Blair Creek Drive Extension Environmental Assessment

The City of Kitchener has completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for the extension of Blair Creek Drive from the future Strasburg Road to the intersection of Reidel Drive and Blair Creek Drive, approximately 700 metres, including new storm sewer and watermain. This study identified and evaluated alternative solutions and determined a preferred alignment for the road. The study area is shown below:

Figure 1. Blair Creek Drive Extension (Study Area)

Public Review

A Project File Report (PFR) documenting the planning process undertaken, details of the study recommendations as well as potential impacts and mitigation measures, has been completed and by this Notice is being placed on the public record for review.

In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e. requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name for the Ministry.

Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested, how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy these potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the Ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request. The request should be sent in writing or by email to below contacts, with a copy to the City of Kitchener Project Manager. Information collected for the study will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Except for personal information, including your name, address and property location, all comments received throughout the study will become part of the public record and included in project documentation.

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

777 Bay Street, 5th Floor

Toronto ON M7A 2J3

minister.mecp@ontario.ca

Director, Environmental Assessment Branch

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

135 St. Clair Avenue W, 1st Floor

Toronto ON M4V 1P5

EABDirector@ontario.ca

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the informational materials, asked questions, and shared their feedback.

We expect to present our report to the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee on Monday, March 25. The meeting takes place from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.

To see the agenda and report, visit the calendar entry

You can also watch live on the day of the meeting by going to kitchener.ca/watchnow

If you would like to speak to the committee during this meeting, please register as a delegation.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at last night’s Public Information Centre. If you were unable to make it, here are the materials we shared:

• Display boards
• Proposed cross sections
• Detailed cross section of option 2 (preferred)

Your input on this study is valuable and appreciated. Please review these materials and, if you have any feedback, email your comments to the project team.

If you have any questions, please post your question on our project page or contact the project team directly.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the project newsletter to get updates. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

To support future development in southwest Kitchener, this study includes the extension of Blair Creek Drive from the intersection of Reidel Drive and Blair Creek Drive to the future Strasburg Road, approximately 700 metres (See Figure 1.0 for study area). On behalf of the City of Kitchener, MTE Consultants is undertaking a study to determine a preferred road alignment and preliminary design of the new Blair Creek Drive.

This project is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act by following the Municipal Class EA document (as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023) and it is being planned under Schedule ‘B’ of the Municipal Class EA.

At this stage of the project, several technical studies have been completed or are underway including Ecological, Heritage, Traffic and Geotechnical. MTE has identified a preferred alignment and cross-section for the extension of Blair Creek Drive in the study area shown below.

Figure 1: Blair Creek Drive Extension Area

Presentation, discussion, and input on the identified alternatives will be conducted at the Public Information Centre (PIC). MTE Consultants and the City of Kitchener invite all interested parties to attend a PIC meeting on:

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:30pm

Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, Room 2

(150 Pioneer Drive, Kitchener, ON N2P 2C2)

Notification of this PIC will also be provided via newspaper advertisement in The Record and letters mailed to nearby residents.

Please note that comments will be maintained for reference throughout the project and will become part of the public record. Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, any personal information such as name, address, and telephone number included in a submission will become part of the public record unless the comments specifically request that such personal details not be included in the public record.

Project information including the PIC presentation materials will be made available after September 20 on this page.

The Study

The City of Kitchener has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment Study for the extension of Blair Creek Drive from the future Strasburg Road to the intersection of Reidel Drive and Blair Creek Drive, approximately 700 metres (see Figure 1.0 for study area). The Blair Creek Drive extension will include new storm sewer as well as watermain. This study will identify and evaluate alternative solutions and determine a preferred alignment for the road.

The Study Area

Figure 1. Blair Creek Drive Extension (Study Area)

The above figure illustrates the limits of the study area bounded by the future extension of Strasburg Road and Reidel Drive.

The Process

This project is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act by following the 2023 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment document and it is being planned under Schedule ‘B’ of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA).

The City of Kitchener has requested MTE Consultants to undertake the study, which involves an evaluation of alternatives, selection of preferred alternative, and evaluation of environmental and cultural heritage impacts, and their mitigation measures. At the end of the study, a Project File Report (PFR) documenting the process will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) and will be available for public review for a period of 30 calendar days. Before any decisions are made on the recommendation, or acceptance of the preferred solution, all interested parties will have an opportunity to attend a Public Information Centre (PIC) meeting. Notification of the PIC will be provided at the appropriate time by means of a similar advertisement.

Comments Invited

Public, Indigenous, and agency consultation is a key component of the Class EA process, and we value your input during the planning process. To help facilitate this input, a PIC is scheduled to take place in Fall 2023. If you wish to be placed on the study mailing list to receive notices and information, or, if you wish to provide comments at any time during the Class EA process, you can do so by contacting:

Vince Pugliese, P.Eng., PMP, MBA

MTE Consultants Inc.

Phone: (519) 743-6500 ext. 1225

Cell: (519) 651-7903

Email: vpugliese@mte85.com

or

Niall Melanson, C.E.T.

City of Kitchener

Phone: (519) 741-2200 ext. 7133

Email: niall.melanson@kitchener.ca

Please note that all correspondence will be kept on file for use during the decision-making process throughout the project and will become part of the public record. Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, any personal information such as name, address, and telephone number included in a submission may become part of the public record unless otherwise requested in the submission.

Stay Informed

To get updates about this project, please add your email to the Stay Informed box and click ‘Subscribe’.