Amherstburg Riverfront Civic Centre Plaza Redevelopment

The Town of Amherstburg will conduct a site assessment and develop a remedial action plan for a newly purchased 2 acres downtown former commercial marina waterfront property on the banks of the Detroit River. This initiative aims to bring the property back into economically productive use as a redeveloped outdoor community civic centre and marina. The redeveloped site will provide stimulus for the local economy through tourism and job creation while improving community quality of life and civic pride. A preliminary Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA II) revealed the presence of metal, inorganic and polycyclic aromatic compounds in the soil that exceeds provincial soil quality standards. Additional environmental concerns include an unused underground storage tank and two buildings expected to contain designated substances as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Labour. This feasibility study will involve; further contamination delineation, identification of designated substances, development of a remedial action plan and risk assessment (RA), and fulfilling the provincial reporting requirements for transitioning to more sensitive land use. Additionally an Environmental Management Plan will be established to address issues of potential environmental concern during the redevelopment process and beyond. Redevelopment of the marina portion of the site may require a Class Environmental Assessment (EA). It is anticipated through the RA process that soil excavation and landfill disposal of contaminated fill (an estimated 5,000 cubic metres) will be minimized by applying risk management measures at the site. Ancillary environmental benefits of this would include a reduction in vehicle kilometres travelled and mitigation of off-site transport of contaminants. The initiative is supported by the Town’s Official Plan (2010), Community Based Strategic Plan (2016) and will be incorporated into the Parks Master Plan (in development). Public consultations have been held resulting in a preliminary site concept design and will continue throughout the redevelopment process. The lead Project Manager will regularly apprise Town Council on the progress of the project including results of stakeholder consultation. The project has the potential to provide knowledge value to other smaller communities with similar contaminated waterfront sites or interested in purchasing such a site, especially communities who may not have the resources and in-house expertise to plan a project like this. (Project description from original funding application)