| RVCA Staff Report - Proposed Riverside South High School |
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| Tuesday, 26 June 2007 19:00 |
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To: RVCA Board of Directors From: Glen McDonald, IVICIP RPP, Senior Planner Subject: Ottawa-Carleton Roman Catholic School Board Proposed Riverside South High School — Limebank Road at Spratt Road Date: June 27, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommendation: That the attached report be received for information. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board (OCCSB) has an option to purchase an 8.1 hectare parcel of land in the Riverside South Community on the east side of Limebank Road, north of the proposed Spratt Road extension for the development of a high school, sports fields and related parking. The site is currently vacant and three tributaries to Mosquito Creek cross the site from east to west. These tributaries are contained within well defined valleys. The site is within the study area of the Riverside South Master Drainage Plan and Master Servicing Plan updates that are being undertaken by the City of Ottawa in support of the Riverside South Community Design Plan. These studies are not complete. The Conservation Authority was first contacted by the OCCSB’s architect on October 4, 2006. The Authority informed the OCCSB that there were several potential constraints related to the presence of the Mosquito Creek tributaries on the site. These constraints included development setbacks from top of bank in accordance with the City’s Official Plan policies, slope stability and fish habitat. We also informed the OCCSB that we had serious reservations about the suitability of the site for the proposed development based on the preliminary site plan that showed the elimination of the watercourses. Authority and City staff met with the OCCSB on November 10, 2006 at which time the City expressed concerns about the lack of drinking water, sewage and stormwater servicing for the site (the sanitary sewer has since been installed and commissioned along the alignment of the future Spratt Road extension), and the Authority noted that we could not draw any conclusions about the acceptability of filling in the watercourses without a fish habitat assessment. In order to have a clear understanding of existing aquatic habitat conditions, the City’s consultant for the Master Servicing Study has prepared a fish habitat assessment on the various watercourses within the study area. The scope of work undertaken for this assessment included the proposed school site. Standard scientific practice for fish habitat assessment includes spring sampling (late April/early May) to ensure that the data includes spawning season for fish species typical of Eastern Ontario. These assessments are undertaken to ensure that decisions that are made with respect to development and servicing are not in conflict with the fish habitat protection provisions of the Federal Fisheries Act and the Natural Heritage polices under the Provincial Policy Statement. Contrary to what has been reported in the media, the fish habitat assessment was not prepared by or for the Conservation Authority. It was prepared by an independent consulting firm retained by the lead consultant for the City of Ottawa on the Riverside South Master Drainage Plan and Master Servicing Study. The field work for the assessment was completed this spring. The assessment report was received at this office on June 11th and is under review by our Fish Habitat Biologist. As set out in our memorandum of understanding with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), it is our role to review the fish habitat information and the impact analysis to determine whether or not there will be any residual harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADO) of fish habitat. If impacts can be mitigated on site, the project can proceed based on a “letter of advice” and a permit issued by the Conservation Authority under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. If a HADD is likely to occur (i.e. mitigation of impacts is not possible), the matter will be referred to DFO who will determine whether or not the HADD can be authorized. It is important to note that although these watercourses may be dry during the summer months, they can still be fish habitat during the spring. Fish will move up these watercourses to spawn and then migrate downstream as flows decrease and water levels recede or dry up during the drier months. The City has scheduled a meeting for July 9th to discuss the results of the report. Although the report contains fish habitat information, it does not include an impact analysis (as was requested in the terms of reference). We have requested the City and the consultant to proceed with the impact analysis for discussion at that meeting. After that meeting: 1. We will know if there are any fish habitat related issues at the site; 2. We will be in a position to work with the OCCSB in an attempt to mitigate any impacts with site alterations; 3. If the OCCSB is unable to mitigate impacts on site, the file will be referred to DFO for their consideration; DFO will then decide whether or not to authorize the HADD and what compensation measures will be required if the project is authorized. |