Urgent Environmental Assessment Request
Councillor James Pasternak Ward 6 City Hall, 100 Queen Street West Tel: 416‐392‐1371 2nd Floor, Suite A22 Fax: 416‐392‐7299 Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2 [email protected]
MEMO – New Item
Date: September 5th, 2019
To: Members of the North York Community Council
Subject: Downsview Ave. Urgent Environmental Assessment Request
SUMMARY:
During the last decade, the City Of Toronto has seen a surge on property flooding incidents closely tied to powerful storm events. Ward 6 and adjacent Wards have been home to many of these incidents. Residents living west of the Humber River Hospital, and to the north and south areas of Wilson Ave., experienced extreme basement flooding from storm events in 2013 and 2018. Subsequently, almost all claims made by affected residents have been rejected. Currently these residents live in fear every time a storm is forecasted.
The proximity to Black Creek, Highway 401, and the recently completed Humber River Hospital, have all reportedly contributed to the community's increasing flooding risks. The Ridge Park storm water management pond and related infrastructure were completed in 2013, while the hospital opened its door in 2015. These two new additions in the neighbourhood were quickly identified as key factors altering storm water flow in the area. As a result, the City has been working with the Ministry of Transportation to upgrade the ditch running parallel to Downsview Ave. between Ridge Road and Black Creek; and with Infrastructure Ontario to increase capacity at the Ridge Park storm water management pond. As of August 2019, the design for the pond was completed with expected construction to begin by the end of the year.
Aside from land development and natural phenomena, aging sewer and storm water infrastructure have also been identified as flooding catalysts. Throughout the last decade, the City Of Toronto conducted a series of Environmental Assessment (EA) Studies to catalog existing infrastructure preventing or propelling flooding scenarios. These EAs ultimately proposed a series of sewer and storm management upgrades across several neighbourhoods in Toronto. The Downsview Avenue neighbourhood, was included in Study Area 16 (Black Creek/Highway 401/Dufferin Street). The study began in 2007 and concluded in 2012. At the time, the contracted consulting firm, Stantec, discounted the need for flooding prevention measures.
Since the latest Environmental Assessment Study, the area has seen significant development and flooding incidents have worsened. On April 29, 2019, one hundred and fifteen residents (115) provided a petition to our office requesting that the below-grade infrastructure around and west of the Humber River Hospital, be assessed and upgraded. Based on the information stated above, our office requests that the residents' concerns be addressed with urgency.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. North Community Council request the General Manager and Toronto Water to report back on the feasibility and cost of conducting a localized Basement Flooding Environmental Assessment Study of the area bounded by Petherhill Ave. to the east, Highway 401 to the south, Jane St. to the west and Wilson Ave. to the north; commencing no later than January 2020.
Sincerely,
James Pasternak,
Councillor, Ward 6