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970304 Otter Valley Trail Open House MIN"' OTTER VALLEY UTILITY CORRIDOR & RECREATIONAL TRAIL PORT BURWELL -TILLSONBURG PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE #1 MINUTES of the meeting held Tuesday, March 4th, 1997 at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers, TILLSONBURG Municipal Offices. ORDER OF BUSINESS: 1. Introductions Councillor Gayle Leachman welcomed everyone in attendance to the meeting with respect to the Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Recreational Trail from the Village of Port Burwell to the Town of Tillsonburg through the Township of Bayham. Councillor-At-Large Irv Horton welcomed all meeting participants on behalf of Mayor Cam McKnight and he complimented the two municipalities, as well as the Inter- Municipal Review Committee that was working on this worthwhile enterprise between the two municipalities. Reeve Tom Nesbitt, Village of Port Burwell, as well welcomed all participants and expressed the need to build linkages between the two municipalities with respect to tourism and economic development opportunities. Mr. Nesbitt further reiterated that the Inter-Municipal Review Committee was looking for partners between all persons involved along the line. Councillor Gayle Leachman, Chair of the Inter-Municipal Review Committee, further stated that both utility and recreational uses can be complimented through proper master planning of a regional trail and corridor system. Councillor Gayle Leachman also introduced IMC Consultants, consultants to the Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Trail. 2. Purpose of Meeting Mr. Ken Buck, principal, IMC Consul tan ts, introduced the constant team with respect to the Otter Valley Corridor and Trial and stated that there is a grand swell related to trail movements throughout the Province of Ontario and further complimented the Village of Port Burwell and the Town of Tillsonburg in their acquisition of the abandoned railway right-of-way. • •• 2 -2 - Mr. Buck further provided the meeting with background information to the Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Recreational Trail, discussed trail successes elsewhere in the Province of Ontario and explained the trail opportunities, constraints to trail development and overall desirable trail uses, activities and facilities that will be forthcoming and discussed at the evening's open house. 3. Trails in Ontario Mr. J. Cranstone, Landscape Architect, IMC Consultants Ltd., explained trail systems throughout the Province of Ontario. 4. The Caledon Rail Trail as a Case Study Mr. Dave Turner, Recreational Planner, Village of Caledon, addressed the Open House and presented a case study, being the Caledon Rail Trail in the Region of Peel. He discussed with the group the initial concerns of the rail trail system in Cal eden, being policing, vandalism, motorized vehicles and garbage, as well as other uses along the property and trail. He further explained access control gates and stated that the utility companies using the trail build that trail to a very high standard. He further explained that the Caledon Trail was the first Trans-Canada pavilion throughout Canada and that housing developments along the trai 1 enjoy the many activities and trail uses. He further stated that vandalism was very low on the Caledon trail and that the initial fears by adjacent land owners never materialized. He also stated that all complaints with respect to the rail trail are handled through the Parks and Recreation Division of the Town of Caledon. He further stated that all maintenance of the trail is done on a very tight budget and that in all decision making of the Caledon Rail Trail all citizen and residents groups were included in that process. He further stated that the planning underway for the Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Trail is very excellent in its planning and mandate and that it needs the support of Town Hall. He further suggested to the public meeting that when the various aspects are actually planned and built that you should have some form of record including photographs, etc. of the major planning and major building phases. 5. Big Otter Trail Design Concepts Mr. Dave Zimmer, Senior Planner, IMC Consultants, explained all design concepts with respect to the Big Otter Trail . • . . 3 ~ v ,, ·, 6. -3 - Tourism Trends, Economic Benefits and Implications for Design Mr. Glen Pincombe, Touristics, addressed the public meeting and stated that there are immense economic development opportunities and tourism opportunities than can be achieved with respect to the Big Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Trail. He further stated that there is an every increasing trend towards outdoor recreational and educational activities with baby boomers and all types of families. He further stated that with the educational components of the trail, the area's history, culture, flora fauna, geology, and sustainable resources can be explained along its route, further educating the public. 7. Discussion Period Mr. Ken Buck led the group in a well-rounded discussion period. 1. Implications The group at the Open House identified a number of implications being: i) ii) iii) iv) v) the number of access points the need for dedicated parking and staging areas the frequent use and need of signage showing where litter and washrooms, etc. are available along the route designated areas or need for other types of signs involving local communities off-trail interests need to be marked. Mr. Ken Buck led the group in a discussion with respect to economic impacts. Mr. Buck stated that in 1992 surveys were conducted for major trails throughout the United States and the economic benefits to the local communities were very large and in the ranges of hundreds of thousands of dollars for the complete trail. He further stated that the adjacent land owners were not negatively impacted or their livability and enjoyment of their properties were not decreased. He further stated that the values of properties along many of the major trails throughout Canada and the United States have actually increased proportionately. Mr. Ken Buck led the group in a question period focusing on trail opportunities and constraints. The group discussed major trail opportunities. In response to a •.. 4 -4 - question from Jean Law, Hike Ontario, Mr. Ken Buck stated that areas close to the neighbourhoods could be wheel- chair accessible and there are certain constraints with that accessibility, but you need to address this with a needs assessment and appropriately allocate space for unloading and loading of vehicles. In response to a question from a resident of Zorra Township, Mr. Dave Turner said that the experience with the Caledon Trail has been that local persons use the trail throughout the week, but, on the weekends larger groups and out of town visitors will come and use the trail system. The Committee further discussed in kind donations such as trees, planting, equipment, etc. In response to question from Fred Lewis, Mr. Dave Turner, stated that tax receipts can be issued and all donations would be recognized and this could be done in the many pavilion areas along the trail system. Mr. Fred Lewis further explained that the management group of the trail system could incorporate and adopt a mile system for the trail or adopt a metre, as is the case with the Trans- Canada Trail. The Committee discussed at great length the use of the trail for motorized vehicles. Mr. Ken Buck stated that no decision has been made with respect to the use of the trail for motorized vehicles. Mr. Dave Turner stated that motorized vehicles were prohibited, however, on the Caledon Trail. The group discussed the joint use of the trail system for motorized vehicles. The group generally agreed that motorized vehicles could be accommodated on the trail in certain sections, perhaps through some sort of permit system. B. Bartlett, Deputy Clerk, further advised the group that there has been approach by various snowmobile clubs in the area for use on the Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Trail and that somehow this use could be tied into the Ontario Snowmobile Federation Club. The group further discussed and stated that motorized vehicles should be kept away from rural settlement areas as well as high traffic areas on the trail system. Mr. John Danbrook, an avid, AT enthusiast in the area, stated that he has been using the trail and that certain sections could be used safely so that other users could •.. 5 ~ '{ t, ·c -5 - access other farm fields in the area with the permission of the adjacent property owners. He further stated that there is very good visibility throughout the entire trail system. He response to a question with respect to farm tractors using the trail, the group thought that the agricultural history of the area would warrant such continued use. Mr. Ken Buck presented to the group a possible use for the corridor being bikers and walkers in the middle of the trail with horses or motorized vehicles users on either sides. The enthusiasts from the horse industry stated that there should be caution whenever horses are near motorized vehicles. The group further stated that trail etiquette and courtesy is a must and that all should respect the multi- use of the utility corridor and trail. The group further discussed the need to specifically allocate certain sections of the trail to be used for the multiplicity of uses so that there was no crossing of underground lines or wires with all the other utilities that would be located in the corridor. The group advised the consultants that they must identify users and their specific needs so the location within the corridor system can be complete. Mr. David Turner, Town of Caledon, further emphasized that a systematic way to photograph the entire planning to building phases of the project must be done by the Intermunicipal Review Committee. Mr. Colin Jarvis, Vice-President, presented a draft copy of the conceptual route for the Tillsonburg Trail, linking with the Otter Valley Utility Corridor and Trail, from the Executive of the Tillsonburg Trail Association dated March 3rd, 1997 and presented same to the public open house. 2. Constraints Mr. Ken Buck led the working group in a discussion on the constraints to the development of the Otter Valley Corridor and Recreational Trail. • •• 6 -6 - It was felt by the group participants that back alley access must be restricted and that trail management is desperately needed, focusing on good design, rules, and courteous policies for all users. The group identified that farm practices must be respected with respect to aerial crop spraying and that all land owners could help with identifying with these needs. IMC Consultants stated that they would identify hot spots and that any hot spots could be fenced off or even discussions with land owners to mitigate effects and even re-route the trail. Mr. Dave Zimmer stated that the gully could be conquered with the use of switchback and roads. It was stated that there are 14 road crossings and property design must be done at those locations. 8. Next Steps Mr. Ken Buck thanked all participants, asked them to complete a comment sheet and stated that the next open house would be in mid-April 1997. 9. Adjournment -9:45 P.M. ,, -..j,'