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The Red Hill Valley Project

Land Use Assessment Report


Prepared for: The City of Hamilton
Prepared by:

Dillon Consulting Limited


235 Yorkland Boulevard
Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario
M2J 4Y8
Tel: 416-229-4646
Fax: 416-229-4692

Personnel:

Ann Joyner, Project Manager


Karla Kolli, Environmental Planner

Date:

March 2003

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................iii
1. Introduction..............................................................................1
Background on Red Hill Creek Expressway Environmental Assessment Work...................1
Purpose of the Land Use Assessment Report ..................................................................................2
Land Use Assessment Study Area ........................................................................................................2
Information Sources .................................................................................................................................3

2. Overall Land Use Planning/Policy.........................................................4


Historical Official Plans/Transportation Plans................................................................................4
Vision 2020..................................................................................................................................................5
New City of Hamilton Official Plan ....................................................................................................5
City of Hamilton Parks, Culture and Recreation Master Plan .....................................................6
Red Hill Creek Watershed Plan.............................................................................................................6
Environmental Health and Safety Integrated Management System ..........................................7

3. Review Of Existing And Future Land Use ..................................8


Primary Study Area -Red Hill Creek Expressway Corridor..........................................................8
Lower Section .............................................................................................................................................9
Middle Section ......................................................................................................................................... 14
Upper Section .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Secondary Study Area - Red Hill Creek Watershed ..................................................................... 17
Mountain East Section of the Watershed ....................................................................................... 17
Mountain West Section of the Watershed ...................................................................................... 24

4. Impact Assessment and Mitigation..................................................... 26


Red Hill Valley Project .......................................................................................................................... 26
Effects from Development in the Watershed................................................................................ 34

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Tables ...........................................................................................................................................................
Table 1: Existing and Future Land Use - Primary Study Area................................................ 10
Table 2: Existing and Future Land Use - Secondary Study Area ........................................... 19
Table 3:Potential Land Use Impacts of the Red Hill Creek Expressway
and Proposed Mitigation ....................................................................................................... 27

APPENDIX A

Contacts made for the Red Hill Creek Expressway


Land Use Assessment

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Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to fulfill the requirements of the Red Hill Creek Expressway
North-South Declaration Order.
The Land Use Assessment for the Red Hill Valley Project reviews existing and future land
uses within the Red Hill Creek Watershed and specifically along the Red Hill Valley
Expressway corridor. It summarizes potential impacts of the Red Hill Valley Project on
these land uses and mitigation measures to minimize the potential effects. The Red Valley
Project includes the revised Red Hill Creek Expressway design as well as stormwater
management facilities, a combined sewer overflow pipe and realignment of the Red Hill
Creek using natural channel design.
The land use assessment considers land use development (including existing residential
development), recreation and infrastructure. Many of the potential effects of the Red Hill
Valley Project and associated mitigation are documented in more detail in other Red Hill
Valley Project assessment reports.
The following highlights the key findings in the Land Use Assessment:

The Red Hill Creek Expressway has the potential to result in noise and air quality
impacts as well as visual and aesthetic impacts on existing residents in the area. The Air
Quality Assessment, Noise Assessment, Escarpment Crossing Visual Assessment and
the Draft Landscape and Recreation Master Plan address these issues in more detail.

New development in proximity to the Valley will be required to include noise barriers in
development plans.

Some students may have to cross the Expressway to attend schools. However, the City
will ensure that all key cross streets for students have appropriate sidewalks.

The closure of sections of Mount Albion Road will result in a decrease in the high levels
of traffic currently using this road.

A minimal amount of property may still be required. The City will discuss any property
needs with individual property owners and will provide fair compensation.

Although the Expressway will result in the removal of some of the rehabilitated
floodplain associated with the Rennie Street and Brampton Street Erosion Control and
Leachate Management project, the net result of the Red Hill Valley Project will be a
healthier aquatic ecosystem.

The Project will result in the need to relocate a number of recreation features including
the Red Hill Valley Trail and pedestrian bridges, sections of the Bruce Trail, some
features in the Kings Forest Golf Course and baseball fields in Rosedale Park. Access to
the valley and the trail will be significantly limited during the 2003 to 2007 construction
period. The City will ensure the community is kept informed of trail closures and will
continue to liaise with the Rosedale Community and Golf Course staff and membership.
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Further details on potential impacts to recreational features are found in the Draft
Landscape and Recreation Master Plan and the Golf Course Impact Assessment Study.

Traffic volume on Greenhill Ave. will likely increase as a result of the Greenhill Ave.
Interchange. This traffic will result in noise and air quality effects as well as other
disruption effects such as increased waiting times for access in and out of driveways.
The increase in traffic also poses a potential safety concern for children crossing the road
to get to school. To mitigate this potential impact, the City, in consultation with local
schools and school boards, will develop a streetscaping plan for the extension of
Greenhill Ave. that will include separated sidewalks and appropriate road crossings for
school children. The new interchange design at Greenhill Ave. will also result in slower
traffic speed on the road when compared to the original 1985 design.

The Red Hill Valley Expressway will result in reduced access to the valley for cyclists and
pedestrians coming from the east. Access to the valley will be provided at the Greenhill
Ave. Interchange and through a viaduct at the Escarpment.

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1. Introduction
In May 2002, Dillon was retained by the City of Hamilton to complete a Land Use
Assessment to fulfill the requirements of the Red Hill Creek (RHC) Expressway NorthSouth Section Declaration Order (at the time of the request by the Region, this was called an
Exemption Order 1.)
This document is based on the consultant terms of reference found in Appendix E of the
May 1996 Exemption Order request documentation prepared by the Region of HamiltonWentworth (the Region), Special Projects Office. As per these Terms of Reference, the
focus of the Land Use Assessment is on a review of existing conditions and the
identification of potential impacts of the revised expressway design.
The Land Use Assessment summarizes the potential for impacts on residential, commercial
and industrial land uses as well as recreation and infrastructure. In many cases, the Land Use
Assessment serves as an overview with more detail on potential impacts and proposed
mitigation included in other assessment reports. In particular, this report should be read in
conjunction with the following other reports:
-

Impact Assessment Summary Report


Air Quality Assessment
Traffic Noise Impact Assessment
Escarpment Crossing Visual Impact Assessment
Golf Course Impact Assessment Study
Landscape and Recreation Master Plan
A Stream Network Inventory, Fluvial Geomorphic Assessment, and
Preliminary Natural Channel Design of Red Hill Creek

For the purpose of this report, the Red Hill Valley Project includes the Red Hill Creek
Expressway, an 8 km, four-lane controlled access freeway with a truck-climbing lane
between Greenhill Avenue, Mud Street Interchanges, as well as stormwater management
facilities, a combined sewer overflow pipe and realignment of the Red Hill Creek crossing
using natural channel design.

Background on Red Hill Creek Expressway


Environmental Assessment Work
Environmental Assessment Act Approval for the RHC Expressway was granted by a Joint
Ontario Municipal Board and Environmental Assessment Board in 1985 and later endorsed
by Cabinet in 1987.

The Environmental Assessment Act changed in 1996 and the term exemption order was changed to declaration
order.
1

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In the north-south valley section, construction on two interchanges (King Street and
Queenston Road) was partially completed and the complete TH&B railway crossing was
constructed. In 1990/1991 Provincial funding was withdrawn and, in late 1990,
construction switched to the east-west section of the Expressway. In 1991, the Region
initiated design and construction on the east-west portion of the Expressway. This work
was completed from Highway 403 to Dartnall Road in 1998.
In the early 1990s the Region reviewed alternative alignments for the north-south section
and identified modifications to the approved alignment that reduced the potential for
environmental impacts. When Provincial funding was reinstated in 1995 the Region applied
to the Ministry of the Environment for an exemption from the EA Act for design
modifications to the north-south alignment to reduce overall environmental impacts. As
part of the exemption order submission, the Region proposed a process to assess the
impacts of the modified alignment including a program for public consultation. The process
was approved by the Minister of Environment and Energy in March 1997 as a Declaration
Order.

Purpose of the Land Use Assessment Report


This Land Use Assessment is one of several reports commissioned by the City of Hamilton
(formerly the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth) to complete the impact assessment
submission.
The purpose of this report is to:

Document existing 2 and future land use conditions within the RHC Watershed and
specifically along the Expressway corridor;
Identify potential impacts the Red Hill Valley Project will have on existing and future
land use and identify mitigation where necessary; and
Provide input into the overall impact assessment of the alignment modifications.

Land Use Assessment Study Area


The primary study area for the Land Use Assessment is the RHC Expressway Corridor. The
secondary study area is the RHC Watershed. In the secondary study area, the focus was on
land use changes since the RHC Expressway Impact Assessment and Design Process
undertaken in 1997/1998 and the State of the Watershed report was prepared in 1997.
Both study areas are shown on Figure 1.

For the purpose of this assessment existing land use includes built development as well as approved and draft approved
development. Land use has also been defined to include recreation, open space and infrastructure.
2

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Information Sources
Information on existing and proposed land uses was obtained from the following secondary
sources:

State of the Watershed Report, October 1997


Watershed Action Plan, October 1998
Red Hill Creek Impact Assessment Draft Summary Reports Volumes 1 and 2,
1997/1998
Hamilton-Wentworth Official Plan, December 2000
City of Stoney Creek Official Plan, November 1999
City of Hamilton Official Plan, July 1999
The Corporation of the Township of Glanbrook Official Plan, December 1998
Chippawa Rail Trail Master Plan Hamilton to Caledonia, Hamilton Region Conservation
Authority, January 1998
Mount Albion Conservation Area Master Development Plan, Hamilton Region
Conservation Authority, October 16, 2000
Confederation Park Master Plan, October 1997
Shifting Gears (Hamilton-Wentworth Cycling Plan Pamphlet), 1999
Various secondary and neighbourhood plans
Regional Transportation Review, Final Report, April 1996
Red Hill Creek Expressway North-South Section, Exemption Order, May 1996
Mapping from the City of Stoney Creek Multi-Use Pathway, Pedestrian and Cycling
Route Master Plan Study, June 1995.

In addition, meetings and phone discussions were held with staff at the City of Hamilton,
the district and separate school boards, and the Hamilton Conservation Authority. A full list
of all contacts made with City staff and others is provided in Appendix A. Affidavits from
the federal court case held in 1999 were also referred to for background on the role of the
Red Hill Creek Expressway in Official Plan documents.

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2. Overall Land Use Planning/Policy


There are a number of planning policy initiatives either in place or being developed that
apply to the RHC Watershed as described below.

Historical Official Plans/Transportation Plans


The RHC Expressway has been proposed since the early 1960s as a transportation corridor
to connect Highway 403 to the QEW in the eastern part of Hamilton to serve future
development on the mountain and provide transportation capacity across the escarpment.
Transportation plans in 1960, 1963 and 1973 refer to the need for the expressway. Since
1967, the RHC Expressway has been designated in Official Plans for the City of Hamilton
and Region of Hamilton-Wentworth. Several Official Plan Amendments (OPA) have been
approved expanding the developable area on the west mountain of the former City of
Stoney Creek. Thus, reinforcing the need for additional transportation capacity across the
escarpment into the lower city. The following summarizes the planning history of the
expressway:

City of Hamilton OPA 228 added 9000 acres of land for development on the top of the
mountain south of Mohawk Road in 1967. At this time, the Hamilton Area
Transportation Plan also identified the need for the Red Hill Creek Freeway.
City of Stoney Creek OPA 70 added 2070 acres of land for development in Stoney Creek
in 1973. This OPA was based on improvements to the road system which included the
RHC Expressway. The expressway was to become the west boundary of the west
mountain area of the former City of Stoney Creek. The west mountain planning district
was to be staged based on the development of the expressway.
In 1973, the City of Hamilton decided to take specific actions with respect to the freeway
including acquisition of property and seeking approval for the project and funding.
Between 1973 and 1977, the City of Hamilton prepared development standards to
control the effect of freeway noise at residential properties adjacent to the proposed
expressway.
In 1979, the Region required local municipalities to amend their Official Plans to protect
lands required for future expressway interchanges.
In 1980 Regional Council adopted a new Official Plan which clearly indicated the RHC
Expressway in the regional development pattern.
The 1996 City of Stoney Creek Municipal Housing Statement identified that in order to
meet the City of Stoney Creeks municipal housing policy, full development on the west
mountain was required. This development could only proceed to full build out with the
completion of the RHC expressway.
The 1996 Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Transportation Review incorporates the
North-South section of the RHC Expressway as part of the overall transportation
network. This new facility, previously approved, will provide truck and vehicular access
to new business and commercial developments, provide the essential additional capacity
across the eastern escarpment screenline, facilitate the diversion of vehicular traffic away
from the Central Area and adjacent roads, and provide connections to Highway 403 and

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the QEW. It is an important link in the major Regional Roadway system and relieves
potentially congested conditions along the eastern escarpment crossings. 3
The Hamilton-Wentworth Official Plan (December 2000) and the City of Hamilton
Official Plan (July 1999) both show the Red Hill Creek Expressway in their
transportation schedules. These Official Plans are still being used by the City of
Hamilton until a new Official Plan is prepared.

Vision 2020
Vision 2020 The Sustainable Region was adopted by Regional Council in 1992 as a basis
for regional decision-making in the former Hamilton-Wentworth. The vision statement is an
image of a better community. The vision is based on the following principles taken from the
Vision 2020 Overview:

fulfillment of human needs for peace, clean air and water, food, shelter, education, and
useful and satisfying employment;
maintenance of ecological integrity through careful stewardship, rehabilitation, reduction
in wastes and protection of diverse and important natural species and systems;
provision for self-determination through public involvement in the definition and
development of local solutions to environmental and development problems; and,
achievement of equity with the fairest possible sharing of limited resources among
contemporaries and between our generation and that of our descendants.

Vision 2020 - A Vision of a More Sustainable Future also discusses the future vision for
transportation which includes the vision that major roads have minimal noise and pollution
impacts on adjacent lands, and follow routes that cause little damage to the natural and
human environment.
Future development in the city (and study areas) is to be conducted in a manner that is
consistent with the goals of Vision 2020.

New City of Hamilton Official Plan


In 2001, the municipalities in the former Region of Hamilton-Wentworth were amalgamated
into the City of Hamilton. The process for creating a new Official Plan for the City of
Hamilton is underway although the timeline for completion has not been determined. The
City is currently using the Official Plans from the former municipalities. For the Red Hill
Valley Project Land Use Assessment, this includes the following OPs:

Hamilton-Wentworth Official Plan, December 2000


City of Stoney Creek Official Plan, November 1999
City of Hamilton Official Plan, July 1999
The Corporation of the Township of Glanbrook Official Plan, December 1998

1996 Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Transportation Review, P. 32.


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City of Hamilton Parks, Culture and Recreation Master


Plan
A process to develop a Parks, Culture & Recreation Master Plan is currently underway. The
Plan will provide the vision and scope of Parks, Culture & Recreation services in the City of
Hamilton for the next 10 years. The Master Plan is not expected to go to the level of detail
of identifying new parks or recreation facilities. Rather, it will set standards for how
decisions are made on what new facilities are needed and where they should be located. The
Master Plan is formulated around the following high level strategic directions:

Rationalize policies
Reconcile the approach to financing services
Enhance management of information systems
Enhance community capacity and effectiveness
Shift from direct delivery to a community development approach
Increase community capacity through alternative service delivery
Public opportunities take precedence over opportunities for organized groups
Celebrate our natural and historic assets
Focus on active living for 6-18 year olds
Focus on cultural tourism and eco-tourism
Reinvest in existing parks and recreation infrastructure over building new infrastructure
Fewer but larger facilities
Expanding community services in culture and recreation facilities

Red Hill Creek Watershed Plan


In 1997, the former Region of Hamilton-Wentworth completed the State of the Watershed
Report for the Red Hill Creek Watershed. This report documented key baseline information
about the Red Hill Creek Watershed including: soils and geology, groundwater, surface
water, streams, fisheries, terrestrial resources, water quality, contaminants, air quality, land
use, trails/open space and recreation and cultural heritage.
This document was followed up in 1998 with the Red Hill Creek Watershed Action Plan.
The RHC Watershed Action Plan did not address specific development within the
watershed, rather it established the issues that need to be addressed and goals and objectives
in six theme areas. Specific actions that could be taken by stakeholders to address these
issues were then identified.
Both these documents provide the basis for understanding the potential impacts of the RHC
Expressway and other projects at a watershed level.
The City is currently undertaking a subwatershed plan for Davis Creek - one of the Red Hill
Creek tributaries. Phase 1 of this study is complete and involved a baseline inventory and
the characterization of the subwatershed. Future work over the next year or two is expected
to take a more detailed took at subwatershed issues.

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Environmental Health and Safety Integrated


Management System
The City is currently developing an Environmental Health and Safety Integrated
Management System with the goal of corporate registration under ISO 14000 and
ISO 18000. This is a leading edge initiative as no other municipality has integrated
environmental and health and safety on a corporate-wide level.
A corporate environmental policy statement was approved in December of 2001. The first
phase of the project will be to develop an integrated management system framework for the
Transportation, Operations and Environment Department.
The result of these efforts will be to raise the awareness of environmental and health and
safety issues within the municipality. This will improve overall environmental performance
at the corporate level and at the project level.
An Environmental Management Plan specific to the Red Hill Valley Project will be
developed to guide design, construction, maintenance, operations and monitoring of the
project.

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3. Review of Existing And Future Land


Uses
The following provides a summary of existing land uses, including built, approved and draft
approved developments, as well as future land uses as reflected through current official plans
and discussions with City of Hamilton Planning staff.
This land use review was undertaken for the primary and secondary study areas shown in
Figure 1. Within each of these study areas, the land use review is organized on the basis of
the following geographic limits:

Primary Study Area Red Hill Creek Expressway Corridor

Lower Section - Along the RHC Expressway corridor from the mouth of Red Hill Creek to
Barton Street East
Middle Section - Along the RHC Expressway corridor from Barton Street to King Street
East
Upper Section - Along the RHC Expressway corridor from King Street East to the Lincoln
Alexander Parkway/Mud Street

Secondary Study Area Red Hill Creek Watershed

Lower Section (Incorporates the primary study area above)


Mountain Section East
Mountain Section West

The focus of the assessment was on lands in the vicinity of the north-south uncompleted
portion of the RHC Expressway (primary study area). However, both existing and future
land use in the larger RHC watershed was also examined as per the requirements of the EA
Declaration Order. Figure 2 provides a detailed presentation of land uses (existing and
future) for lands in the primary study area adjacent to the RHC Valley and Expressway.
Figure 3 illustrates existing and future land uses within the RHC watershed. Both
Figures 2 and 3 were based on the existing land use conditions documented in the State of
the Watershed Report (1997) and supplemented with more up-to-date information from City
Staff. For much of the watershed, the existing land use information from the 1997 report
has not significantly changed.
Existing and future urban land use, as well as recreation features and infrastructure for both
the primary and secondary study areas is described in the following sections of this report.

Primary Study Area Red Hill Creek Expressway Corridor


The following provides an overview description of existing and future land uses,
infrastructure and recreation features within the primary study area. These land uses are
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shown in Figure 2. Table 1 provides the status of approved, but not yet built, and future
(i.e. not yet approved) residential and commercial/industrial development in the primary
study area 4.

Lower Section
Urban Land Use
The lower reaches of the RHC Valley contain largely industrial and commercial land uses as
well as major transportation facilities such as the QEW. There is a small residential
development (Parkview East) located west of the valley and north of Barton St. East. No
urban development projects were identified in this section through discussions with City
staff.
In the year 2001, the City of Hamilton initiated the Environmental Remediation and Site
Enhancement (ERASE) Community Improvement Project. This project is a comprehensive
set of programs designed to encourage and promote brownfield redevelopment in the older
industrial area of the City. A portion of the ERASE Community Improvement Project Area
is within the Red Hill Creek Watershed. Under the 10 year ERASE program the City
provides grants, as well as other services, to property owners who undertake brownfield
redevelopment.
As of Spring 2002, there was one application for ERASE funding within the primary study
area, west of Red Hill Valley. This application involves the redevelopment of 3 acres of
property South of Barton Street East, west of Woodward Ave. from industrial to
industrial/commercial. According to the Brownfield Development Coordinator at the City
of Hamilton Economic Development Department, it is expected that the majority of the
redevelopment will be from industrial lands to industrial/commercial lands and that there
will be no residential applications within the lower section of the Red Hill Creek Watershed.
Infrastructure
Existing infrastructure in this lower section of the primary study area includes: the sanitary
sewer along the valley terminating at the Woodward Avenue Treatment Plant; a hydro line
along Brampton Street; a hydro line north of the QEW in the vicinity of the proposed
interchange; and the main water intake for the City that crosses the QEW.

Information on development and status is current to Spring 2002.


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Table 1: Existing and Future Land Use


Primary Study Area Red Hill Creek Expressway Corridor (North-South Section) 1

Figure 2
Reference

Development
Name

Nature of Development

Status

Comments/Related
Issues

Approved Development
1

Jacksons
Landing

Type: Townhouses; long term care


facility

Draft Approved
Site plan application has
been submitted for long term
care facility.

2
3

Nash Orchard
Lands
Albion Mills
Estates

Type: primarily single family residential

Townhouses under
construction
Draft Plan approved.

Type: single family residential on large


lots

Currently being constructed


or constructed

Red Hill Vista

Type: medium density residential

Draft Approved

Ready for
construction.

Timing is tied to timing of Red


Hill Creek Expressway
Future Development
A

Silvestri

Type: mix of single family residential


and street townhouses

Draft Plan and zoning


expected in the near future

Information is current to Spring 2002.

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Currently up for sale

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Table 1: Existing and Future Land Use


Primary Study Area Red Hill Creek Expressway Corridor (North-South Section) 1

Figure 2
Reference

Development
Name

Nature of Development
Type: primarily single family residential

Heritage
Green
Downtown
Core

Type: mix of commercial, industrial, high


density residential. Part of area is
identified as a Special Policy Area in the
Neighborhood Plan.

Status
Designated in the
neighbourhood plan but no
development applications
No development applications
submitted
Timing is tied to timing of Red
Hill Creek Expressway
Secondary Plan required
because of Specific Policy
Area C

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Comments/Related
Issues

Lands are owned by


Ontario Realty
Corporation and are
currently for sale.

Page 12

The following changes to existing infrastructure and utilities will be made as a result of the
Expressway:

the Brampton Street hydro line will be raised;


some hydro towers will require relocation along the QEW hydro line;
a temporary diversion of the CNR rail line at Bancroft Street on the west side of the
valley will be constructed to facilitate construction of the new railway structure;
sections of the sanitary sewer in the vicinity of Barton Ave. will be relocated;
Nash Road just south of Brampton Street will be relocated and will terminate at
Brampton Street; and
stormwater management ponds will be put in place for the Expressway as required.

There are a number of other City lead infrastructure related proposals in the lower section of
the primary study area as follows:

Woodward Avenue Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrades The Woodward Avenue Sewage
Treatment Plant treats combined flows and discharges into Red Hill Creek. There have
been numerous upgrades to the Treatment Plant over the last few years to improve the
efficiency of the treatment system and the quality of the effluent. Currently, there is an
expansion underway to the primary treatment system at the plant that would ensure a
minimum of primary treatment in the event of a bypass due to high storm flows.
The City has also initiated a Wastewater Investment, Needs and Strategies Program
(WINS). This is a major Master Plan initiative that will review the sewage collection and
wet weather treatment strategies in the City to identify the most appropriate
infrastructure improvements to meet Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan
guidelines. It is anticipated that the Master Plan exercise, and related consultation, will
occur over the next 1-2 years. Implementation of the projects recommended by the
Master Plan is likely to occur over a minimum of 10 years depending on the availability
of financing.

Rennie/Brampton Street Landfill Remediation The closed Rennie and Brampton Street
landfills are located on the west side of the valley just south of Barton Street. Dumping
at the Rennie Street Landfill appears to have started in the 1950s and the site contains
approximately 400,000 cubic metres of waste. The Brampton Street Landfill was
operated by the City in the 1950s and 60s for the disposal of municipal and industrial
solid waste. It was closed in 1974 and contains approximately 1,000,000 cubic metres of
waste. The eastern slopes of these landfills form the west bank of Red Hill Creek.
In response to concerns related to erosion of the valley sides (which contain landfilled
waste), failure of the landfill side slopes and resultant creek contamination, an
environmental assessment for erosion control and leachate management was undertaken
by the City. As a result of this work, which included significant consultation with the
local community, plans were developed to install leachate interceptor pipes to collect and
dispose of the leachate that seeps through the banks, and to prevent erosion by redefining the floodplain of the creek and relocating the creek in the area of the landfills.
This work is currently in the implementation phase and was completed for the Rennie
Street Landfill in October 2002 and is expected to be completed for the Brampton Street
Landfill in mid-2003. The Expressway construction will overlap with some of the works
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already done at the Rennie Street landfill and will require excavation of waste and off-site
disposal at another landfill.

Red Hill Creek Sewer Trunk Line Capacity Review The Red Hill Trunk Sewer currently
extends up the valley from the Woodard Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant to
approximately Mud Street. This trunk sewer services almost all of the developed lands in
the watershed. Through discussions with the Citys Infrastructure and Environmental
Planning Group, it was identified that there may be a need to expand the capacity of the
trunk sewer to service future new development. The need for additional capacity is
currently being reviewed. If additional capacity is required, an environmental assessment
will have to be completed. The environmental assessment will evaluate different ways to
provide additional capacities, including different locations.

Recreation/Open Space
Globe Park, VanWagners Beach and Confederation Park Conservation Area are the key
existing parks in this section. There is also a small locally significant city park, called Leaside
Park, southeast of the Burlington Street/QEW interchange. The former City of Hamilton
Official Plan identifies the area at the mouth of Red Hill Creek as the Red Hill Creek Marsh,
Van Wagners Marsh Environmentally Significant Area. These are also provincially
significant wetlands. This area, along with the rest of the valley, is designated as Open
Space in the former City of Hamilton Official Plan.
In 1997, the Hamilton Conservation Authority completed a Master Plan for Confederation
Park Conservation Area. The Master Plan looked at all aspects of park development and
improvement including recreation, economics and ecosystem. The Plan, which focused on
the development of goals and objectives rather than specific projects, was carried out with
the knowledge of the proposed Red Hill Creek Expressway construction. Within the park is
the Breezeway which is part of the Waterfront Trail. In addition, there is a side trail that
travels along Van Wagners Marsh. The approximate location of both trails are shown on
Figure 2.
The Cycling Plan for the former Region of Hamilton-Wentworth, approved in 1999 shows a
future on-street bike path, to be implemented by 2008, along Woodward Avenue from
Melvin Avenue north to the waterfront. There is also an existing multi-use trail within the
valley which crosses the Creek at approximately Brampton Street. Access to this trail is
currently limited due to the works associated with the Erosion Control and Leachate
Management Project for the Rennie Street and Brampton Street Landfills. It should be
noted that the City is currently in the process of revisiting their major cycling projects to
confirm their feasibility, appropriateness within the cycling network, and timing.
In the year 2000, City Council approved the designation of Windemere Basin as
predominately Open Space and Open Water in the Official Plan and recognized the
Basin as an important brownfield restoration initiative. A design workshop of landscape
architects, urban planners, architects, ecologists, local community leaders, business
representatives and elected officials was convened to generate ideas for the restoration of the
basin. Implementation of the design and construction phase of this project is tied to
SuperBuild funding.
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From north of the CNR tracks south to the Niagara Escarpment, the Red Hill Creek will be
realigned. The rationale for realigning the creek is documented in the fluvial geomorphology
report. For the most part, the realigned creek will be west of the Expressway with the
exception of a small section between the CNR tracks and Barton Street. The creek will be
reconstruction using natural channel design. The work will be scheduled to avoid sensitive
fish spawning seasons and to coincide with the construction of the Expressway to minimize
impacts in the valley.

Middle Section
Urban Land Use
From Barton Street to King Street, lands adjacent to the RHC Valley are largely residential
with open space lands within the valley. There are four schools on the west side of the
valley within the primary study area and six schools to the east. Capture areas for three of
these schools (Glen Echo Elementary School, Hillsdale Elementary School and Hillcrest
Middle School) cross the Red Hill Creek Expressway corridor. Barton Street East, Melvin
Avenue and Queenston Road are the likely streets students currently use to cross over the
Red Hill Valley.
For the most part, these lands are built-up with little or no potential for significant new land
development opportunities. City planning staff (Development Planning Section East)
were not aware of any pending development applications for this area.
Infrastructure
Existing infrastructure in this location includes the previously mentioned sanitary trunk
sewer along the Valley. No change to the alignment of the sewer in this section is
anticipated. As with the lower section, stormwater management ponds for the Expressway
will be constructed as required in this section.
A CSO overflow pipe is proposed from just south of the CNR tracks to just south of King
Street (see Figure 2). This pipe will collect combined sewer overflows from four combined
sewers outletting to the Red Hill Creek. The pipe will connect with the existing sanitary
sewer just immediately south of the CN rail line. An EA for this project was completed and
the design for this pipe has been fully integrated into the design for the RHC Expressway.
Construction will be initiated to coincide with Expressway construction. The construction
of this pipe will reduce the number of times CSO pollution reaches the Red Hill Creek from
20-27 to approximately 2 times per year 5.
Roadway changes in this section as a result of the RHC Expressway include:

Closure of Melvin Avenue at Talbot Road west of the valley.


Closure of Talbot Road to Barton Street.
Closure of Pottruff Road just south of Barton Street.

Red Hill Creek Expressway North-South Section, Impact Assessment & Design Process Draft Summary Report,
Volume 2, July 1998, pg. 4 of Executive Summary.
5

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Page 15

Recreation/Open Space
Throughout this section the former City of Hamilton Official Plan identifies the valley as the
Red Hill Valley Environmentally Significant Area. The Red Hill Valley Trail is an existing
multi-purpose trail that runs along the valley throughout this section (see Figure 2). For the
most part it runs along the west side of the creek. The trail was reconstructed about four
years ago with the knowledge that some sections would require relocation once the RHC
Expressway was constructed. In addition, trail relocation will be required in areas of creek
realignment. The trail relocation is being undertaken as part of the RHC Expressway
project.
In terms of future recreation features, the 1999 Cycling Plan identifies an on-street bicycle
path on King Street East to complete the continuous Dundas-Lower Hamilton-Stoney
Creek Route. No design or construction schedule for this on-street bike path has been
developed, but its development will likely be timed to coincide with other works on King
Street East. The partial construction of the King Street East/RHC Expressway interchange
was designed to accommodate a wider shared lane for the bike path. The landscape plan for
the RHC Expressway will also identify a streetscaping plan for King Street East within the
interchange.
As with the lower section, the Red Hill Creek will be realigned between Barton and King
Streets.

Upper Section
Urban Land Use
The upper section of the Valley extends from King Street to the Mud Street Interchange.
Lands at the top of the valley in this section are residential with the eastern side being much
closer to the proposed Expressway than the west side. As with previous sections, these
residential lands are largely built-out with limited potential for new residential development.
There are three schools close to the valley edge on the east side. One of these schools,
Bishop Ryan Catholic High School has a large student capture zone that includes areas on
the west side of the valley. Students may use any number of streets to cross the valley
including King Street, Queenston Road and Barton Street.
Within this area, City Planning Staff identified seven small development parcels as shown on
Figure 2 and listed in Table 1. Four of these parcels are adjacent to the Expressway.

Albion Mills Estate - a 52 lot single-family residential development currently being


constructed (#3 on Figure 2).
Red Hill Vista - a medium density 126-unit townhouse development which has received
draft approval (#4 on Figure 3).
Silvestri - a proposed development with a mix of single-family residential and townhouse
units. A draft plan for this area is still pending (A on Figure 3).
Area designated for single-family residential on the approved neighbourhood plan (B on
Figure 3).
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Page 16

Heritage Green Downtown Core - This area, at the Mud Street interchange, is planned
to include a mix of commercial, industrial and high density residential. No development
applications for this area have been submitted (C on Figure 3).

The timing of both Red Hill Vista and the Heritage Green downtown core is tied to
construction of the RHC Expressway.
Infrastructure
Existing infrastructure in this section includes the previously mentioned sanitary sewer
which runs up the valley and a hydro line and a TransNorthern Pipeline which run up the
valley between approximately Greenhill Ave. and the Lincoln Alexander Parkway. As a
result of the completion of the RHC Expressway, one section of the Trans Northern
pipeline (where the Expressway crosses the pipeline) will have to be diverted. The pipeline
will be lowered at two locations and one Hydro tower will have to be relocated. A section of
the Trans Northern pipeline will also have to be lowered to cross under the Red Hill Creek.
This work will take place before the realigned creek is established.
On the west side of the valley, immediately north of Greenhill Avenue is an existing
combined sewer overflow (CSO) tank (see Figure 2). The addition of a second CSO tank at
Greenhill Avenue has been approved through the Class EA process and is scheduled for
construction in 2002/2003. The new tank, to be located immediately south of the existing
tank, will have approximately the same capacity as the existing tank but will have a larger
footprint due to its design.
In 1997, the Montgomery Creek Class EA was completed. The Class EA recommended a
stormwater management facility and stabilization of the Creek within the Glendale Golf and
Country Club. Construction of these works was complete in May 2002.
As with the other sections, stormwater management ponds for the Expressway will be
constructed as required in this section. A stormwater overflow area just north of Greenhill
Ave. on the west side of the valley will also be constructed.
Roadway changes in the upper section of the primary study area as a result of the RHC
Expressway include:

Closure of Mount Albion Road just south of the Glendale Golf and County Club access.
Closure of Mud Street on the west side of the valley.
Closure of Mud Street on the east side of the valley (except for pedestrian/cyclist access
to valley trails).

Recreation/Open Space
As shown on Figure 2 lands adjacent to the Valley in this section are largely open space
including a number of parks (Rosedale Park, Kings Forest Park, Glencastle Park), the Kings
Forest Golf Course and the Glendale Golf and Country Club. The former City of Hamilton
Official Plan identifies the valley in this area as Red Hill Creek Environmentally Significant
Area. The Red Hill Valley Trail, a multi-purpose trail, extends along the valley and connects
in with a number of trails, including the Bruce Trail, on top of the escarpment. The
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Page 17

Escarpment Rail Trail/Chippawa Rail Trail goes along the west side of the valley and
continues south of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway.
There are four existing baseball diamonds in Rosedale Park on the west side of the valley,
north of Greenhill Avenue (see Figure 2). These diamonds will need to be removed to
accommodate the realignment of Red Hill Creek and the Red Hill Valley Trail as well as the
stormwater management overflow area mention above. There were three soccer fields in the
valley to the east of the creek in Glencastle Park (south of Greenhill Avenue). These have
been relocated to nearby schools to accommodate stormwater management facilities for the
Expressway. In addition to potential recreation effects from the RHC Expressway project,
three ball diamonds on the west side of the valley, south of Greenhill Ave. and 4-6
underused tennis courts will be affected by the construction of the Greenhill CSO tanks.
Some of these recreation features will be replaced as part of the CSO project.
Red Hill Creek will be realigned in this section to a point just north of the existing Bruce
Trail where it will return to its current alignment.

Secondary Study Area - Red Hill Creek Watershed


The following provides a description of existing and future land uses, infrastructure and
recreation features in the larger watershed. The watershed has been divided into three
sections: Lower, Mountain East and Mountain West. The Lower section of the watershed
essentially covers the same geographic area that is included in the primary study area.
Existing and future land uses in this area are discussed in Section 3 of this report and
therefore are not repeated here. The following subsections describe the Mountain East and
Mountain West areas. For the purposes of this report, the division between the Mountain
East and Mountain West sections approximates the former municipal boundaries. Mountain
West, encompasses watershed lands within the former City of Hamilton; Mountain East
encompasses watershed lands within the former municipalities of Stoney Creek and
Glanbrook.
Table 2 lists the existing (approved) future land use developments in the Secondary Study
Area (Mountain East and West sections only)6. This information is cross-referenced to
Figure 3.

Mountain East Section of the Watershed


Urban Land Use
The Mountain East section7 of the watershed contains a variety of existing land uses
including residential subdivisions, commercial, some open space, vacant lands and some
industrial uses such as the Taro Quarry that is currently used for the landfilling of industrial,
commercial and institutional wastes.

Information is current to Spring 2002.


7 The former City of Stoney Creek Official Plan refers to this area as the West Mountain Planning District.

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Page 18

This area of the watershed provides the greatest opportunity for new development as there
exists tracts of vacant land located within the urban boundary that have been designated for
development in the Official Plan. Figure 3 provides information on the location, character
and status of the approved and future development in this section of the watershed.
Table 2 corresponds to the figure and provides the status of approved (but not yet built)
and future (i.e. not yet approved) residential and commercial/industrial development. Most
of the lands in this area are part of the Heritage Green Secondary Plan Neighbourhood.
Within the Heritage Green Secondary Plan there are six neighbourhoods and for each
neighbourhood the City has prepared a neighbourhood plan documenting the type of
development that is to occur in these areas. No development applications have been
submitted for the largest neighbourhoods (Nash, Felker and Trinity Neighbourhoods, A, B
and C on Figure 3). It is noted that much of the land in the Heritage Green area is owned
by the Ontario Realty Corporation. The timing of further development in the Heritage
Green Secondary Plan area is dependent on the construction of the RHC Expressway. As
an example, there is currently a cap of 21,500 residents within the Heritage Green Secondary
Plan for which the current population is about 18,000 residents. This cap will remain in
place until the Expressway is constructed. The ultimate population for this area is estimated
to be in approximately 31,000.
The Nash Neighbourhood includes the Taro Quarry. The portion of the quarry lands west
of 1st Road West is designated for recreation/open space development. Development of
this area is pending the completion of a closure plan for the quarry lands. The most recent
proposal for this area was a golf course, but plans fell through. The quarry lands between 1st
Road, west of Highway 20, are being used for the landfilling of industrial, commercial and
institutional wastes. This landfill, approved in the mid to late 1990s, is licensed for 10
million tonnes of waste.
The area identified as Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) #9 (Area E on Figure 3),
requires the expansion of the urban area to the south of Rymal Road East. Approximately
half of this land parcel sits within the headwaters of the RHC watershed. The Secondary
Plan for this area was recently approved by the OMB and a draft development plan has been
submitted. It is anticipated that the earliest timing for construction in the ROPA # 9 lands
is 2004. Development of the lands is contingent on servicing and development beyond 500
units is contingent on transportation capacity provided by construction of the Red Hill
Creek Expressway and the widening of Rymal Road, the extension of Trinity Church Road
and other transportation initiatives. The ultimate population of this area is estimated at
9,600 residents.
Further to the west of the ROPA #9 area is the North Glanbrook Business Park. Although
this area is currently used for agricultural purposes, it has been designated for future
industrial and commercial uses. The areas designation is under review.

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Table 2: Existing And Future Land Use


Secondary Study Area Red Hill Creek Watershed1

Figure 3
Reference

Development
Name

Nature of Development

Status

Comments/Related
Issues

Approved Development
1

Albion 2

Type: mix of single family


residential and medium to mediumhigh density

Templemead Vista

Type: single family residential

The Gardens of
Rymal
25T88037)
Falconstone
Estates/Rose
Gardens
(25T89032,
25T94001,
25T89029)
James Mount
Gardens/ Dicenzo
Gardens
(25T86008,
25T94001,
25T89029

Type: Mix of single family


residential and medium density

Type: Mix of single family


residential and medium-high density

Type: Primarily single family


residential

Draft Approved
Construction timing is tied
to timing of Red Hill
Creek Expressway
Draft Approved 2002
Some built. Phase 6
received final approval
2002.
Falconstone Estates
received final approval in
1999, Rose Gardens
Phase 3 draft approved
1990, Timothy Survey
final approval 1998
Dicenzo Gardens
Subdivision agreement
1987. Other phases still
active. 25T91007
received draft approval in
1998.

Information is current to Spring 2002.

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Creek Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Land is owned by
Ontario Realty
Corporation

New school also


proposed

Page 20

Table 2: Existing And Future Land Use


Secondary Study Area Red Hill Creek Watershed1

Figure 3
Reference

Development
Name

Nature of Development

Status

Miles Estates

Type: single family dwelling

Draft Approved 2000

Effort
Gardens/Wellington
Meadows
25T88035,
25T88036,
25T97004
Blossom Estates
(25T88028)
Westview Estates

Type: single family residential

Final plan of subdivision


approved in 1999 (Effort
Gardens)

Type: single family residential

Draft Approved 1989

Type: single family residential

Final Approval 1998

7
8

Type: single family residential

Draft Plan Approved 1992

10

Fontana Gardens
(25T88016,
25T94012)
Parkway Manor

Type: single family residential

Draft Approved 1999

11

Chappel Estates

Type: single family dwelling


Type: single family dwelling

12

Chappel East
Estates Phase 1
Sandrina Gardens

Going to Council for draft


approval June 2002
Draft Approved 1999

Type: single family

N/A

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Creek Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Comments/Related
Issues

Page 21

Table 2: Existing And Future Land Use


Secondary Study Area Red Hill Creek Watershed1

Figure 3
Reference

Development
Name

Nature of Development

Status

Comments/Related
Issues

Future Development
A

Nash
Neighbourhood

Felker
Neighbourhood

Trinity
Neighbourhood

Type: primarily single family


residential with some medium/high
density, commercial and large
parkland/open space. Taro Quarry
is identified as a special policy area
in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Secondary Plan
completed not approved

Type: primarily single family


residential with some medium
density. Estimated population of
3,793.

No development
applications submitted

Type: Mix of land uses. Estimate


population increase of 5,598.

Any development is on
hold until future of
quarry is determined

No development
applications submitted

Timing is tied to timing of


Red Hill Creek
Expressway
No development
applications submitted
Neighbourhood Plan will
require changes as a
result of identified Karst
features
Timing is tied to timing of
Red Hill Creek
Expressway

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Creek Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

1/3 of Lands are owned


by Ontario Realty
Corporation

Lands are owned by


Ontario Realty
Corporation

Page 22

Table 2: Existing And Future Land Use


Secondary Study Area Red Hill Creek Watershed1

Figure 3
Reference
D

Development
Name
NA

Nature of Development
Type: primarily serviced commercial
(in the former municipality of Stoney
Creek) and industrial (in the former
municipality of Hamilton)

ROPA #9

Type: primarily single family


residential and low-medium density
residential with some commercial
along Rymal Road. Estimated
population of 9,660.

Status
No development
applications submitted
Timing is tied to timing of
Red Hill Creek
Expressway
Secondary plan recently
approved by OMB
Draft plan recently
submitted
If draft plan is approved
construction could begin
in 2004

Comments/Related
Issues
Lands are owned by
Ontario Realty
Corporation
Lands cross former City
of Hamilton Stoney
Creek boundary
This development area
represents an
expansion to the urban
boundary. A new trunk
sewer along Rymal
road and 4 stormwater
manage-ment facilities
will be required to
service this
development.
Timing beyond 500
units is dependent on
the RHC Expressway
and other transportation
initiatives.

North Glanbrook
Business Park

Portions of this business park along


Nebo Road are already built the
remainder has not yet been
developed

Lands are designated as


a business park in the
Glanbrook Official Plan
(Draft approved)

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Page 23

Table 2: Existing And Future Land Use


Secondary Study Area Red Hill Creek Watershed1

Figure 3
Reference

Development
Name

Nature of Development
Portion of land zoned for future
retirement village. Remainder is
future school site and park
Probable site for future subdivision
of single family dwellings.

Future commercial development

Currently agricultural land

Country Garden
Estates Phase 1

Type: single family dwelling


townhouses

Status
No applications

No applications
Land is designated as
single and double
residential in approved
neighbourhood plan.
Rezoning would be
required.
No applications
Neighbourhood plan
indicates commercial
No development
applications
Approval denied by
Council in 2001 but has
been appealed to OMB

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Creek Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Comments/Related
Issues

Page 24

Infrastructure
Infrastructure projects in this section relate primarily to the Expressway and ROPA #9 and
include:

The construction of a sanitary trunk sewer along Rymal Road East to connect the ROPA
#9 area with the RHC sewer trunk.
The extension of Trinity Church Road (four lanes), which defines the western boundary
of ROPA #9, from Rymal Road East to north of the RHC Expressway terminus. Tied
to this would be the closing of Pritchard Road, located to the west of the proposed
Trinity Church Road extension. This roadway extension has been included in the
Heritage Green Secondary Plan.
The widening of Rymal Road to four lanes from Upper Centennial Parkway to Trinity
Church Road.
Upgrading of upper Mount Albion Road from Paramount Drive to Rymal Road.

The need for these improvements is tied to the development of ROPA #9. Environmental
Assessment approvals are required for all of the above projects.
Recreation/Open Space
In March 2001 the City completed a report titled Evaluation of The Eramosa Karst in
Stoney Creek, Ontario as a Candidate for an ESA and ANSI. This report documents that
lands bounded by Highland Road, Second Road West, Rymal Road and Upper Mount
Albion Road contain numerous diverse Karst features several of which are provincially
significant. The Karst type and the various provincially significant features identified in the
Eramosa Karst are not currently represented anywhere else in Ontario. As such, the report
recommends the designation of the area as an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) and
an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). The report recommends boundaries for
the ESA and ANSI based on protecting the core area where the majority of the Karst
features are located, the feeder area where the watersheds drain into the Karst features and
two significant springs in the developed area on the north side of Highland Road. Figure 3
shows the proposed boundaries of the Karst at the time this report was prepared.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is undertaking a process to designate the Eramosa Karst
as an ANSI and hopes to complete the designation in 2002. City staff indicated that the City
will initiate the process of designating the area as an ESA in the Official Plan after the
Ministry of Natural Resources ANSI designation process is complete. The boundaries of
the Karst are likely to be revised as a result of consultation conducted as part of the ESA
designation process. Once this area is designated, the Trinity Neighbourhood Plan as well as
the Secondary Plan for ROPA #9 may have to be revised to accommodate the ESA
designation.

Mountain West Section of the Watershed


Urban Land Use
The Mountain West section of the watershed is much more developed than the Mountain
East section. The area is primarily built-out residential lands with small shopping plazas and
commercial areas (including the Limeridge Mall), community parks and recreation features,
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Page 25

schools and Mohawk College. Also within the Mountain West section of the watershed is
the Mountain Business Park (see Figure 3 for location). There are some vacant
commercial/industrial parcels of land within this business park. For the most part, lands
with opportunity for future development are located south of the Lincoln Alexander
Parkway. As shown on Figure 3, vacant land parcels in this area are much smaller than in
the Mountain East section. Much of the available land for development has been approved.
Infrastructure
There are two infrastructure projects in this area that have, or will have, a positive impact on
the Red Hill Creek. In 1999, the City completed a leachate collection system and associated
slope stabilization works at the Upper Ottawa Street Landfill that abuts Red Hill Creek at
approximately Dartnall Road. This project involved the construction of a retaining
wall/slope stabilization along approximately 800 850 metres of the creek. A Class EA has
been initiated for stormwater management at Albion Falls. Construction of stormwater
management works, resulting from this Class EA, is scheduled for 2003. No other major
infrastructure initiatives within this section of the watershed were identified that would act
cumulatively with the RHC Expressway.
Recreation/Open Space
The Chippawa Rail Trail is a continuation of the Escarpment Rail Trail (shown on Figure 3)
It goes from approximately Stone Church Rd at Dartnall Road south to the community of
Caledonia.
Just south of the RHC Expressway is the Mount Albion Conservation Area (see Figure 3).
A Master Development Plan has been prepared for this 41 ha parcel of land. As outlined in
this plan, a network of walking trails have been proposed that extend up to the south side of
the Lincoln Alexander Parkway. The timing of the development of these trails hinges on the
availability of funding. The Hamilton Region Conservation Authority is also in the process
of trying to identify a site for an outdoor education centre in the east end of their
jurisdiction. The Red Hill Valley has been identified as the most preferred location. The
Mount Albion Conservation Area is also being considered as an alternate location. The
education centre is to be in place by Fall 2003 however, its timing is dependent on receiving
sufficient funding.

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4. Impact Assessment and Mitigation


The land use assessment report examined two types of potential impact:

direct and indirect effects of the Red Hill Valley Project construction and operation on
existing and future land uses in the primary study area the Red Hill Creek Valley;
other developments within the watershed that have the potential to result in watershed
impacts (either on their own or cumulatively with the effects from the Red Hill Valley
Project).

The potential direct and indirect effects of the Red Hill Valley Project construction and
operation on existing and future land uses are summarized in Table 3. Mitigation is
proposed for each of the potential impacts identified. Table 3 also documents the
approximate cost for mitigating the potential land use impacts where estimates can be made
at this time. Updated costs will be provided in the future design report. The following text
summarizes these potential impacts and mitigation and discusses other developments within
the watershed that may on their own or cumulatively with the Expressway impact the Red
Hill Creek watershed.
It should be noted that to understand the full potential impact of the Red Hill Valley Project,
this report should be read in conjunction with the other assessment reports being prepared.
In many cases, these other assessment reports provide more detail on potential impacts and
proposed mitigation.

Red Hill Valley Project


For the most part, completion of Expressway construction itself will not result in
displacement of urban areas, with the exception of the need to purchase some industrial
lands at the north end of the valley. Other components of the Red Hill Valley Project (i.e.
the realignment of the Red Hill Creek and the Red Hill Valley Trail) however, may
necessitate the purchase of additional land by the City. The need for any additional lands
will be determined during detailed design and landowners will be fairly compensated.
Some recreational features within the valley will be displaced or disrupted. The Red Hill
Valley Trail requires realignment for much of its length mostly due to the Red Hill Creek
realignment. The ultimate location of the Red Hill Valley Trail, including access points, will
be determined as part of the Landscape and Recreation Master Plan. The ultimate design of
the Red Hill Valley Trail must also consider the removal of existing trail sections that will no
longer be used. A new location for the Bruce Trail is being proposed. The Bruce Trail is
proposed to cross under the expressway viaduct at the base of the escarpment. The trail will
also be relocated in the Kings Forest Area at the base of the escarpment. Valley trails will be
temporarily unavailable during construction (from 2003 to 2007). The construction of the
expressway at the south end should also consider any potential for impact to the Chippewa
Trail at Stone Church Road.

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Page 27

TABLE 3 POTENTIAL LAND USE IMPACTS OF COMPLETION OF THE RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT AND PROPOSED MITIGATION
Issue
Existing
Development

Impact (Without
Mitigation)

Mitigation and Costs

Increased noise and reduced


air quality along the RHC
Expressway corridor where
expressway is closest to
existing development.

Refer to Air Quality Assessment for


potential air quality mitigation.

See the Air Quality Assessment and the Design Report.

Noise mitigation is being developed as


part of the detailed design and will be
documented in the design report.

See Noise Assessment.

Refer to Noise Assessment


and Air Quality Assessment.
Potential for visual and
aesthetic
impacts
for
residents in the area. Refer
to The Visual Assessment
Escarpment Crossing.

Future
Development

School
Crossings

Refer to Noise Assessment


Report
and
Air
Quality
Assessment. Disruption to
approved
and
future
developments as a result of
noise, air quality.

Allows
approved
development in the west
mountain of the former City of
Stoney
Creek
to
be
constructed.
Changes
in
traffic
at
interchanges for students
who have to cross to attend
school on the other side of
the Valley.

Net Impact

Cost to the City for these initiatives will be


documented in the design report.
The primary mitigation for visual/aesthetic
issues is landscaping.
Refer to the
Landscape and Recreation Master Plan.

As part of the expressway project the City


will provide noise berms along the
expressway for the Albion Mills Estates
development currently being constructed.
All other new development will be
required to include noise barriers in the
development plans to obtain approval.
Cost to the City to construct the noise
barriers for Albion Mills Estates: Negligible
No mitigation required.

Appropriate sidewalks will be provided on


the key cross streets for students
(i.e.Queenston Road and King Street).

Maintenance and Costs

Monitoring, Duration and


Costs

Contingency and Cost

Communication Needs

See the Design Report.

See the Design Report.

See the Design Report.

Noise mitigation will be


developed in consultation
with the neighbouring
communities affected by
noise changes.

See Landscape and


Recreation Master Plan.

See Landscape and Recreation


Master Plan.

See Landscape and


Recreation Master Plan.

See Landscape and


Recreation Master Plan.

Refer to Noise Assessment.

The City will likely take over


responsibility for maintenance
of the noise berms and other
barriers. However, little
maintenance is expected.

Long term monitoring to


ensure berm and barrier
quality.

No contingency required.

Communication with
adjacent residents and
neighbourhoods will
assist the City in
developing appropriate
landscaping for the
Greenhill Avenue
Interchange and other
areas.
Communication with
developer for Albion Mills
Estates.
New developments will
install noise mitigation as
part of development
process.

Cost to City: negligible

Cost to City: negligible

Full development of approved


lands.

No net effect anticipated.

Maintenance and costs


associated with the
development are part of the
Citys overall infrastructure
program.
No additional maintenance
above the regular city
maintenance of sidewalks.

Interchange ramps have been redesigned


so that vehicles must come to a stop at a
light.
On the Barton Street bridge, the
pedestrian/cycling path will be separated
from roadway traffic.
Cost to the City to construct separated
sidewalks: Approximately $250,000.
Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

No communication
needs.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

Changes to street
patterns will be
communicated to school
boards and local schools.

Page 28

TABLE 3 POTENTIAL LAND USE IMPACTS OF COMPLETION OF THE RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT AND PROPOSED MITIGATION
Issue

Impact (Without
Mitigation)

Mitigation and Costs

Street Closures

Potential for disruption to


travel patterns for those
traveling from the east to
Hillsdale or Hillcrest schools
due to the closure of Melvin
Avenue and Talbot Street.

No mitigation required. The new Barton


Street Bridge will replace the existing
Melvin and Barton Street bridges.

Mount Albion Road will be


closed at the current end of
the four lane section of Mount
Albion Road.

Appropriate notification of road closures


will be given.
Mount Albion Road will remain open
during construction using a temporary
detour road. However, Mud Street will
remain closed through construction and
afterwards.

Mud Street will be closed on


either side of the expressway
corridor.

Net Impact

Rennie Street
Leachate
Collection
System

Most property required for the


Expressway
has
already
been obtained.
However,
some
industrial
and
residential property may be
required for the construction
of the expressway, the
relocation of the Creek and
parts of the trail, and for noise
walls/berms.
Approximately 150 m of the
total 1276 m of the Rennie
Street
landfill
leachate
collection system will be
relocated.
The
floodplain
vegetation
will
also
be
removed.
Approximately
3
70,000 m of waste will be
excavated (5% of the site) to
provide for the expressway.

Monitoring, Duration and


Costs

Contingency and Cost

Communication Needs
The City will meet with
the schools/school
boards to make them
aware of the closures and
to ensure school
transportation is
addressed.
Notification of road
closures and alternate
routes will be provided to
local residents.

No net effect anticipated.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required

Mount Albion Road will not


experience the high levels of
traffic that currently travel
from the mountain to the
lower area of the city.
The abandoned Mount Albion
Road portion that is outside
the Expressway Corridor will
be a trail access.
Vehicles can still access
either side of the Expressway
corridor through local roads
and the Pritchard Road
overpass bridge.
See
Business
Impact
Assessment of the Red Hill
Creek
Expressway/QEW
Interchange report for specific
property acquisition impacts
to businesses.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

Continued
communication with
potentially effected
property owners.

No addition maintenance
required above that already
planned for the new leachate
collection system.

No additional monitoring
required above that already
planned for the new
leachate collection system.

No additional
contingency required
above that already
planned for the new
leachate collection
system.

Communication between
the City and the Rennie
and Brampton Street
Landfill CLC or CLC
equivalent.

Cost to City: No additional capital cost.

Cost to City: minimal cost for road closure


notification.

Property
Acquisition

Maintenance and Costs

The amount of property required will be


minimized to the extent possible during
detailed design. Specific property impacts
will be identified through detail design and
negotiations initiated with property
owners. The City will provide appropriate
compensation.
Cost to City: to be determined based on
final property requirements.
The leachate collection system will be
replaced and landfill waste removed will
be disposed of at a licensed facility.
A health and safety plan will be prepared
for these works.
Refer to the
Contaminated Sites Impact Assessment
for further details.
Cost to the City for landfilling of waste and
replacement
of
leachate
collection
system: Approximately $5 to $8 million.

The net property acquisition


will be determined in detail
design.
As
documented
in
the
Fisheries and the Red Hill
Creek Realignment Study,
the expressway construction
will have major impacts on
the aquatic ecosystem of the
valley, but the net result of
the work associated with the
Red Hill Valley Project, will be
a
healthier
aquatic
ecosystem.
Part of the landfill waste at
the Rennie Street Landfill will
be removed.

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Page 29

TABLE 3 POTENTIAL LAND USE IMPACTS OF COMPLETION OF THE RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT AND PROPOSED MITIGATION
Issue
Pedestrian
Bridges

New
interchange
access

Impact (Without
Mitigation)

Mitigation and Costs

Red Hill Creek will be


realigned from the base of the
escarpment to north of the
CN rail line at Rennie Street.
This will result in a need for
new
pedestrian
bridges
across the creek.

New
pedestrian
bridges
will
be
constructed where necessary for the trail
to cross the creek and in the Kings Forest
Golf Course where the creek is being
realigned to replace existing bridges.
Construction of pedestrian bridges will
conform to appropriate timing windows to
minimize fisheries impacts and to coincide
with creek construction to minimize
duration of construction in the valley.
Final realignment of the creek will be
determined during detail design.
A
natural channel design will be used.
Refer to the Landscape & Recreation
Master Plan for information on new
pedestrian bridges.
Refer to A Stream Network Inventory,
Fluvial Geomorphic Assessment, Impact
Assessment, and Preliminary Natural
Channel Design of Red Hill Creek report
for more detailed information on the creek
realignment.

There will be additional traffic


on Greenhill Avenue as a
result
of
the
new
Greenhill Avenue/RHC
Expressway interchange.
This traffic will result in noise
and air quality impacts as well
as other disruption effects
(such as increased waiting
times and access driveways).
This will also result in safety
concerns
particularly
for
children crossing the road to
go to school.
The
new
interchange
changes an existing access
to the Valley for residents and
school children.

Net Impact

Cost to the City for realignment of creek


and pedestrian bridges documented in the
Design
Report
and
the
Fluvial
Geomorphology Report noted above.
A streetscaping plan for the extension of
Greenhill Avenue will be prepared in
consultation
with
the
City
traffic
department, school and school board
representatives.
Appropriate road crossings for school
children will be put in place for local road
access to schools.
The Greenhill Interchange will include
separated sidewalks and access to the
Valley.
For noise and air quality issues, refer to
the air quality and noise reports.
Cost to City for streetscaping and road
crossings: Approximately $100,000 to
$250,000.

Maintenance and Costs

Monitoring, Duration and


Costs

Contingency and Cost

Communication Needs

No net effect anticipated.

See Design Report.

See Design Report.

See Design Report.

See Design Report and


Landscape Management
Plan.

The new interchange and


associated fencing will result
in a walk along main streets
for residents and school
children accessing the valley.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

Schools and school


boards will be consulted
on the streetscaping and
school crossings.

The new interchange design


at Greenhill Avenue will result
in a reduced speed when
compared
to
the
1985
interchange design.
The
Lawrence Road interchange
provides another access point
to the expressway, thus
potentially reducing traffic
volume using the Greenhill
Avenue interchange.

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Page 30

TABLE 3 POTENTIAL LAND USE IMPACTS OF COMPLETION OF THE RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT AND PROPOSED MITIGATION
Issue
Recreation

Kings Forest
Golf Course

Impact (Without
Mitigation)

Mitigation and Costs

Net Impact

Disruption
impacts
and
potential loss of enjoyment to
users of recreational features
and natural spaces along
expressway
corridors
including Red Hill Valley Trail,
soccer fields at Glen Castle
Drive, parks in the valley and
the
Kings
Forest
and
Glendale Golf Courses.

The City will work with residents and


users of the recreational facilities to
minimize impacts to the extent possible.
A landscape management plan is being
developed
that
will
incorporate
enhancement features for the trail and
recreational facilities.

Expressway will permanently


change the natural character
of the RHC Valley and may
result in a permanent loss of
enjoyment for some residents
and users.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

Continued discussion
with users of recreation
facilities and local
residents.

No holes will be lost but hole


layouts will be modified.
Ponds will replace the creek
as water features on holes 11
and 14.

No maintenance required.

The Golf Course staff will


monitor revenues during
construction to determine if
there is any reduction.

No contingency required.

Any construction in the


Golf Course will be
carried out in consultation
with the Golf Course
staff.

Any impacts to the golf


course are the result of the
realignment of the Red Hill
Creek
For
impacts
to
playability at various holes
and the practice range refer
to the Golf Course Impact
Assessment Study, Red Hill
Creek Expressway and Kings
Forest Golf Course.
No holes will be lost however
the practice range will be
removed by the creek realignment.
Additional impacts that may
be
experienced
include
potential loss of revenue
during construction.

On-street bike
paths

A proposed on-street bike


path along King Street will
cross the expressway.

Cost to City for enhancement of trail and


recreation features documented in the
Landscape & Recreation Master Plan.
The Golf Course Impact Assessment
Study outlines how the playability of each
of the holes will be mitigated. During
creek
construction
the
mitigation
recommended in the Golf Course Impact
Assessment Study will be implemented.
Construction will be coordinated with
approval agencies and the Golf Course to
minimize the timing of the construction
and impacts associated with construction
of the creek realignment. Construction
will occur in the non-peak playing season
if possible.

Maintenance and Costs

Monitoring, Duration and


Costs

Contingency and Cost

Cost to City: no additional


cost

The net impact will be the


loss of the practice range.

The golf course


membership will be
provided with information
on proposed construction
timing and duration and
kept updated on a regular
basis.

New bridges, removal of


liabilities due to stream
restoration, improved water
features and potential
increased water sources for
irrigation.

A community relations
plan will be developed as
part of the environmental
management plan and
will be implemented
during construction.

Compensation for loss of the practice


range will be negotiated between the Golf
Course and Transportation, Operations
and
Environment
to
the
mutual
satisfaction of both parties.
Cost to City for the loss of the practice
range to be determined.
A wider shared lane was developed at the
time when the King Street RHC
Expressway interchange was partially
constructed.

No net effect anticipated

Communication Needs

No additional maintenance
required above the
maintenance the City already
undertakes for streets.

The Landscape Management Plan will


provide streetscaping of King Street East
in this interchange.
Cost for streetscaping documented in the
Landscape & Recreation Master Plan.

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

No communication
needs.

Page 31

TABLE 3 POTENTIAL LAND USE IMPACTS OF COMPLETION OF THE RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT AND PROPOSED MITIGATION
Issue

Impact (Without
Mitigation)

Mitigation and Costs

Soccer Fields at
Glencastle

The soccer fields will be


removed to build berms for
the Expressway.

Additional fields have been built at Wilfrid


Laurier and Bishop Ryan schools to
compensate for the loss of these fields.

No net effect anticipated.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

Baseball
diamonds at
Rosedale

Removal of 4 baseball
diamonds in the Rosedale
Park area as a result of creek
realignment.

A Recreation Master Plan for the


Rosedale Park area is being developed to
reflect the recent land use changes in the
park area and the needs of the
community.

The results of the Master


Plan will be reflected in the
Landscape & Recreation
Master Plan.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

No access to the portions of


the Valley that will be under
construction from 2003 to
2007.

No maintenance required.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

Signage will be placed to


restrict access and
indicate alternate access
points, where available.

Red Hill Valley Trails will be


enhanced with interpretive
features.

There may be additional


maintenance for any
interpretive features.

No monitoring required.

No contingency required.

The final Landscape


Management Plan will be
reviewed with the public

Part of the Bruce Trail will be


relocated to the base of the
escarpment under the new
viaduct, and in the Kings
Forest Area at the base of the
escarpment.

Cost to City: See Landscape &


Recreation Master Plan.

See Terrestrial Resources


Report.

See Terrestrial
Resources Report.

See Terrestrial
Resources Report.

Trail access
during
construction

Red Hill Valley


and Bruce Trails

Access to the Valley from


specific points will be limited
during construction of the
creek realignment and road
construction.
Sections of the Red Hill
Valley Trail and the Bruce
Trail will need to be relocated
to accommodate expressway
and creek realignment.

Net Impact

Cost to the City for replacement of


recreation facilities will be documented in
the Design Report.
Valley access will be signed where it is
possible.
Cost to City to realign trail is documented
in the Landscape & Recreation Master
Plan.
New sections, including appropriate
access points to the trail will be designed
as part of the Master Plan for recreational
facilities in the Valley and will be reflected
in the Landscape & Recreation Master
Plan. Interpretive features will be added to
the trail system. Pedestrian bridges will be
provided where the creek is being
realigned.
The escarpment crossing viaduct will
provide access under the expressway.
The abandoned portion of Mount Albion
Road will serve as a trail on the east side.

Open Space

Approximately 70 ha of public
open space (as designated
by the former City of Hamilton
Official Plan) will be directly
impacted.
Of this the
Expressway will permanently
remove 60 ha and the
remaining will be changed for
creek realignment and stormwater management works.

Cost to City to realign trail is documented


in the Landscape & Recreation Master
Plan.
Refer to the Terrestrial Resources Report
and the Landscape Management Plan for
reforestation, rehabilitation and other
mitigation projects.

Maintenance and Costs

in

Contingency and Cost

Communication Needs
Soccer clubs will be
notified of the change in
location of the soccer
fields.
Continued discussion
between the City and
Rosedale Community
Council to determine the
most appropriate type
and location of
replacement recreation
facilities.

Sections of the trail


particularly in the north
section will be close to the
Expressway.

See Terrestrial Resources


Report and Landscape &
Recreation Master Plan.

See Terrestrial Resources


Report.

The City is exploring opportunities for the


designation of Open Space areas south of
Mud Street.
Cost to City is documented
Terrestrial Resources Report.

Monitoring, Duration and


Costs

the

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Page 32

TABLE 3 POTENTIAL LAND USE IMPACTS OF COMPLETION OF THE RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT AND PROPOSED MITIGATION
Issue

Impact (Without
Mitigation)

Mitigation and Costs

Net Impact

Environmentally
Significant Area
designation

The RHC expressway and


other works result in loss of
land and habitat features in
the ESA.

The City in consultation with the


Environmentally Significant Areas Impact
Evaluation Group will determine if
boundary changes are required to the
ESA.

Pedestrian
Access to valley

Reduced
access
for
pedestrians and cyclists from
the east to the Valley.

Maintenance and Costs

Monitoring, Duration and


Costs

Contingency and Cost

Communication Needs

Potential for ESA boundary


changes.

No maintenance required.

See Terrestrial Resources


Report

No contingency required.

Any changes to the ESA


will go through a public
process under the
Planning Act.

Access from the Mount


Albion/Greenhill area (south
of Lawrence) to the Valley will
be restricted to the Greenhill
Interchange structure and the
trail under the viaduct.

Long term operation and


maintenance of the viaduct will
be required.

Monitoring of trail use to


ensure that expectations of
trail users are being met.

No contingency required.

No communication
needs.

Cost to City: See Design Report


for maintenance cost of
Greenhill Interchange. Cost of
maintenance for viaduct negligible.

Cost to City: negligible

Total Mitigation Cost

Total Maintenance Cost

Total Monitoring Cost

Total Contingency
Cost

Overall Cost

Approximately $17.35M to $20.5M

The additional maintenance for


the above land use mitigation is
minimal.

The additional maintenance


for the above land use
mitigation is minimal.

N/A

Approximately
to $20.5M

This cost does not include the following:

This cost does not include the


following:

This cost does not include


the following:

Cost to City: no additional capital cost.


A pedestrian/cyclist crossing of the
Expressway and access into the valley
from the east will be constructed at
Greenhill Avenue.
A viaduct will be
constructed at the Escarpment to also
provide access across the valley.
Cost to City for construction of valley
access: Approximately $12 million for the
construction of the viaduct valley access.

Air quality and noise mitigation


Property purchase
Pedestrian bridges
Creek realignment
Trail realignment, enhancement,
interpretive features
Compensation for the Kings
Forest Golf Course practice range
King Street streetscaping
Replacement of baseball
diamonds
Signage
Reforestation/rehabilitation of
valley

Maintenance of Air quality


and noise measures
Maintenance of creek
realignment and pedestrian
bridges
Maintenance for reforestation/rehabilitation of valley

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

ESA monitoring

$17.35M

Page 33

The expressway will reduce the number of access points to the valley for pedestrians and
cyclists coming from the east. To minimize this impact a pedestrian/cycling crossing of the
expressway and access to the valley will be provided at Greenhill Avenue. The viaduct will
also facilitate access to the valley. Part of the abandon portion of Mount Albion Road will
be maintained as a trail which will be extended south to Mud Street. This trail will also
connect to the Bruce Trail on the east side of the expressway.
Baseball diamonds on the west side of the valley at Greenhill Avenue will be displaced for
the realignment of the creek (4 diamonds north of Greenhill). Three soccer fields at Glen
Castle Drive have been relocated to local schools. In addition to these impacts from the
RHC Expressway project, three ball diamonds and some underused tennis courts are also
being removed south of Greenhill to accommodate the new CSO tank. A recreation master
plan for this area is currently being developed to reflect the CSO tank and creek realignment
and the needs of the community.
Potential impacts to the Kings Forest Golf Course are anticipated as a result of creek
realignment only and include the need to remove a practice range, changes to the layout of
some golf course holes, replacement of bridges over the creek and the potential for loss of
revenue during construction. The City will continue to work with golf course staff to
minimize the potential effects.
The development of the RHC Expressway will result in a loss of land and habitat features in
the Red Hill Valley ESA. The City will review the boundaries of the ESA in consultation
with the Environmentally Significant Areas Impact Evaluation Group.
The proposed new Greenhill Avenue Interchange will result in an increase in traffic along
Greenhill Avenue. This additional traffic will result in air quality and noise impacts as well as
other disruption effects (such as increased waiting times to access driveways). It also has the
potential to result in safety concerns particularly for children crossing the road to Red Hill
Park, Red Hill or St. Luke Schools. The City will meet with the schools and school boards
to determine appropriate crossing points. A streetscape plan will also be prepared for
Greenhill Avenue leading up to the interchange. It should be noted that the new Greenhill
Avenue interchange will result in a reduced traffic speed when compared to the 1985
interchange design. Also, with an interchange at Lawrence Road, two access points to the
expressway from the neighbourhood are provided potentially reducing the volume of traffic
on Greenhill Avenue.
Noise and air quality impacts from the proposed Expressway have the potential to result in
disruption to existing land use and enjoyment of the valley for existing residential
development along the corridor as well as the recreational features within the valley. Noise
mitigation such as noise barriers will be placed to minimize noise to residents in existing
built up areas where there is available space and where it is feasible to do so. Through
consultation with local residents, other mitigation options will be determined for areas where
noise berms are not feasible. Potential noise and air quality impacts and proposed mitigation
are discussed further in the noise and air quality assessment reports. Developers for Red
Hill Vista (# 4 on Figure 2) have included noise barriers in their development plan. The
City will provide noise berms for the already approved Albion Mills Estates development.
Any future development along the corridor (such as the Heritage Green Downtown Core (C
on Figure 2) will have to include noise mitigation in their plans to obtain approval.
Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Page 34

Residents in the vicinity of the expressway may also experience visual/aesthetic impacts
during expressway construction and operation. Details on visual/aesthetic impacts and
proposed mitigation are provided in the reports Escarpment Crossing Visual Assessment
and the Landscape and Recreation Master Plan.
In terms of infrastructure, much of the infrastructure development proposed is directly as a
result of the Expressway (e.g. hydro tower and pipeline relocations) or is timed to coincide
with the Expressway development to minimize impacts on the valley (e.g. CSO pipeline).
Erosion control and leachate management work on the Rennie Street and Brampton Street
landfill site and the associated creek realignment is anticipated to be completed prior to
construction of the north-south section of the RHC Expressway. The Expressway will,
however, result in the removal of approximately 70,000 m3 of waste material from the
Rennie Street Landfill as well as the relocation of approximately 150 m of the total 1276 m
of the landfill leachate collection system. The Expressway will also result in the removal of
some of the rehabilitated and revegetated enhanced floodplain created by the Rennie Street
project. As noted in the Fisheries and the Red Hill Creek Realignment Study, the
expressway will have major impacts on the aquatic ecosystem of the Red Hill Creek
Watershed. However, with careful planning and design and the incorporation of works to
mitigate historical impacts, the result will be a healthier aquatic ecosystem overall than the
one that currently exists.
There is also the potential for cumulative effects (i.e. effects overlapping in time or space)
from the Expressway and the CSO pipe however, these are minimized due to the
coordination in design and construction timing for the projects. There may be other
projects in the future that could have impacts on the valley such as projects emerging from
the WINS plan. The potential for impacts from these projects is unknown at this time so it
is not possible to include them in an assessment of cumulative effects. As these projects are
developed they will need to consider the effect they may have on the Red Hill Valley.
In most cases, the impacts of the expressway were taken into consideration in the original
environmental assessment. For example, recreational impacts resulting from construction of
the north-south section of the RHC Expressway are addressed in the condition of approval
requiring the City to maintain all remaining valley lands for recreational purposes.
Development standards were also prepared to mitigate noise for development adjacent to
the expressway.

Effects from Development in the Watershed


This report has identified that there is potential for the development of many large vacant
land parcels within the watershed. Most of these are concentrated in the Mountain East
section of the watershed and include the Heritage Green Secondary Plan Area, ROPA #9
and the Glanbrook Industrial lands. The development of these land parcels, as well as
smaller parcels in the Mountain West section of the watershed, will likely result in changes to
the area, including increased impermeable area and resulting surface water flows to Red Hill
Creek. As noted previously, the extent of development in the Heritage Green and
ROPA #9 areas is influenced by the Expressway and much of the development will not
occur until after Expressway construction. The proposed area for the Karst ESA/ANSI
which covers much of the Trinity Neighbourhood (see Figure 3), will also affect this area in
terms of what lands will be available for development.
Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Page 35

Impacts of future development on the Red Hill Creek Watershed will be minimized to the
extent possible through the development review and approval process. Approval of future
development within the watershed should give consideration to City initiatives such as the
Red Hill Creek Watershed Plan, the Davis Creek Subwatershed Plan (ongoing), the Citys
Environmental Health and Safety Integrated Management System and Vision 2020.
Within the watershed, there have been and continue to be a number of projects that have
resulted in improvements to water quality in Red Hill Creek. In particular, projects such as
the leachate collection and bank stabilization at the Upper Ottawa Street Landfill, erosion
control at Glendale Golf Course, stormwater works at Albion Falls (ongoing), the Greenhill
Avenue CSO tanks, the proposed CSO pipeline, continual upgrades to the Woodward
Avenue Sewage Treatment Plant, the WINS Program, the Red Hill Creek Watershed Plan,
the Davis Creek Subwatershed Plan, the realignment of Red Hill Creek and the Rennie
Street/Brampton Street Landfill leachate collection and creek realignment all contribute to
improving the quality and quantity of Red Hill Creek.
The most significant infrastructure works proposed in the Red Hill Creek Watershed relate
directly to the Expressway construction and ROPA #9. As previously noted, construction
of the Expressway-related infrastructure being developed in the valley is being co-ordinated
to the extent possible to minimize the length of construction impact. The trunk sewer
required for ROPA #9 will require a Class Environmental Assessment to determine its
location and potential impacts.
No other significant planned infrastructure works have been identified (outside the RHC
Valley) that could either result in significant effects on the valley system or act in a
cumulative manner with effects from the Expressway itself.

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

APPENDIX A
CONTACTS MADE FOR THE
RED HILL VALLEY PROJECT
LAND USE ASSESSMENT

Page A-1

Appendix A: Contacts Made For The Red Hill Valley Project Land Use Assessment
Name
Organization
City of Hamilton Staff
Christine Adams
Transportation, Operations & Environment, Water &
Wastewater
Mark Bainbridge
Water Quality

Information Provided

Dan Chauvin

Senior Project Manager Water Quality

Al Fletcher

Planning and Development Department, Long


Range Planning and Design Division, Official Plan
and Zoning By-Law Reform
Infrastructure and Environmental Planning
Asset management
Transportation, Operations & Environment, Roads
& Traffic
Transportation, Operations & Environment, Waste
Management
Environmental Planning and Management Section

GIS Manager, City


Transportation
Transportation Dept.
Brownfield Program Coordinator, Economic
Development Dept
Natural Heritage Planner
Planning and Development Department,
Development Division, Development Planning
Section (Central)
Infrastructure and Environmental Planning

Harold Groen
Don Gunn
Trever
Horzelenberg
Phil Jensen
Belinda Kobik
Al Little
Gary Moore
Gil Moore
Luciano Piccioni
Cathy Plosz
Steve Robichaud
Greg Macdonaldd
Rob Shamess

CSO initiatives

Waste Water Investment Needs


Strategies (WINS) program
Ongoing Woodward Ave. treatment plant
upgrades
Development applications for central
division

Planned roads
Greenhill Ave. CSO Tanks
Cycling initiatives

Improvement works at Upper Ottawa


Landfill
Integrated Environmental, Health and
Safety Management System
Microstation file of study area
Mapping, infrastructure initiatives
Mapping
ERASE Community Improvement Project

Eramosa Karst
Development applications for central
division

Planned roads, stormwater

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

Page A-2

Appendix A: Contacts Made For The Red Hill Valley Project Land Use Assessment
Name
Lorissa Skrypnick

Information Provided
Development applications in east division

Jill Steven

Organization
Planning and Development Department,
Development Division, Development Planning
Section (East)
Infrastructure and Environmental Planning

Patti Tombs

Policy & Research Planner Culture and Recreation

Dale Wood

Manager, Community Development and Strategic


Planning
Hamilton Region Conservation Authority
Bruce Duncan
Hamilton Region CA
Janet Wong
Scott Konkle
Hamilton Conservation Authority
Others
Joad Durst
Ministry of Natural Resources
Laura Kirkus
Catholic Education Centre
Dan McKerrall
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Information on subwatershed planning


and stormwater works
Information on recreation, culture and
parks master plan
Information on recreation facilities

Conservation Authority initiatives

Confirmation Park

Eramosa Karst
School locations and capture areas
School locations and capture areas

Land Use Assessment Report - Red Hill Valley Project - March 2003 - Dillon Consulting Limited

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