Six Mile Road – Sidewalk to Thetis Lake Regional Park

Planning & Development Report

TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: September 5, 2018 FROM: J. Chow, Senior Planner MEETING: September 18, 2018 FILE NO.: 3360-20-2017/02

Six Mile Road – Sidewalk to Thetis Lake Regional Park

RECOMMENDATION: THAT the September 5, 2018 report from the Senior Planner titled “Six Mile Road – Sidewalk to Thetis Lake Regional Park” be received for information.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS: I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS: I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING’S COMMENTS: I concur with the recommendation.

BACKGROUND:

Correspondence from several residents was received at the September 4, 2018 Council meeting requesting that the sidewalk on Six Mile Road be extended to improve pedestrian safety near the entrance of Thetis Lake Regional Park.

DISCUSSION:

Additional sidewalk on Six Mile Road is identified as one of many desired improvements in the 2007 Transportation Master Plan to improve pedestrian mobility and safety for area residents and the general public accessing the Thetis Lake Regional Park, however this improvement is not in the current Strategic Plan or the Five Year Financial Plan as an immediate priority.

The former Thetis Lake Campground at 1938 West Park Lane was rezoned for multifamily use in October 2017. As part of the rezoning, the applicant and Town negotiated the provision of amenities that included additional sidewalk and other improvements as shown Figure 1. The traffic impact assessment submitted by the developer recommended that the sidewalk on Six Mile Road be constructed as well. A covenant has been registered to require that the amenity be provided in conjunction with development of the property. This is because infrastructure type amenities are typically funded through construction financing and built when crews are on site.

Figure 1. Amenities secured in covenant for 1938 West Park Lane

Construction of additional sidewalk on Six Mile Road would require approval of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure because it is under their jurisdiction, but there is an existing agreement for the Town to maintain the current sidewalks and boulevard. Eventually the road may devolve to the Town in the way Island Highway was transferred to local municipalities to serve regional traffic.

OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:

1. Await the development of 1938 West Park Lane

The covenant links provision of the sidewalk improvements with construction. There is no set timing at present; however the property owners informally advised staff that they are actively negotiating with a potential partner to move forward with the development.

2. Consider construction of the sidewalk in updates of the Strategic Plan and Five Year Capital Plan

The proposed sidewalk extension would have to be considered through the capital planning and budgeting process, which is conducted regularly to establish the Town’s overall priorities. If the Town opts to construct the sidewalk, the amenity covenant with the owners of 1938 West Park Lane would have to be renegotiated. Amendment of the covenant would require notification of property owners and residents within 400m, like a public hearing.

3. Local Improvement Tax

If the sidewalk is an immediate priority for the neighbourhood, the area property owners can submit a petition signed by the majority for a local area improvement to extend the sidewalk. Construction would be funded by local improvement taxes added to property taxes in the local area but it would be amortized over several years. The Town would have to renegotiate the sidewalk amenity with the owner of 1938 West Park Lane and amending the covenant would require notification of property owners and residents within 400m, like a public hearing.

CONCLUSION:

Staff consider that Option 1 would be the most prudent option for extending the sidewalk on Six Mile Road because it is already identified and secured in a covenant linked to the development of 1938 West Park Lane.

RECOMMENDATION: THAT the September 5, 2018 report from the Senior Planner titled “Six Mile Road – Sidewalk to Thetis Lake Regional Park” be received for information.

SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Chow, MCIP, RPP Senior Planner

REVIEWED BY: Lindsay Chase, MCIP, RPP Director of Development Services