Medway Valley Heritage Forest ESA: Conservation Master Plan

The City of London is undertaking work to complete the Medway Valley CMP as it aligns with the specific direction in Council’s Strategic Plan, to address climate action and sustainable growth by protecting and enhancing our waterways, wetlands, watersheds and natural areas now and into the future.

Notice of Public Meeting

Public meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee to be held on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, no earlier than 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, 300 Dufferin Avenue, 3rd Floor.

Read the Gloucester Deferred Trail Segment – Medway Valley Heritage Forest (South) Conservation Master Plan report going to Planning and Environmental Committee.

Gloucester Deferred Rail Segment

What is Proposed?

• Consideration by City Council for trail level approval to resolve the outstanding Gloucester Deferred Trail Segment within the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area (South) Conservation Master Plan Phase II.
• Council direction requested on next steps to resolve the Green Acres Drive unopened highway road allowance.

Project information:

• Since 2021, Staff have undertaken additional work including obtaining a geotechnical opinion letter, a Stage 1 Archaeological assessment, Section 28 permit approval support and created two trail alignment options.
• To resolve the Council direction, Staff are bringing forward a recommendation for the deferred Gloucester trail segment and reviewing the status of the Green Acres drive unopened highway road allowance.
• Staff plan to complete a site walk to review that existing site constrains with the adjacent neighbours, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the Ecological Community Advisory Committee (formerly the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee) and the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Background

Phase 1 of the project was initiated in 2013 and is now complete. Phase 2 was referred back to staff by Council for further work in 2018.

Council approved the CMP in 2021, deferring back the Gloucester loop segment to Staff for further consultation and review with the adjacent neighbours, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee and the Accessibility Advisory Committee. Implementing the Green Acres Drive connection was put on hold and Staff were directed that no action be taken in 2021.

Master Plan Background

• As per Council's direction, Staff reviewed and revised the 2018 Conservation Master Plan with input from the Environmental Ecological Planning Advisory Committee (EEPAC), the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC), the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and local First Nations Communities.
• The Draft Sustainable Trail Plan was presented at the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee (EEPAC) on March 18^th(External link) and the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC) on March 25^th. Both committees indicated their support of the revised plan.
• Council approved the Medway Valley Conservation Master Plan on August 11, 2021. The plan is adopted by Council with the exception of the Gloucester deferred trail segment. (link to Resolution)
• Staff have completed additional review and study to understand the feasibility of the deferred trail segment. Staff are planning a site walk in November to review that existing site constrains with the adjacent neighbours, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the Ecological Community Advisory Committee (formerly the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee) and the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
• An in-person community meeting will be booked for December. Information will be posted here and circulated to the Medway Heights neighbourhood.
• Staff target bringing forward a recommendation to the Planning Environment Committee in January of 2024. A Notice of Public Meeting will be issued in December here.