be coordinated with stakeholders to minimize impacts on
local businesses, recreational boating, and park users. TRCA and the City are also committed
to working towards a long-term dredging strategy for Frenchman's with stakeholders.
For further information on this project, please contact:
Ms. Connie Pinto, BES
Marilee Gadzovski, P.Eng.
Project Manager, Waterfront Planning
Stormwater & Environmental Engineer
Toronto and Region Conservation
City of Pickering
5 Shoreham Drive
One The Esplanade
Downsview, Ontario, M3N 1S4
Pickering, Ontario L1V 6K7
tel. 416.661.6600 ext. 5387 fax. 416.667.6278
tel. 905.420.4660 ext. 2067 fax. 905.420.4650
[email protected]
[email protected]
For additional information on this project, please visit the City of Pickering website
http://www.cityofpickering.com/standard/planning/index.html