Former Beaches Property Environmental Site Assessment and Remedial Action Plan Development

The Township of South Stormont will conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA II) and develop a remedial action plan (RAP) for a site known as the “former beaches property”. As early as the 1950’s, the property located at 15945 County Road #2, was utilized as a gas station and automotive service station as well as more recently a restaurant. The building has since been demolished. A preliminary ESA II was conducted on the eastern part of the property in 2004 which confirmed the presence of 3 underground fuel storage tanks (still present on site) and associated soil and groundwater contamination. Further investigation is required to meet current MOE standards and support filing for a Record of Site Condition (RSC) in the hopes of facilitating redevelopment. A previously issued Expression of Interest (EOI) received non-satisfactory offers due to the relatively unknown environmental conditions. Based on the ESA II results, the Township may elect to undertake a risk assessment. If applicable, the risk assessment would evaluate whether contaminant concentrations pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment. Property specific standards would then be developed that are protective of human health and the environment and can be used as clean-up criteria for remediation, and/or combined with other risk management measures to support a RSC. The Township has identified the property as a key location for development in the Townships Community Improvement Plan and Brownfield Strategy (CIPBS) which may allow potential developers to access financial incentives. Social and economic benefits include improving public access to the waterfront and increased tourism. The Township is committed to sharing project results to demonstrate how smaller communities can facilitate complex brownfield redevelopment. This project is also expected to set precedent for at least three other previously identified brownfield sites within the Township. (Project description from original funding application)