News:

Notice of Completion - Valley Inn Road Bridge Environmental Assessment

April 13, 2006

The Study

The City of Hamilton has completed the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process to address structural deficiencies at the Valley Inn Road Bridge. The public was invited to provide comments with respect to this application.

The project has followed the Schedule “B” planning and design process of the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment document (June 2000).

The preferred alternative is to replace the existing vehicular bridge with a pedestrian only bridge as it deals with the structural problems, there is a lower cost, there will be low to moderate natural environmental impacts, maintains and enhances pedestrian and recreational opportunities and retains the existing character of the single lane crossing. The EA also recommends the associated closure of Valley Inn Road and Spring Valley Road east and west of the bridge.

Public Review Period

A Class EA Project File Report documenting the planning process undertaken and conclusions reached will be placed on the public record. The City is required to file the Project File Report on the public record for a minimum 30 day review period in accordance with the Municipal Class EA. Due to the Easter Holiday, a 32-day “Review Period” will begin on Thursday, April 13, 2006 and end on Monday, May 15, 2006.

The Project File Report is available for public review at the following locations:

Hamilton Centre Library
55 York Blvd.,
P.O. Box 2700
Hamilton , ON L8N 4E4
905 546-3200

Office of the City Clerk
71 Main Street West , City Hall, 2nd Floor
Hamilton , ON L8P 4Y5
905 546-CITY

City Centre
Public Works Department, 77 James Street
North, Suite 320 , Hamilton , ON L8R 2K3
905 546-CITY

Subject to comments received as a result of this notice, the City of Hamilton intends to proceed with the implementation of the recommendations included in the Project File Report. If after reading the Project File Report, you have questions or concerns, please follow this procedure:

1. Contact the following City staff to discuss your questions or concerns:
   Lorissa Skrypniak, MCIP, RPP, Project Manager, City of Hamilton, 77 James Street North, Ste 320, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2K3
   Ph. 905-546-2424 ext. 2732 Fax 905-546-4435 Email lskrypni@hamilton.ca
   
   
2. Arrange a meeting with the above if you have significant concerns that may require more detailed explanation.
   
   
3. If you raise major concerns, the City will attempt to negotiate a resolution of the issues. A mutually acceptable time period for this negotiation will be set. If the issues remain unresolved, you may request the Minister of the Environment, by order, to require the City to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act before proceeding with the Schedule “B” project. This is called a Part II Order (“bump up”).

The Minister may make one of the following decisions:

• Deny the request
• Refer the matter to mediation
• Require the City to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act by undertaking one of the following:
  • Submitting the Project File Report for government review and approval; or,
  • Completing an individual Environmental Assessment for government review and approval; or,
  • Preparing Terms of Reference governing the preparation of an individual Environmental Assessment.

Requests must be submitted in writing to the Minister of the Environment within the 32-day review period:

Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th Floor,
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5

A copy of the letter should be sent to the City of Hamilton, to the attention of Lorissa Skrypniak (address above).

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

More information, including the Project File Report can be found at:

www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/CityandGovernment/
CityDepartments/PublicWorks/CapitalPlanning/StrategicPlanning/
StrategicEnvironmentalPlanningProjects/Valley+Inn+Road+Bridge+EA.htm.