City to study EA order

$80K already set aside for advice from city’s consultant on new environmental assessment ordered for Parkway plan

City staff is about to examine the province’s order of a new environmental assessment (EA) of The Parkway, and also see what it’s likely to mean for council’s transportation plan.

On Monday night at City Hall, staff wanted council to give them permission to start looking more carefully at what the province’s order really means for council.

Councillors agreed to it, even if it could mean paying consultants for advice.

The city has $80,000 set aside in a purchase order it already issued to its consultants in this matter, Aecom.

Councillors approved the plan to allow staff to dip into that money, if it needs expert advice on how the new EA might affect the city’s transportation plans.

Coun. Dean Pappas was the only one who objected.

Pappas has always opposed the plan to spend nearly $70 million to extend The Parkway across the city.

He pointed out that it could take a couple of years to develop a new EA, and by then a new council will be elected.

To Pappas, it doesn’t make sense to spend money now on consultants to advise on a new EA when the entire Parkway project could get nixed by the next council.

“That $80,000 could be used for other things,” Pappas said.

For about 60 years, a ribbon of green space has been set aside to extend The Parkway from north to south. But the road was never built, and the land has been used as a trail for years.

In 2014, council decided it was time to finally build the road. The idea was to cut down traffic congestion.

But 88 citizen appeals were filed to Queen’s Park, when council made the decision. All of them were asking that the city be ordered to do this moredetailed EA.

Although the province recently ordered that new EA, it’s still unclear exactly what will be expected of the city.

It’s been estimated that the new EA could take a couple of years to complete, and may cost as much as $2 million.

Kevin Jones, the city’s manager of transportation, said on Monday staff was seeking council’s permission to “look at all our options.”

“Will we be looking at the option of waiting until there’s a (provincial) government change – and then re-applying?” asked Coun. Dave Haacke.

Mayor Daryl Bennett said staff has done a good job bringing “guidance” to council, and he thinks they should be allowed to get to work examining what the province wants next.

Go ahead and do that work, Bennett told city staff.

“We look forward to the results.”