UNIVERSITY PLAZA SERVICE CENTRE WORK RESUMES

Soil excavation was apparently underway recently at the University Plaza site of a proposed quick oil change facility.

A hydrovac truck from Ancaster's Fairway Utilities was at the site of the demolished former Beverly Tire at 101 Osler Dr. on Wednesday, March 15.

Jason Herd, president of Fairway, said he couldn't comment on the project for privacy reasons. Heidi

McGaw, a general manager at RioCan — owner of University Plaza — said the company had no updates to share on the project.

Valvoline spokesperson Heather Watson said the company leases the property from RioCan, and RioCan manages the site, including the removal of the previous structure.

Watson said Valvoline "has moved back on site to proceed with construction" of a proposed Great Canadian Oil Change location and hopes to open by the end of 2023.

The City of Hamilton is reviewing an amended building permit application, which includes the relocation of a transformer, and is awaiting more information. Staff said the relocation of the equipment may require underground service installation.

According to the Fairway website, its hydrovac trucks can be used to break up and remove soil, clear debris from a job site and help locate underground utilities, including pipes, cables and electrical lines.

It's not clear if the hydrovac might also be used to remove contaminated soil. The plaza site was identified in 2012 as an Area of Potential Environmental Concern due to suspected Hydrocarbon (PHC), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) and Volatile Organic Compound contamination in groundwater and soil.

During August 2022, demolition of the vacant Beverly Tire, a contractor struck an underground water main sending an estimated 3,000 litres of water runoff over the plaza parking lot and into Ancaster Creek.

A building permit was issued in September 2022 for a one-storey, 195square-metre service centre. In January 2023, a Valvoline Instant Oil Change spokesperson said the project was "delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

City of Hamilton spokesperson Lauren Vastano said March 16 there was an application in January to amend the building permit to relocate a transformer.

"The application is currently in the review process, and it appears that as of March 2, we are requiring further responding information from the applicant," Vastano said. "The Building Inspection team will continue to monitor status in light of this application to revise the existing permit; however to date, there have been no scheduled inspection requests from the permit holder." Vastano said the site is considered an "active construction site" because of the building permit issued in September 2022.

"The transformer identified on the revised permit application is not underground, although may require some underground service installation," Vastano said.