Opponents speak on proposal to reopen part of Bathurst Street
By Bill Rea

York Region is looking at reopening the stretch of Bathurst Street, north of Green Lane, but area residents are raising concerns.

Those concerns were aired recently before King councillors.

Councillors have referred the issue to Township staff for a report.

The Region hosted a public consultation session on the matter in May, at which it was reported the road had been closed to through traffic since the mid-'90s for safety reasons. It was also reported the need to improve Bathurst from Green Lane to Yonge Street was identified in the Region's Master Transportation Plan, as well as the 10-year construction program earlier this year.

A municipal class environmental assessment (EA) is being conducted on Bathurst, from Green Lane to Yonge to confirm the need for transportation improvements and to identify the most appropriate way to address the need. There was a previous EA started in 1998, complete with two public consultation sessions. The study was never finished for a couple of reasons, including changes to the roles of certain review agencies, as well as pending regulatory changes.

Addressing current traffic issues, the Region reported in May that commuters pass through the area, either heading to specific destinations or for major highways, like the 400 or 404. Yonge is the only operating north-south Regional road in the area, considering that Dufferin Street has low speed limits through Ansnorveldt. These commuter numbers are likely to increase from growth in ares to the north (Bradford, Innisfil and Barrie), probably adding to congestion on Yonge.

The Region reported it has been able defer improvements to Bathurst, but it's feared that won't be possible much longer, given the growth and traffic pressures.

The study is also looking into alternatives to improving Bathurst. Improvements to Dufferin have been considered, but the Region reported that is west of the main traffic flows. As well, widening the road through Ansnorveldt would be tricky because there are houses on both sides of the street, including some heritage homes. Creating a new corridor between Dufferin and Bathurst would present problems too, such as significant property acquisition, impact on the farming community and implications for the provincial Greenbelt.

Improving Bathurst will result in numerous impacts, the Region stated. That includes impacts to the natural environment, such as removal of forested areas and habitat around the Cawthra Mullock Nature Reserve and around the old bridge area. There are also six watercourse crossings that will be impacted.

There is the potential for impact on the frontages of about 22 residences along Bathurst, both in terms of disruption from construction, and from the fact that people in the area have grown used to having their road closed.

The Region commented the corridor is in the Greenbelt, but added Bathurst is a Regional road in York's Official Plan and there are no proposed developments that would be impacted by this. There would be no businesses displaced and no cultural effects were identified.

Widening Yonge Street is the other possibility that's being looked into. The Region pointed out the intersection at Yonge and Green Lane is already at capacity, and it's questionable whether it can be improved to meet service needs.

While the Region appears to think the Bathurst improvements are the way to go, several area residents are not sold.

Bathurst resident Strachan Bowen made a lengthy presentation to council, making repeated references to letters written by other local residents.

In it, he stressed it will be very expensive to put in the proposed improvements. Bathurst might be a Regional road, he agreed, but that just represents a line that was drawn on a survey years ago.

He also raised a number of concerns, including the environmental and ecological impacts on drainage, groundwater, wildlife, trees, nature preserves and air quality.

"This area of King Township is environmentally sensitive, since it includes the Holland Marsh, the nature conservancy and many small streams," Bowen read from a letter by Bob and Evelyn Ballard.

Bowen also cited agricultural concerns, including those involving the Holland Marsh, as well as issues of drainage, groundwater, flooding, silting and sedimentation.

"We are deeply concerned that such an extension will cause irreparable damage to the environs, including the Nature Conservancy on Bathurst Street and the Holland Marsh, both environmentally sensitive areas that are important to King Township," Bowen read from a letter by Michael and Susan Bradley. "Further, an expansion of traffic through this area will make the notion of a 'greenbelt' a meaningless fiction that can never be undone."

Bowen also raised issues of property values, citing a letter from Robert and Anne Bedard, in which they agreed some growth is necessary, but argued "hasty and somewhat unplanned growth is detrimental to those living in any area."

"None of these concerns have been addressed to date by the region," Bowen commented.

There were other issues he raised.

He brought up matters of traffic volumes and logistics, citing a letter from local resident Clayton de Vries, in which he said the motorists causing the capacity problems at Green Lane and Yonge are from Bradford and other places in Simcoe, heading for Highway 404.

"This appears to be an extreme band-aid solution to a major traffic flow problem that will be with us for the future," de Vries wrote. "The massive growth planned for York Region and Simcoe County, combined with the province's delay with the Bradford bypass and the 404, are a recipe for gridlock."

"I do not understand why York Region would consider this expensive band-aid to solve a primarily Simcoe County problem," he added. "Let Bradford and Simcoe County determine their needs and priorities and deal with the provincial government."

Bowen also pointed to a lack of attention that had been paid to alternate transportation, like rail, as well as other alternatives. He read a letter to council from Kettleby resident Bob Martin, in which stated he attended the May session.

"One was left with the impression that a line had been drawn on the map," he wrote. "Having done so, the object of the exercise was then to justify the line that had been selected."

He added there had been no adequate justification given for opening Bathurst.

Bowen also read from a letter from Debbie Schaefer, chair of Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT). In it, she called on council to "assume a very visible and aggressive role in protecting our township." She added that means making sure regional and provincial policies are correctly interpreted.

Bowen also attended to the meeting armed with a proposed resolution for council, calling on the Township to assume a leadership role when it comes to addressing these issues.

Mayor Margaret Black was impressed with the preparation that went into Bowen's presentation. "You've certainly done all your homework," she observed.

She also assured Bowen council does not want any more traffic in King.

Black added that a response to a regional EA has to be very professional, and that Township staff is working on it.

As well, Black asserted the Township has taken leadership roles in this, through its community plans. She said she is constantly getting compliments on the way they have been able to limit the growth in King, keeping it to maybe 1,000 more people since she became mayor, and that is despite being surrounded by municipalities with considerably more growth.

Black also said she is very familiar with the road, adding no one wants a fourlane highway there.

She wanted Bowen's material referred to Township staff so they can come up with a position paper that can eventually go to the Region.

Bowen stressed he wasn't saying King wasn't showing leadership, but wanted the role to be taken to the regional level. Black countered there aren't enough hours for staff and councillors to take a stronger position. She said King and it's positions are well known at Queen's Park and she repeated that it's important they maintain their professionalism on this.

Black also assured Bowen she will take a position at Regional council, but she will need a strong position from staff to back her up when she does.

Councillor Jack Rupke commented this issue should also include looking into the implementation of a Bradford bypass, which would help take the pressure off the Yonge and Bathurst corridors. The Town of Bradford - West Gwillimbury has been working on this for some time. Black agreed to amend her motion to include the bypass.

Director of Operations Jody LaPlante told Councillor Jane Underhill the EA is still in the public consultation stage, with the current preferred solution being the improvements on Bathurst.

"I've been through many EAs and know what happens with preferred alternatives," Underhill commented.

LaPlante added traffic congestion in the area is the subject of a lot of the calls that staff get, and it's hard to address because the traffic comes from outside King.