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Blair Creek Drive Extension Environmental Assessment

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This project is now complete. The public comment period ended May 12, 2024. A copy of the Project File Report is available on this page. If you have any questions, please contact the Engineering division at engineering@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2345.


The purpose of this study is to determine the alignment for the Blair Creek Drive extension. This extension will run from the future Strasburg Road to the intersection for Reidel Drive and Blair Creek Drive. It will include a new storm sewer and watermain.

There will be opportunity to learn about and give feedback during the study process. We will host a public information centre that you can attend. You are also welcome to contact the consultant and/or project manager at any time. We will include your comments on the following in the final design and report to Council:

  • The criteria for evaluating the project and the preliminary alternatives
  • The proposed road improvement alternatives, the final evaluation criteria, and the preferred solution
  • How the expansion of the road might affect residents

If you would like to receive updates about this project, please add your email to the Stay Informed box and click ‘Subscribe’.

Background

The Doon South and Brigadoon areas have been the subject of detailed planning over the past two decades. The community plans for these areas have established the need and formed the framework for the area road network. We have adopted this into the City of Kitchener’s Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan.

Since 2005, the planned area road network has included:

  • The extension of Strasburg Road to the south towards New Dundee Road
  • The extension of Biehn Drive, Robert Ferrie Drive and Blair Creek Drive to the west towards Strasburg Road.

We expect that Biehn Drive, Robert Ferrie Drive and Blair Creek Drive will function as major collector roads in the future. Each will carry traffic volumes of 5,000 to 8,000 vehicles per day.


The purpose of this study is to determine the alignment for the Blair Creek Drive extension. This extension will run from the future Strasburg Road to the intersection for Reidel Drive and Blair Creek Drive. It will include a new storm sewer and watermain.

There will be opportunity to learn about and give feedback during the study process. We will host a public information centre that you can attend. You are also welcome to contact the consultant and/or project manager at any time. We will include your comments on the following in the final design and report to Council:

  • The criteria for evaluating the project and the preliminary alternatives
  • The proposed road improvement alternatives, the final evaluation criteria, and the preferred solution
  • How the expansion of the road might affect residents

If you would like to receive updates about this project, please add your email to the Stay Informed box and click ‘Subscribe’.

Background

The Doon South and Brigadoon areas have been the subject of detailed planning over the past two decades. The community plans for these areas have established the need and formed the framework for the area road network. We have adopted this into the City of Kitchener’s Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan.

Since 2005, the planned area road network has included:

  • The extension of Strasburg Road to the south towards New Dundee Road
  • The extension of Biehn Drive, Robert Ferrie Drive and Blair Creek Drive to the west towards Strasburg Road.

We expect that Biehn Drive, Robert Ferrie Drive and Blair Creek Drive will function as major collector roads in the future. Each will carry traffic volumes of 5,000 to 8,000 vehicles per day.


This project is now complete. The public comment period ended May 12, 2024. A copy of the Project File Report is available on this page. If you have any questions, please contact the Engineering division at engineering@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2345.

  • Notice of Completion

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    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.

    The PFR will be available for review for 30 days, starting April 12, 2024 and ending May 12, 2024 on the City’s Engage Kitchener Website and at Kitchener City Hall during regular hours of operation Monday to Friday.

    Read the Project File Report

    Contact Information

    Interested persons may provide comments to the project team though your preferred means of communication. All comments and concerns should be sent directly to the Project Managers listed below.

    Niall Melanson, C.E.T.

    City of Kitchener

    niall.melanson@kitchener.ca

    519 741-2200 ext. 7133

    Vince Pugliese, P.Eng., PMP, MBA

    MTE Consultants Inc.

    vpugliese@mte85.com

    519 743-6500 ext. 1347

    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

  • Report going to Committee

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    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.

  • Public Information Centre materials

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    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:

    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’.


  • Public Information Centre announcement

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    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.

    Map showing the study area location between Reidel Drive and the future Strasburg RoadFigure 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.

  • Notice of commencement

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    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’.