Wetland and stream relocation decision this week
Wetland and stream relocation decision this week
Developers are pushing ahead this week with relocation of a wetland and part of the headwaters of Ancaster Creek to make way for five proposed warehouses on Garner Road at Highway 6. At their Thursday evening on-line meeting, the board of the Hamilton Conservation Authority will debate the unprecedented relocation that contravenes existing wetland protection policies and is opposed by their staff.
A month ago the HCA board sharply divided over a draft revised policy that would contemplate wetland relocations in exceptional circumstances. The process began last fall after pressure from the same developers. Public consultation on the draft is scheduled over the summer, but the warehouse proponents have apparently decided to push ahead without it in hopes the HCA board will override its existing policies.
The affected property is the eastern half of a 170-acre block owned by developer Frank Silvestri. His 30,000 square-foot mansion sits on the western half and is currently for sale with an asking price of $49 million. The proposal is to replace the wetland and creek in the centre of the property with a constructed wetland, creek and stormwater pond along the edge of the lands adjacent to Highway 6 which itself is now scheduled for a widening to four lanes.
“HCA policy direction is that wetlands and wetland buffers be maintained and protected,” stresses the staff report on the proposal. “In this regard, HCA policy does not support the removal of an existing locally significant wetland and the creation of a new wetland in a new location.”
The staff report notes the existing wetland “is considered a Core Area for the purposes of the City’s Urban Official Plan” and that this proposal has not been submitted to the city so approval by the HCA “would be premature pending a decision regarding the ultimate development proposal for the subject lands by the City of Hamilton.” A different development plan that impacted the wetland but didn’t call for its removal was earlier rejected by the HCA. Wetlands soak up carbon emissions better than trees.
A study of Ancaster Creek completed in 2008 by the HCA indicates that “historically wetlands followed much of the stream corridor until it met with present day Rousseaux Street” but that now there are only two – and only the one proposed to be relocated is where it was originally. The study found eight percent of the watershed was originally wetland, and now only 0.3 percent remains.
“In summary, future development in the headwaters of this subwatershed is of primary concern to the fisheries potential as it increases the potential for erosion downstream,” concluded the study. “Present natural systems (aquatic & terrestrial) must remain intact and preserved in order to keep the integrity of this historically coldwater system.”
After crossing Garner Road, the creek flows through the Ancaster Golf and Country Club and then over Tiffany Falls. Below the escarpment it is located west of Wilson and Main West, before flowing under Osler Drive and alongside McMaster where wetland restoration work is underway.
The existing wetland is 4.5 acres and a 30-metre wide buffer is also protected by HCA, city and provincial regulations. The developer proposal envisions the creation of a slightly larger wetland which they argue would be an enhancement over the existing one.
They say the relocation would allow for construction of five warehouses and surface parking areas for a promised 3000 permanent employees. They estimate the total value of the project as over $250 million.
HCA staff warn that approval of the proposal may create legal liabilities for the HCA because “as a regulatory agency with responsibility for reviewing development proposed in natural hazard prone areas and natural heritage areas, the HCA is aware the subject property contains a watercourse and a wetland and that the development as proposed will impact these features.”
The HCA board has five city councillors and six citizen volunteers. It is chaired by Ancaster councillor Lloyd Ferguson who favours the project. He clashed sharply with Brad Clark over this proposal at the last HCA board meeting. Chad Collins, Tom Jackson and Esther Pauls also sit on the HCA board along with several citizens.
The opportunity for citizens to delegate at the May 6 meeting passed before the agenda was posted. However, written comments can be sent to the CAO Lisa.Burnside@conservationhamilton.ca.
