Westminster/Woodhaven Drive
Stormwater Solutions
The Facts. The Details.
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was undertaken as a drainage study for the residential area near Coronation Park. It was completed and in 2017, and its stormwater recommendations for several streets in the study - including both Westminster Drive and Woodhaven Park Drive, formed the basis of the final report.
In that report, the EA report stated both Town staff and the general public wanted to retain the rural cross-section of the road - thus maintaining the natural drainage system of ditches that support stormwater conveyance. Please see information on green infrastructure below.
Result of the EA? A Combination of Measures
Recommendations in the Final Report are termed as being the 'Preferred Alternative' for each street in question. Below are the detailed plans for each street. These solutions incorporate a combination of the retention of our natural infrastructure (ditches) with enhances such as additional low impact development and a storm sewer.
Westminster Drive
* Ditch re-grading and landscaping
* Driveway and roadside culvert replacement
* 487m storm sewer
* LID (low impact development/green infrastructure) Best Management Practices to be assessed and incorporated where feasible during final design.
Woodhaven Park Drive
* Driveway and roadside culvert replacement
* Ditch re-grading and landscaping
* 1,084m storm sewer
* LID (low impact development/green infrastructure) Best Management Practices to be assessed and incorporated where feasible during final design.
Council Approved the EA Recommendations
In June of 2017, Town staff brought forth a report to the standing committee of Council (Community Services Committee) seeking approval of the EA and its Preferred Alternatives. Staff supported the recommendations of the report to retain the rural road cross-section, restore ditches, install new culverts, etc. and add to them with a sewer pipe and new, additional low impact development measures.
They even went so far as to include a table outlining the various solutions on a street by street situation. The committee voted approval.
One week later, Council met and approved the motion from Community Services. Oakville was on its way to providing a stormwater solution with green infrastructure and the latest technologies available.
Fast Forward to 2023
Staff announces it plans to undertake a construction project on Westminster that is entirely different than the plan that was approved by Council!
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Green infrastructure is gone, as are the existing ditches.
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And to add a further blow to residents they plan to add a sidewalk on one side.
The Issues Explained
What is Green Infrastructure and why do we need it?
Green infrastructure is defined as natural vegetative systems and green technologies that collectively provide society with a multitude of environmental, social and economic benefits. The green technologies encompassed in this definition include porous pavements, rain barrels and cisterns, which replicate the functions of ecosystems, such as stormwater storage and filtration.
Green infrastructure can contribute to the effective implementation of a range of policy areas, including climate action, water, health, agriculture, growth and disaster risk management.
One of the key attractions of green infrastructure is its ability to perform several functions and provide multiple benefits in the same area, in contrast to its 'grey' infrastructure counterparts (e.g. storm sewers) which tend to be designed to only perform one function - drainage.
In terms of stormwater Our ditches are part of the green infrastructure system. We don't want to lose them. They need to be preserved and enhanced.
We need green infrastructure because it helps to mitigate the impacts of urban impervious surfaces on hydrology, erosion and aquatic habitat. Our ditches don't just convey water to Lake Ontario. They slow the water, thereby allowing it to be filtered and absorbed into the soil.
We must remember: Our drinking water comes from Lake Ontario. We must do everything we can to limit the harmful pollutants, chemicals, grit and micro plastics that enters it!
What is an Urbanized Road and Why Do We Oppose It?
IT'S ALL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MITIGATE IT
URBANIZED ROADS have a roadway surface bounded by curbs, gutters and catch basins.
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Beneath the surface of the road are large diameter cement pipes. As rainfall occurs, the water runs off the surface of the road into the gutters, down the pipes and into the large cement pipes. The rain water is not absorbed, not filtered and not slowed. It runs directly to its destination - in our case - Lake Ontario. Urbanized roads are contributing to the impacts of climate change.
RURAL ROAD cross-sections consist of a roadway surface, shoulders and ditches which are adjacent to the elevated roadway where rainfall and runoff from the road drain.
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The water is slowed by the ditches and surrounding greenery, grass, etc. It infiltrates the ground and is filtered. Because of the slowing, filtering and cleansing process, less water enters Lake Ontario and the water that does is cleaner.
Aren't Storm Sewers, Curbs and Gutters Less Money?
Outdated curb and gutter systems may be the lowest cost, but they deliver few benefits.
Green infrastructure offers the best value and comes with added benefits.
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Not only does it reduce volume of stormwater, it improves water quality, mitigates climate change, recharges our groundwater levels and beautifies our surroundings.
Our Position
We want what Council approved. Residents want the rural character of area streets to be preserved and maintained. The report and recommendations approved by Council were to retain/repair/enhance our ditches and culverts, NOT TO PAVE OVER THEM.
Staff Has No Authority to Quash Council's Vote
The Municipal Act, which directs how municipalities will govern, is clear in its instructions on the roles of Council and Municipal Administration.
It is the role of Council to (a) represent the public and consider the wellbeing and interests of the municipality, and (d) to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of senior management of the municipality.
It is the role of the officers and employees of the municipality (a) to implement council's decisions and establish administrative practices and procedures to carry out Council's decisions.
The EA Report includes a map indicating how the Preferred Alternative drainage systems will perform in a 100-year storm event. On Westminster, flow is within the ditch in all areas with the exception of a short span on the west side near Warland. On Woodhaven, the same applies with the area adjacent to Lakeshore Road West being above ditch level.
The Preferred Alternative
Accommodates a 100-Year Storm
Staff's Urbanized Road Doesn't Meet Council's Green Infrastructure First Policy
Council's Motion of July 11, 2023 states ... "That the Rainwater Management Strategy under development, and associated fees and studies, will ensure green infrastructure be preferred and grey infrastructure only where necessary, with a program of public consultation".
The Result
At a Meeting of Council, held November 20, 2023, Council voted unanimously to uphold its original decision and direct staff to undertake a stormwater design for Westminster Drive and Woodhaven Park Drive based on retaining rural profile of the streets with open ditches and additional green infrastructure where it can be used.