Management Planning for the Cheltenham Badlands - June 18, 2014
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Management Planning for the
Cheltenham Badlands
June 18, 2014
Slide 1
BACKGROUND
Slide 2
N Slide 3
Badlands Natural Heritage Features
• The Cheltenham (or Caledon, or Inglewood) Badlands is one of the best
examples of “Badland topography” in Ontario
• Bedrock at the Badlands is Queenston Shale, the base rock of the Niagara
Escarpment; it is over 445 million years old
• Due to removal of vegetation during land clearing and livestock grazing in
the early 1900s, the shale has eroded into a series of hummocks and
gullies
• The Badlands is an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (Earth Science).
• The unique topography is a strong draw for tourists, school groups at all
levels, and the media arts community (filming, photography, etc.) Slide 4
Badlands Location
Slide 5
Photo courtesy Jan Hannah
Badlands Location
Slide 6
Photo courtesy Jan Hannah
Property Background – Acquisition and Access
• The Badlands lie entirely within the 36.6-hectare “Cooper Property”
• Cooper Property was acquired in 2000 to secure the Bruce Trail with a
grant of $550,000 from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) under
their Niagara Escarpment Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program
• The main Bruce Trail crosses the property from the southern to the
northern corners, with a side trail crossing through the southwest to access
Old Baseline Road
• Formerly a side trail allowed access from the main trail up to the unofficial
viewing area by the road; this trail was closed in 2007 due to concerns over
erosion of the treadway and maintenance issues
Slide 7
Slide 8
Property Background – Management and Stewardship
• The Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) holds title to the property, and the BTC
has management responsibilities for the site under an agreement with the
OHT
• Stewardship of the Badlands property, as with all properties managed by
the BTC, is carried out by volunteers (in this case the Caledon Hills Bruce
Trail Club and the Caledon Countryside Alliance) with assistance and
guidance from the BTC Land Stewardship Committee and BTC staff (Land
Stewardship Coordinator, Conservation Stewardship Officer and the
Executive Director)
Slide 9
MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
OVERVIEW
Slide 10Management Challenges
• The Badlands are a unique and striking
area
• A very common stop for “Day Trip”
tourists who will visit for fairly short
lengths of time some weekends
thousands of people visit the site
• Management challenges appear to be
related primarily to high public use of
the site and include:
o Concerns over safety along the road
adjacent to the site, due to number of
visitors and their cars
o Garbage and littering
o Vandalism of signage and trail
structures
o Creation of trespass or “rogue” trails
o Impact from pedestrian and wheeled
traffic on the slopes, trails and in other
Slide 11
areas of the siteThe Management Planning Process
• The Cheltenham Badlands is considered an “Escarpment Access” park
under the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP)
• The NEP requires a Management Plan be prepared for the site
• The Management Plan provides guidance to the landowner, land manager
and planners on how the site should be used
Slide 12The Management Planning Team
• A Management Planning Team has been struck, with representation from
the:
o Ontario Heritage Trust
o Bruce Trail Conservancy
o Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club
o Region of Peel
o Caledon Countryside Alliance
o Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee
• Ex Officio Members are representatives of:
o Town of Caledon
o Niagara Escarpment Commission
o Credit Valley Conservation
Slide 13Management Challenges – Identification of the Issues
• The Management Planning Team sees the issues as being related
primarily to high public use of the site, including:
o Concerns over safety along the road adjacent to the site, due to
number of visitors and their cars
o Garbage and littering
o Vandalism of signage and trail structures
o Creation of trespass or “rogue” trails
o Impact from pedestrian and wheeled traffic on the slopes, trails and in
other areas of the site
Slide 14Management Challenges – Interim Measures
• Increased engagement by the Peel Region; lead to traffic calming measures
including reduced speed limits, by-law enforcement of no stopping/no parking
during busy weekends, funding of a traffic study
• Solicitation of an erosion study to better understand the human impact at the
Badlands
• Removal of defaced signage at the site; installation of garbage bins; regular
visitation to the site to address garbage issues
• Erection of signs explaining site sensitivity and the need to remain at the “top” of
the slope
• Gathering of site visitation data
Slide 15Management Challenges – Identification of the Issues
• The Management Planning Team sees the issues as being related
primarily to high public use of the site, including:
o Concerns over safety along the road adjacent to the site, due to
number of visitors and their cars
o Garbage and littering
o Vandalism of signage and trail structures
o Creation of trespass or “rogue” trails
o Impact from pedestrian and wheeled traffic on the slopes, trails and in
other areas of the site
• These issues can be broadly categorized into two areas: Public Safety at
the Road, and Visitor Access on the Site
Slide 16MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
PUBLIC SAFETY
Slide 17Public Safety
• The Badlands Management Team and the Region of Peel were
concerned for the safety of visitors coming to the site
• The Team discussed options for the site:
o Prohibit all visitation to the site (i.e. no parking or stopping along
road; fencing off site)
o Do Nothing (i.e. leave the situation “as is”)
o Provide Parking, either on-street (“roadside”) or on-site that will
accommodate the “normal” visitation and some of the exceptional
situations (e.g. busses)
Slide 18Public Safety
• The Region of Peel
conducted a Traffic Study
• The Study confirmed that
the lack of appropriate
parking combined with
poor sightlines on Olde
Base Line Road was not
an ideal situation and had
to be addressed
• The Study presented
various options
Slide 19Options for Controlling Traffic at the Site
FOR THE
Category Criteria Do-Nothing Relocate Parking to Provide On-Street Parking Provide Parking
Creditview Road at the Site Within the Site
• Visibility very poor to / from both • Existing sightlines are poor - realignment of • Visibility very poor to / from both • New parking lot access meets sightline
Visibility directions Creditview Road would be required directions criteria
• 80 percentile of speeds travelled by • 80th percentile of speeds travelled by •80 percentile of speeds travelled by • Traffic calming measures (speed humps,
vehicles exceed posted speed limits vehicles exceed posted speed limits vehicles exceed posted speed limits advisory signing) introduced to reduce
• Speeds exceed safe speed for road • Speeds exceed safe speed for road • Speeds exceed safe speed for road travelled speeds
Speed Management
geometry geometry geometry
• Some traffic calming available but no
SAFETY room for speed humps
• Parking area poorly defined – driver • Parking area could provide parking for a few • Better defined to avoid driver confusion • Best defined to avoid driver confusion
confusion cars and no buses – approx. 710 s.m.
Parking Area Definition
• Potential for serious collision over time
• No pedestrian facilities • Improves pedestrian exposure as no need to • Pedestrian safety improved for parking on • Pedestrian safety greatly improved
cross road the south side of the road • Visitor ingress/egress from vehicles
Pedestrian Exposure
• No ability to create safe crossing for greatly improved
parking on the north side of the road • Bus loading safety greatly improved
• None • Clearing of forested area adjacent to • Clearing along roadside – approx. 955 s.m. • Clearing of forested area less impactful
Creditview Rd. – approx. 710 s.m. of high than Creditview based on evaluation of
quality forest forest type - parking lot footprint approx.
Removal of Treed Area
• Clearing required for new access trail – 2250 s.m.
approx. 600mx3m = 1,800 s.m. clearing • Updated access trail requires no additional
clearing
• None • Small impact, possible for nesting birds • Small impact, possible for nesting birds • Small impact, possible for nesting birds
Fauna
NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT • No ability to provide controlled access to • Would require creation of an alternate • Would require grading and fill at the main • No impact to the main feature
protect the Badlands feature access via creation of a new trail or feature of the site – approx. 5m within the • Meets all Agency (NEC,CVC, MNR)
reinstatement of side trail previously closed site would be filled regulations
• Does not comply with Agency (NEC, CVC, • Opportunity to build trail to viewing
Erosion/Feature Integrity MNR) regulations platform to protection against erosion of
• Has a major negative visual impact on the the feature
feature area
• Surface run-off mitigation could infringe on
the feature area
• Access available now, but could be • Visitors would be required to walk an • Access available but safety concerns • Provides ability to link directly to future
severely restricted if Region implements additional non accessible 500m to Badlands remain viewing platform
VISITOR ACCESS Ease of Access to Badlands
parking restrictions due to safety • Dedicated parking facility assures
concerns continued access to feature
• No Capital cost • High costs to improve sightlines on • Limited number of parking spots achievable • Maximum number of parking spots
• Continued maintenance of unofficial Creditview Rd • High cost per parking spot achievable compared to alternatives
COST Capital and Operating parking area and shoulders • Limited number of parking spots achievable • Medium cost for continued maintenance • Medium cost per parking spot
• High cost per parking spot • Medium cost for continued maintenance
• Medium cost for continued maintenance
most neutral least
The Management Planning Team’s preferred option is On-Site Parking Slide 20The On-Site Parking Lot Footprint
• Agencies met on-site to determine the “preferred footprint” of the
Parking Lot ensuring each of their applicable regulations were
adhered to
Slide 21The On-Site Parking Lot Footprint – Ecological Review
• An updated biological inventory was carried out to assess current ecological
conditions in the area of the proposed parking lot
• Information from past inventories were used to assess the natural heritage
features of the property including
o Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Earth Science Area of Scientific
Interest candidate report from 1976,
o MNR Species at Risk (SAR) report from September, 2012, and
o Credit Valley Conservation Natural Areas Report from 2009
• BTC staff ecologists performed a 3 season ecological inventory in 2012
which included Ecological Land Classification, flora and fauna species
inventory, SAR inventories and breeding bird surveys
• Information shared with consulting firm developing the preliminary design, to
assess the natural impacts to the natural features and prepare plans to
mitigate construction impacts if necessary
• No Species at Risk or other sensitive species were noted in the area of the
proposed parking lot
Slide 22The On-Site Parking Lot Access
• The “stop controlled access point” was identified based on sightline
analysis and approved by the Region of Peel
Slide 23The Parking Lot Design - Plan View
Slide 24Parking Lot - Artist’s Concept
Slide 25Accessible Parking
• The project includes providing 2 accessible parking spots on the
south side of Olde Base Line at the current informal access point
• These spots will be linked to the future viewing platform and allow
everyone to enjoy the Badlands
• The spots will comply with Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA)
• No other parking will be permitted along the road in the vicinity of
the Badlands site; parking will only be permitted in the parking lot
Slide 26
Photo courtesy Jan HannahMANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
VISITOR ACCESS
Slide 27Visitor Access
• Visitor access and impact on
the Badlands site itself is also
of concern
• Several “rogue” trails have also been created by people exploring
the site
• The Planning Team partnered with the University of Toronto to study
erosion to determine if human impact at the site (walking in the rills
and gullies, etc.) was increasing the rate of erosion
• Studies have found that humans are having a significant and
measurable impact.
Slide 28U of T Erosion Study
• Considerable erosion has taken
place since 1973, caused by both
natural and human impacts
– As high as 3 m (see Red)
• Human Impacts
– Preliminary results show up to 10
cm of lowering in 3 years at the
upper slope area.
– This is 4 times the control rate of
natural erosion
• Humans are having a significant
and measurable impact to the
badland topography
Slide 29Visitor Access
• Erosion studies highlight a conservation threat to the Badland
Topography
• The Badlands Management Planning Team discussed options
for the site:
o Prohibit all visitation to the site
o Do Nothing (i.e. leave the situation “as is”)
o Provide sustainable access to the badland topography that will
accommodate visitation while limiting impact
Slide 30Visitor Access
• A viewing platform has been proposed to address issues around
erosion and visitor access
o Will help direct visitors to the viewing area and reduce impact
on the shale slopes
o Will enhance interpretive and educational experience
• Planning for the viewing platform is in the preliminary stages; input
is welcome
• The Ontario Heritage Trust has made a commitment to fundraise
for the Viewing Platform
Slide 31The Preliminary Viewing Platform Design - Overview
• The Viewing Platform Design Concept Will:
– Provide access to “Main Viewing Area”/ Upper Slope Area
– Ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience with minimal
impact
• Elevated platform with railings to restrict access and improve views
– Provide opportunities to educate and inform the public about the
Cheltenham Badlands, the site’s history and conservation
– Structure will be designed to have the lightest touch
• Storm water, aesthetics and structural design
• Access to platform primarily via a footpath from the parking area;
– Access also to the accessible parking area at the road, and via a path back to
the parking area long the roadway (with a protective barrier)
Slide 32Proposed Proposed
Viewing Parking
Platform Lot
Slide 33PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Slide 34Public Involvement
• Public Outreach to Date
– 2008 public meeting
– Material on BTC and Caledon Hills Club web pages
– Regular updates in Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club newsletters
– Regular updates in Councillor Paterak’s newsletter, more recently
mentioning the parking lot concept
– Other articles in newspapers
– Parking Lot Permit Application: Provides a formal opportunity to
provide public input
• Are we addressing all of the issues? What are we missing?
• We welcome your input tonight, or via email to badlands@brucetrail.org,
or by mail to:
The Bruce Trail Conservancy
P.O. Box 857
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3N9 Slide 35You can also read
