Archive: September 2006
ALMA, BALACLAVA STREETS RECONSTRUCTION & REALIGNMENT
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DownloadBelow are documents and background on the reconstruction and realignment of Alma and Balaclava streets as published in September 2006 prior to an October open house at which preferred options for the project were unveiled.
McBurney Park was once a burial ground, with the earliest record of this use dating back to 1816. The site was used first as a Garrison Burying Ground and later as the Upper Burial Grounds for the Kingston Anglican, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian churches. After closure of the Upper Burial Grounds in 1864, the cemetery entered a 30-year period of neglect. Problems included long grass, toppled burial stones, vandalism, and grazing cows and pigs. As a way to resolve these problems, the ownership of the land was transferred by the churches to the City of Kingston in 1892. The City had agreed to turn the abandoned burial ground into a public park.
Recently, the City has initiated the replacement of aging water and sewer pipes beneath Alma and Balaclava streets, as well as reconstruction of the streets themselves. Some of the pipes under Alma and Balaclava streets are over 100 years old. To mark the boundaries of the former cemetery and to provide necessary data to complete a road design of Alma Street prior to sewer and road reconstruction, an Archaeological Assessment of Alma, Balaclava and Ordnance streets, McBurney Park was completed in February 2005. The Archaeological Assessment found that the western limit of the cemetery is within the present travelled portion of the road on Alma Street. To minimize impacts on burials, the City decided to consider turning Alma into a narrower one-way street with one driving lane and one parking lane. This potential change to Alma required initiation of a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
This study is following the process for a Schedule B project under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. Specialist studies have been completed on Transportation, Social Environment and Land Use, Drainage and Landscaping. After reviewing the studies and comments received from agencies and the public, the study team undertook an evaluation of options and selected a preferred option.
Following a Public Open House held October 4, 2006, the study team will consider any more input received from the public before finalizing recommendations. A report will be completed and made available to residents, agencies and interested public. After the completion of the report, there will be a 30-day period. During these 30 days, anyone who has outstanding concerns about the project can write to the Minister of the Environment to request that she make a "Part II Referral" to elevate the project to an individual environmental assessment.
THE PREFERRED OPTION
An evaluation of options was carried out. [You can download the Option Evaluation Worksheet as a PDF document.] The preferred option is to reconstruct Alma Street as a one-way street, with one southbound travel lane and one parking lane. This option limits the risk of disturbing in-situ burials and has the fewest adverse impacts in terms of parking and traffic network impacts. Balaclava Street will be reconstructed with no significant changes.
Watermain and sewer will be replaced everywhere in the study area. Individual water and sewer pipes will be replaced from the mains to the property line. The following will also be done:
- Combined sewers on Alma and Balaclava Streets will be replaced with separate sanitary and storm sewers
- Sidewalk will be replaced with standard 1.5 metre sidewalk, with the new back of sidewalk in approximately the same location as existing
- Hydro poles in the street on Alma will be relocated (to the park, if possible, or else just behind new sidewalk)
- Existing trees will be protected as much as possible
- Measures will be taken to protect the cemetery under McBurney Park
PROTECTION OF THE CEMETERY
Human remains will be encountered during construction on Alma Street and may be encountered on Balaclava Street. Archaeological work done so far has led us to believe that only scattered bones will be disturbed. However, it is possible that both scattered bones and whole burials will be found. Identification of burials may not be possible. It will be important to treat our ancestors with respect even if we do not know their names or their histories. The City's approach to dealing with burials will be both practical and respectful.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
The project schedule is as follows:
- Deadline for comments: October 16, 2006
- Confirmation of Preferred Option and Completion of the Environmental Assessment Report: November 17, 2006
- End of 30-day public review period: December 18, 2006
- Archaeological Pre-excavation: Spring 2007
- Road Construction Begins: Summer 2007
- Construction Complete: Fall 2007
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
We welcome public and agency input on the evaluation and the selected solution. Although input will be received throughout the course of the project, comments will have more impact if they are received by October 16, 2006.
Contact the project team:
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Emily Zegers, P.Eng., Project Engineer |
Vicki Kimmett, Clerk |
