Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan: Project Summary

Transcription

1 Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan- Project Summary December 9, 2014 Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan- Project Summary December 9, 2014 Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan: Project Summary Toronto and Region Conservation January 8, 2015 The following represents a brief on the development of the Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan up to the document date. For more information please Contact: Adam Szaflarski, Project Manager, Planning, Inventory and Audit Conservation Lands, Toronto and Region Conservation aszaflarski@trca.on.ca x 5596 Kim Krawczyk, Planner Conservation Lands, Toronto and Region Conservation kkrawczyk@trca.on.ca Shoreham Drive, Downsview, ON M3N 1S4

2 Toronto and Region Conservation December 9, 2014 The following document provides a summary on the development of the Master Plan for Albion Hills Conservation Area.

3 Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan- Project Summary December 9, 2014 Fall 08 Contents 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND CURRENT USAGE DETAILS OF WORK TO BE DONE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DRAFT VISION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES DRAFT MANAGEMENT ZONES LAKEVIEW SITE PUBLIC USE THEMES...12

4 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND Albion Hills Conservation Area (AHCA) is a large nature based recreation and education facility situated on 500 hectares of primarily forested land (see map 1). Located entirely within the Oak Ridges Moraine in the headwaters of the Humber River watershed, AHCA is located in the Region of Peel within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Caledon. Acquired in 1955, AHCA became the first active use conservation area in the province of Ontario. Map 1: Albion Hills Conservation Area Site Map In order to set the initial parameters for use of the facility, a Plan for Development for the Albion Hills Conservation Area (PFD) was developed in This document outlined goals for the property and set the stage for the development of several key pieces of infrastructure that are still in use today such as the internal road network, the Albion dam and a good proportion of the property's site services. AHCA was initially identified as the optimal location to provide the surrounding region with outdoor recreation, education and agricultural opportunities. Located within 100km or a 1 hour drive of approximately 8.8 million people, including the City of Toronto, Albion Hills plays an integral role in providing both rural and urban communities with the opportunity to experience a wide variety of recreation, education and agriculture focused activities. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) recently undertook the initiative to develop a master plan for the Albion Hills Conservation Area (AHCA). This planning process will

5 provide management direction and recommendations to ensure that the property continues to be a vibrant place for nature based recreation and education in the Greater Toronto Area. 2. CURRENT USAGE Following a number of planning exercises over the past few decades, AHCA has expanded its operations to include a wide variety of recreational opportunities including over 40 km of trails, numerous adventure races and events, cross country skiing, swimming opportunities, camping, picnicking and canoeing. In addition to the recreational opportunities offered within AHCA, two separate educational facilities, one operated by the Toronto District School Board and the other by TRCA offer residential outdoor education programs to school children. These sites also have the potential to be used as multi use spaces for various community groups. Also operated on the AHCA property is the Albion Hills Community Farm, a community-based farm collaborative. In combination with being a premier nature based recreation and education facility, AHCA contains many different habitats including upland and bottomland forests, old fields and wetlands, making it a key local and regional natural heritage site. AHCA has previously been identified as an area of high potential for archeological findings. Surveys have been conducted on the property since 1973, with 14 registered find spots ranging from isolated find sites to multiple artifacts recovered. This information coupled with a rich recent history make the property a key cultural heritage site in the region. Moving forward, the AHCA Master plan will provide an overall structure and direction to guide future initiatives on the property. The plan will provide an opportunity to review existing recreational uses and management practices as well as future opportunities to ensure that the property remains positioned as a premier nature based recreation and education facility in the Greater Toronto Area. 3. DETAILS OF WORK TO BE DONE The Master Plan will use an ecosystem approach to determine the most appropriate management recommendations for the site, as well as locations of future activities and naturebased public use. The first phase of the process included the completion of the draft AHCA background report. This document provides information on the planning context, current land uses, policies, natural and cultural heritage resources, as well as public uses, recreation trends and a demographic profile of the area surrounding the site. The first phase also includes the strike up of an internal advisory committee comprised of representatives from several groups throughout TRCA, and an external advisory committee comprised of representatives from the local and regional municipalities, stakeholder groups, user groups and members of the public. The key milestone for the first phase of the project was the development of a vision, a series of goals and objectives for the management of AHCA. In the second phase, the project team has been working with the project advisory committees to develop a series of management zones that will act as the framework for subsequent plan components. These management zones identify the most sensitive sites on the property for

6 protection and highlight appropriate areas for public use, operations and restoration. The project team is currently working on the development of a trail plan and a public use plan for the property. The completion of these two components will form the key milestones for the second phase of the Master Plan. The third phase of the project will see the development of final management recommendations, implementation schedules and budgets in preparation for endorsement of the plan by the TRCA board and municipal partners. Throughout the process the project team has been and will continue to work closely with its advisory committees as well as key stakeholders and external agencies such as the local Regional Tourism Operators to develop the Master Plan components. Planning Phase Phase One: Project Initiation Phase Two: Component Development Phase Three: Project Finalization Deliverables & Timelines Development of Site Securement and Protection Plan, Background Report, and Vision Goals and Objectives. (September March 2014)- COMPLETE Develop Management Zones, Trail Plan, Public Use, and Conduct Public Consultation. (April 2014 February 2015)- ONGOING Develop Management Recommendations, Implementation Schedule and Budget, and Obtain Municipal; Partner; and TRCA Board Endorsement. (March- June 2015)- ONGOING 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE As part of the planning process, an advisory committee has been created to assist in determining the appropriate direction for the property. TRCA has invited representatives from the community, the local municipalities, special interest groups and partners to sit on the committee for the duration of the project. The advisory committee members play an integral role in developing goals, objectives and management recommendations for AHCA. The following groups were invited to participate on the committee: local Aboriginal communities; Town of Caledon; Peel Region; Humber Watershed Alliance; local community; local businesses; special interest groups; property users; TRCA. The management plan is expected to be completed by spring/summer of Operation of AHCA and any planned or shovel-ready projects will continue throughout the master planning process.

7 Implementation of the master plan will begin upon completion and endorsement in DRAFT VISION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The following section is intended to guide the development of the Albion Hills Conservation Area Master Plan (AHCAMP) and future management of Albion Hills Conservation Area (AHCA). These statements are based on discussions with TRCA parks staff, staff from numerous divisions across TRCA, as well as the AHCAMP Public Advisory Committee (PAC). Vision, Goals and Objectives Overview: Albion Hills is not only the first active use Conservation Area in Ontario, but it may be the most diverse outdoor recreation facility of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area. Few, if any properties boast the availability of high quality trails, camping facilities, recreational infrastructure, cultural heritage, landscape experiences, natural cover, education and agriculture facilities all on one site and all within a one hour drive of over 8.8 million people. AHCA is also part of a large system of natural greenspace that stretches from the waterfront to the Oak Ridges Moraine. As the major recreation and education facility of its kind in the headwaters of the Humber River, Albion Hills consolidates a considerable amount of public use, and in this way, protects adjacent conservation lands by shifting use away from properties like the Bolton Resource Management Tract or the Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Reserve. This consolidation of use brings with it a wide and diverse range of goals and desires for the property. The vision sets a broad statement of what TRCA and the public would like AHCA become and how it should be managed in the future. Goals are more specific statements that will help TRCA achieve the vision, and objectives are more tangible statements that support both the goals and vision and will also inform the management recommendations within the plan. These vision, goals and objective statements seek to find balance between protecting the most sensitive natural and cultural assets of the area, while ensuring that the site can continue to serve as an important nature based recreation and education facility for the regional community and beyond. These statements are meant to complement one another, and should not be read in isolation from each other or the rest of the Master Plan. Draft Vision: As Ontario s first active Conservation Park, Albion Hills Conservation Area will build on the heritage of the Humber River watershed and the landscape experiences within the Oak Ridges Moraine to provide a hub for the best in outdoor recreation and learning activities in the Greater Toronto Area.

8 Draft Goals Draft Goals were developed under the categories of the 4 pillars of the Living City Vision and the recently adopted 10 year TRCA Strategic Plan: Healthy Rivers and Shorelines; Greenspace and Biodiversity; Sustainable Communities; and Business Excellence, a Green Economy and Responsive Governance. Healthy Rivers and Shorelines: Goal: Management of AHCA in a manner that protects and showcases the water features on the property Objectives: That programming and activities on the site highlight the property s many water features including Centreville Creek, the Main Humber, and the large number wetlands on site. That a comprehensive and innovative strategy be employed for managing the water resources on site. Greenspace and Biodiversity: Goal: To protect a robust and resilient green space system that integrates the natural, cultural and agricultural heritage of the site and the surrounding area. Objectives: That activities on the property promote and build on the Natural, Cultural and Agricultural heritage of the site and the surrounding area. That the property s natural environments and functions continue to be protected as habitat for plant and animal species on site and the surrounding area. That suitable agricultural lands on the property continue to be protected for locally sourced and healthy food production. That site-appropriate restoration activities be implemented with an aim to reverse impairments that may have been made to the hydrology, natural cover, landform or target species habitat of the site or surrounding area.

9 Sustainable Communities: Goal: As an integrated and accessible community resource, Albion Hills Conservation Area contributes to developing a strong, vibrant and healthy community through a balanced management approach Objectives: That operations within AHCA work with the community to develop and build on a sense of stewardship within the area. That programming and activities on the property provide nature based experiences for a broad number of individuals within the Greater Toronto Area, including those who are new to outdoor experiences and those who have a long standing relationship with the outdoors. That programming and activities on the property take into account and adapt to major challenges acting on the region including climate change and a shifting and growing demographic. That new developments within AHCA take advantage of green building technologies, sustainable infrastructure and site design. That park programming and events be leveraged to further the understanding of conservation values in the region. Business Excellence, a Green Economy and Responsive Governance Goal: That activities and operations within AHCA are developed within a sustainable business model that builds on partnerships to ensure high value to the community Objectives: That successful partnerships for the ongoing operation and development of AHCA be strengthened and that new partnerships for future programming and operations be investigated. That an entrepreneurial approach be developed in the management of the property. That programs, facilities and operations on the site are provided with the resources needed to ensure optimal function and ongoing success.

10 6. DRAFT MANAGEMENT ZONES The purpose of designating a series of management zones in AHCA is to guide the location and type of land uses that are permitted on the property. These zones serve as the foundation upon which all other plan components, such as trail plans and public use plans are developed. The zones are distinguished by different levels of ecological protection, management needs and acceptable levels of public use. The various management zones and their permitted uses are outlined in Table 1. In order to appropriately assign management zones to each area within AHCA, TRCA staff reviewed several criteria to ensure that the property s key natural and cultural heritage features are protected, while still permitting a balanced level of public use for the site. Map 2 displays the boundaries and location of each of the following management zone designations: Table 1: Albion Hills Conservation Area Permitted Resource Uses by Management Zone DRAFT Management Zone Nature Reserve This zone includes areas that are ecologically significant such as ESAs, ANSIs, Interior Forest, etc. Natural Environment This zone includes areas that have potential for ecological succession and restoration. Permitted Intensity of Uses None to Low Intensity. Low to Moderate Intensity Example Resource Uses Local and inter-regional trails, nature viewing/interpretation, research, education. Local and inter-regional trail, nature viewing/interpretation, research, education, photography.

11 Table 1: Albion Hills Conservation Area Permitted Resource Uses by Management Zone DRAFT Management Zone Cultural Heritage These areas have important human heritage features or landscapes. Permitted Intensity of Uses Determined by underlying zone type. Example Resource Uses Determined by underlying management zone Public Use This zone will feature a variety of activities deemed appropriate. Agricltural Lease Areas containing existing agricultural leases. Residential Lease These areas contain residential properties that are used as private residences. Education This zone refers to the operations area of the Etobicoke Outdoor Education Field Centre and the Albion Hills Field Centre. Operations This zone contains buildings and facilities used by TRCA staff. Restoration This zone includes areas identified under the managed Forest Plan for TRCA properties. Moderate to High Intensity Moderate to high intensity uses associated with normal agricultural land uses Low to moderate intensity uses associated with normal residential activities Low to High intensity Moderate to High Intensity (no public use) Determined by underlying zone type. Activities may include, but are not limited to, local and inter-regional trails, nature viewing/interpretation, research, education, sports fields, group picnic areas, day camp and group camping facilities, water play facilities, ropes courses, recreation buildings, and parking. Activities include forest management, crops, horticultural nursery operations, and associated buildings and activities. Public use in association with argriculture based programs. Considered a private area subject to specific lease agreements. Activities include servicing and management of two overnight education facilities and accessory uses. Public use is not permitted onsite. Considered a private area for the purposes of TRCA staff operations and includes all staging and operations requirements for the properties by TRCA staff onsite. Determined by underlying management zone. Additional activities include but are not limited to forest management.

12 Map 2: AHCA Draft Management Zones

13 7. LAKEVIEW SITE In 2011, as part of TRCA s Dam Safety Program, a Dam Safety Review (DSR) was conducted on Albion Hills Dam. The DSR investigation revealed several deficiencies with the dam including inadequate foundation design and internal erosion which could lead to dam failure. The DSR recommended conducting a bridge loading assessment as the dam road is used as a means of moving traffic across Centreville Creek. This assessment determined that the dam was not suitable to support large vehicles. As a result of this assessment, TRCA installed pipe bracing in January 2014 to restore loading capabilities to allow normal traffic to resume using the dam as a crossing point. In May 2014, TRCA commissioned an Opinion of Probable Cost Study and a Hydraulic and Fluvial Geomorphic Investigation in order to better understand the feasibility of various options for resolving the problems with the dam. The Opinion of Probable Cost Study estimated that the cost to replace the existing dam with a new structure that meets all current dam safety regulations would be in the range of approximately $2-3 million. The Hydraulic and Fluvial Geomorphic Investigation determined that the dam does not prevent flooding or prevent downstream erosion. However, based on public safety concerns; the high estimated cost of replacement; and the ecological concerns associated with maintaining a headwater retention feature, TRCA decided to undertake the development of a new vision for the Lakeview Site that includes several alternatives, including the removal of the dam, the restoration of the creek and the development of a site plan for the study area. Some key themes that have been highlighted in preliminary internal planning meetings surrounding the future of the Lakeview site were: The importance of esthetics of the site post-removal; The need for some form of an enhanced water feature on the site; The need to provide a flexible and inviting venue for small and large public events; The need to highlight fisheries and restoration on the property; and Timing the restoration of the Lakeview Study Area in a manner that minimizes disruption of park operations.

14 Lakeview Picnic Areas Playground Beach Lakeview Splash Thorndale Valleyview Map 3: Draft Lakeview Study Area 8. PUBLIC USE THEMES Within the portfolio of lands that TRCA owns and manages, TRCA Conservation Parks, serve as the most active-use facilities. AHCA is not only staffed throughout the year, but it is host to some of the largest events held on TRCA lands and in the Town of Caledon. Key to the success of AHCA is that TRCA staff have been flexible to bring in new events, trails and partners to make the site a continually exciting place for GTA residents to visit. The defining advantage of AHCA and what makes it such a desirable venue for events is that it has so many varied features on site for the public to enjoy. There are few places if any, in the GTA where the public can camp, enjoy local events, races and trails all in one space. Moving forward the public use plan for the property will be developed using 3 primary themes: 1. Building on the brand of both Albion Hills Conservation Area and TRCA Emergent in the operations of AHCA is a brand profile within the Tourism and Education sector of the GTA. The site has been identified as not only the most visited natural area within the Town of Caledon, but also the site to host major outdoor events and adventure based activities in the municipality. This profile is built upon a set of core public use

15 themes provided currently and historically at AHCA (See Table 2). This brand profile and associated public use themes will help shape the public use recommendations in the plan moving forward. Table 2: Public Use Themes Natural Interaction with the all the natural elements on site, including flora, fauna, the forests, water features, wetlands and meadows on site. Examples of activities within this theme include hiking, camping, fishing and nature appreciation. Cultural Interaction with the rich historical and modern cultures of Albion Hills and the Hills of the Headwaters Area. Examples of activities within this theme include exploring the historical sites within Albion Hills and visiting cultural events that occur on the property such as the Caledon Canada Day Celebrations. Adventure Direct, exciting opportunities to challenge oneself in a fun way. Activities within this theme include any activity that provides an opportunity to engage in sport of personal challenge. Examples of activities within this theme include mountain biking, adventure racing or cross-country skiing. Agricultural Interaction with local and healthy food production activities on site. Examples of activities within this theme include any future agri-tourism events or programming that might occur on the property. 2. Identifying gaps; and A key component of enhancing AHCA involves an inward look at the conservation area s operation to identify gaps in service or facilities as opportunities optimize the function of the property and maximize its value. Examples of gaps that could be filled include seasonal fluctuations in gate attendance; low weekday use and the further development of under-marketed or under developed public use themes. A key step moving forward will be not only identifying the gaps in the operations of the site but also opportunities to close those gaps. 3. Enhancing the Services already on site. AHCA has a strong foundation of infrastructure and services onsite, and a key component of filling the gaps on the property will be looking at where these existing services and infrastructure can be enhanced to fill these gaps. Examples of features on site that can be enhanced include the Lakeview Study area, the accessibility of existing infrastructure and programs, and the provision of additional non-weather dependent winter activities.