Terrace Co-op Site Brownfield Investigation and Subdivision

The City of Terrace will evaluate the extent of contamination on the western portion of a 4.3 acre downtown site that they own which has already undergone extensive testing and remediation for a variety of former uses. The eastern portion of the site was formerly used as a service station, and the latest monitoring results indicate hydrocarbons in the groundwater above applicable standards. The proposed Supplemental Site Investigation will procure the data required by the Ministry of Environment to allow the City of Terrace to subdivide the property to facilitate redevelopment. Current plans for the subdivision of the parcel call for dividing the western portion (approximately 3.2 acres) from the eastern portion containing the former service station (approximately 1.1 acres). A hotel development and a small restaurant and pub are being planned for the western portion of the site. The study plan is designed to obtain data in areas to the west of the former service station, with the objective of delineating hydrocarbon impacts along a north-south line near the planned boundary for subdivision. Field activities will include groundwater monitoring, well installation, and collection of soil, soil vapour, and groundwater samples. The scope of the work will be based on assessment information from previous studies completed at the site. If the environmental impacts are below regulatory standards at the tested locations, the new parcel boundary can be based on the tested locations. If impacts extend farther west than anticipated, then additional risk assessment and risk management planning may be needed to allow subdivision and subsequent redevelopment. Project status and results will be communicated to City Council and other stakeholders through scheduled meetings, including those open to the public. The study directly supports objectives identified in the City of Terrace 2050 Strategy for Sustainability and Terrace's Official Community Plan, including compact, complete neighborhoods and community, and a diversified and coordinated economy. The approach used with this project, whereby subdivision is expected to allow redevelopment of a majority of the site much faster than the timeframe required to remediate the entire site, will be applicable to other municipalities. Anticipated benefits from the site redevelopment include increased property tax revenue, stimulus for the local economy, and job creation. (Project description from original funding application)