FINAL SPENCER GORGE - WEBSTER’S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA MASTER PLAN October 2012 GSP Group Inc. Paradigm Transportation Solutions Inc. S. Llewellyn & Associates Limited HAMILTON CONSERVATION AUTHORITY | SPENCER GORGE-WEBSTER’S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA MASTER PLAN | October 3, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................ i SECTION ONE: BACKGROUND ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Area Boundary ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Master Plan Purpose .................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Previous Studies ........................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Cultural History ......................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Key Issues ................................................................................................................ 7 SECTION TWO: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ 8 SECTION THREE: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS ................................................ 10 3.1 Greenbelt Plan ........................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Niagara Escarpment Plan ........................................................................................ 10 3.2.1 Escarpment Natural Areas ........................................................................... 11 3.2.2 Escarpment Protection Area ......................................................................... 12 3.2.3 Escarpment Rural Area ................................................................................ 13 3.2.4 Minor Urban Centre ................................................................................... 13 3.2.5 Bruce Trail ................................................................................................. 13 3.2.6 Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System (NEPOSS) ...................... 14 3.3 UNESCO ............................................................................................................... 17 3.4 Rural Hamilton Official Plan ..................................................................................... 18 SECTION FOUR: INVENTORY and ASSESSMENT ..................................................................... 20 4.1 Natural Areas/Environmentally Sensitive areas .......................................................... 20 4.1.1 Vegetation Communities .............................................................................. 21 4.1.2 Flora ......................................................................................................... 24 4.1.3 Fauna ....................................................................................................... 25 4.1.4 Geology .................................................................................................... 26 4.1.5 Topography ............................................................................................... 27 4.1.6 Hydraulic Characteristics............................................................................. 27 4.2 Spencer Creek Watershed ....................................................................................... 28 4.3 Site Features ........................................................................................................... 29 4.3.1 Trails......................................................................................................... 29 4.3.2 Stairs to the Gorge ..................................................................................... 32 4.3.3 Lookouts .................................................................................................... 33 HAMILTON CONSERVATION AUTHORITY | SPENCER GORGE-WEBSTER’S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA MASTER PLAN | October 3, 2012 4.3.4 Parking Lots ............................................................................................... 34 4.3.5 Fencing ..................................................................................................... 34 4.3.6 Picnic Pavilion ............................................................................................ 35 4.3.7 Bridges ..................................................................................................... 35 4.3.8 Washroom Facilities ................................................................................... 35 4.3.9 Garbage ................................................................................................... 35 4.3.10 Barbeques/Fire Place ................................................................................. 35 4.3.11 Noise........................................................................................................ 36 4.3.12 Gates ........................................................................................................ 36 4.3.13 Signage .................................................................................................... 36 4.3.14 Winter Maintenance ................................................................................... 37 4.3.15 Pedestrian Access ....................................................................................... 37 4.4 Park Use ................................................................................................................ 37 4.4.1 Trails......................................................................................................... 38 4.4.2 Family Picnic Areas .................................................................................... 38 4.4.3 Stairs to the Gorge ..................................................................................... 40 4.4.4 Hours of Operation .................................................................................... 40 4.4.5 General Safety ........................................................................................... 41 4.5 Emergency Services................................................................................................. 43 4.5.1 Calls to Webster’s Falls and/or the Gorge .................................................... 44 4.5.2 Calls to Dundas Peak and Tew's Falls ........................................................... 45 4.5.3 Summary and Recommendations .................................................................. 45 4.6 Right of Way Privileges ........................................................................................... 45 4.6.1 Webster’s Fall Road (private) ....................................................................... 45 4.6.2 Trails – Private Land .................................................................................... 46 4.6.3 Lafarge Lands ............................................................................................ 46 4.7 Market Analysis ...................................................................................................... 46 4.7.1 Regional Significance ................................................................................. 47 4.7.2 Market Survey............................................................................................ 47 4.8 Summary................................................................................................................ 48 SECTION FIVE: TRANSPORTATION ......................................................................................... 49 5.1 Existing Transportation System .................................................................................. 49 5.1.1 Road Network Characteristics ...................................................................... 49 5.1.2 Site Access ................................................................................................ 51 HAMILTON CONSERVATION AUTHORITY | SPENCER GORGE-WEBSTER’S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA MASTER PLAN | October 3, 2012 5.1.3 Existing Parking Conditions ......................................................................... 52 5.1.4 Emergency Service Access .......................................................................... 53 5.2 Analysis ................................................................................................................. 53 5.2.1 Traffic Analysis .......................................................................................... 53 5.2.2 Driveway Operations .................................................................................. 54 5.2.3 Parking Utilization ...................................................................................... 55 5.3 Parking Management Strategies ............................................................................... 58 5.3.1 Identified Constraints .................................................................................. 58 5.3.2 Tourist Transportation Management .............................................................. 59 5.3.3 Parking Demand Management ..................................................................... 60 5.3.4 Development of Improvement Alternatives ..................................................... 61 5.4 Transportation/Parking Recommendations ................................................................