95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report
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Park Lawn GO Station DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT REPORT AUGUST 2021 First Capital - Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report First Capital Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report Draft Final 2021-08-27 E Izabela Jasiak Mark Armstrong Melissa Alexander Report 2021-06-04 D Rachel Eagles Mark Armstrong Melissa Alexander Draft Report 2021-04-21 C Rachel Eagles Mark Armstrong Melissa Alexander Draft Report Date Rev. Prepared By Checked By Approved By Status 360807-H-EV-PLG-RPT-EP-0002, Rev. E Page i © Hatch 2021 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents. First Capital - Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report Executive Summary ES Section 1- Introduction and Project Overview First Capital (Park Lawn) Corporation (FCR) has proposed the new Park Lawn GO Station to be developed in partnership with Metrolinx, located at the north end of 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard West in the City of Toronto (“the Project”). Hatch was retained by FCR to undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Park Lawn GO Station on the Lakeshore West rail corridor. The evaluation of environmental impacts of the proposed Park Lawn GO Station has been carried out in accordance with the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP). The TPAP is regulated by the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) under Ontario Regulation 231/08 - Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings (O. Reg. 231/08). The purpose of the TPAP is to ensure effects associated with the Project are clearly identified and mitigated to the greatest extent feasible. For TPAP purposes, Metrolinx is the proponent. FCR will be constructing the Project and will be responsible for incorporating mitigation measures to address both construction and operation-related effects. Metrolinx will be responsible for operations and maintenance at the GO Station. The Park Lawn GO Station will provide a stop between Mimico GO Station and Exhibition GO Station. The Park Lawn GO Station will be located 100 metres south of the Gardiner Expressway, 300 metres northwest of Lake Shore Boulevard West, on both sides of Park Lawn Road, and both sides of the Lakeshore West rail corridor within the City of Toronto. The proposed station would include a fully accessible GO Station building, to be owned and operated by Metrolinx, with high quality connections to local transit. The preliminary design is more fully described in Section 3.3. The general location of the GO Station is presented in Figure ES-1. This Project will be coordinated with the City of Toronto as appropriate to provide improved local transit access and connectivity to the GO Station, as well as additional and more frequent transit service. The purpose and rationale of the project is to provide a multi-modal transportation hub to support local and regional transit access and connectivity, while providing growth and opportunity in the area. The various business cases undertaken by Metrolinx in support of the development of the proposed GO Station are summarized as well as the benefits of an integrated transit hub to support active transportation. 360807-H-EV-PLG-RPT-EP-0002, Rev. E Page ii © Hatch 2021 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents. First Capital - Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report Figure ES-1: Park Lawn GO Station - Location 360807-H-EV-PLG-RPT-EP-0002, Rev. E Page iii © Hatch 2021 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents. First Capital - Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report The Initial Business Case (IBC) (2016) recognized Park Lawn as a strategic location of dense development and growth, as well as opportunity to integrate with local transit in the area. The commitment of GO Regional Express Rail (now referred to as GO Expansion) including more frequent and faster service creates significant opportunity to realize a transit hub bringing together and integrating higher order transit, local transit, and other modes. An updated IBC (2018) considered an updated service plan, realigned station to minimize impacts on existing infrastructure, and a redefined station design. The station at this location was supported in the updated IBC (2020) published on June 11, 2020. The Park Lawn GO Station will be located on both sides of the Lakeshore West rail corridor and provide a stop between Mimico GO Station and Exhibition GO Station. The Park Lawn GO Station will be located 100 metres south of the Gardiner Expressway and 300 metres northwest of Lake Shore Boulevard West, at the north end of the former Mr. Christie Cookie factory within the City of Toronto. The proposed Project footprint comprises the area where all works would occur (including construction, parking, grading, etc.). For each technical study, an individualized Study Area was created in order to represent the geographic area in which potential effects can occur. ES Section 2 - Study Process The TPAP is a focused impact assessment process developed for transit projects that includes various components such as consultation, an effects assessment, mitigation, and documentation (MECP, Guide: Ontario's Transit Project Assessment Process, 2014). Proponents undertaking the TPAP are exempt from the requirements of Part II and Part II.1 of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) and projects do not require approval by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). As outlined in the Transit Projects Regulation (MECP, 2015), the TPAP is only applicable to public sector proponents whose dedicated facilities or services are used exclusively for transit. As this Project involves the planning of a new GO Station, it meets the definition of a transit project as set out in Schedule 1 of O. Reg. 231/08. In addition, the Project is guided by a public sector proponent (Metrolinx), and is therefore subject to the TPAP. Proponents are required to document the TPAP in the form of an Environmental Project Report (EPR). The EPR serves to ensure that the TPAP is followed and that conclusions regarding the potential effects from a transit project are documented. The various technical studies that are appended to this EPR are further described in relation to the requirements set forth in the Transit Project Regulation. An overview of the various Provincial Plans and Policies that provide guidance on development within the province are summarized in this Section. 360807-H-EV-PLG-RPT-EP-0002, Rev. E Page iv © Hatch 2021 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents. First Capital - Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report ES Section 3 - Project Description Section 4 outlines in detail the various components and proposed features of the Park Lawn GO Station. The design elements are reviewed against the key design criteria for the proposed station, including Metrolinx’s GO Design Requirements Manual (DRM) and Metrolinx’s Design Standards (DS-02, DS-03, DS-04, and DS-07). The following design elements are further discussed: Platform Design Station Entrances Station Circulation Bicycle Facilities Landscaping Transit, Vehicular and Active Transportation Access Accessibility and Emergency Services Property Acquisition Utilities Construction Staging Stormwater Management Local Transit Connections The design of the station is being coordinated with other aspects of the overall project including the development at 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard West (2150 Lake Shore), work on the adjacent Park Lawn Road, and the new Relief Road. The consultant teams for the station and adjacent development have been working closely to promote a design that is connected and well integrated, leading to certain station elements such as retail, staff and maintenance vehicle parking, bike parking and Pick-up Drop-off (PUDO) being incorporated into the adjacent development. No vehicle parking is planned at the proposed GO Station in order to reduce vehicle traffic within the area and promote active and alternative transportation for local residents. The station is envisioned to support the increasing population within the Humber Shores area and provide access to regional transportation within walking distance. Furthermore, this section outlines the outstanding issues that will be addressed prior to construction of the Project. Development of the Park Lawn GO Station will result in acquisition of approximately 1.5 hectares of land from the three adjacent land owners, including the City of Toronto, TRCA and South Beach Condos and Lofts adjacent to the Lakeshore West rail corridor The following design considerations regarding utilities will be incorporated into the station design: 360807-H-EV-PLG-RPT-EP-0002, Rev. E Page v © Hatch 2021 All rights reserved, including all rights relating to the use of this document or its contents. First Capital - Park Lawn GO Station 95% Draft Final Environmental Project Report Utility work along the rail corridor and the relocation of the existing communications tower north of the rail corridor ROW; and Incoming station services including domestic cold water, gas, and electricity, provided from the adjacent mixed-use development where required. ES Section 4 - Existing Conditions Existing conditions in relation to the various technical studies that were undertaken in support of the TPAP are summarized. Baseline information in relation to the built, natural, social, and cultural environments are further discussed in the technical studies. Natural Environment Report (NER), Tree Inventory Plan (TIP), Slope Stability Analysis and Fluvial Geomorphic and Meander Beltwidth Assessment aim to address the current conditions of the physical, terrestrial, and aquatic environments within the Park Lawn GO Station Study Area. Both the Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment and the Cultural Heritage Report aim to address the current conditions related to the cultural environment. Lastly, the Air Quality Impact Assessment, Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment and Transportation Brief address the current and future social and built environment.