FEBRUARY
2, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 3
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Councillor J. Webster Chair:
Vice-Chair: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor G. Landon
PART B
Report Agenda
9:00 a.m. – Council Chamber
Attendance
|
Councillor A. Chiu
Regrets
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of Development
Services
A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate
Services
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
B. Karumanchery, Senior Development
Manager
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
A. Brouwer, Deputy Clerk
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at 9:05 AM in the Council Chamber with Councillor
J. Webster in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- January 12, 2010, Part B (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part B, held January 12,
2010, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. HERITAGE
MARKHAM COMMITTEE MINUTES
- January 13, 2010 (16.11)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional
Councillor J. Jones
That the minutes of the
Heritage Markham Committee meeting held January
13, 2010, be
received.
CARRIED
3. PUBLIC
INFORMATION MEETING
MARKHAM'S AGRICULTURAL
STRATEGY AND
ROUGE PARK'S DRAFT
AGRICULTURAL
POLICY AND GUIDELINES -
JANUARY 12, 2010 (10.0)
Minutes
There was discussion regarding the correlation between
the Environmental Issues Committee and the associated costs related to the
proposed recommendations to plant more tress if the boundaries of the Bob
Hunter Park are changed.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the minutes of the Public Information Meeting,
Markham's Agricultural Strategy and Rouge Park's Draft Agricultural Policy and
Guidelines held January 12, 2010, be received.
CARRIED
4. HERITAGE
WEEK 2010 PROCLAMATION
FEBRUARY 14 TO FEBRUARY 20, 2010
(16.11)
Report
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That the week of February 14-20, 2010 be proclaimed as
Heritage Week in the Town of Markham;
and,
2) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution, including the
community outreach measures outlined in the report.
CARRIED
5. TOWN
OF MARKHAM COMMENTS ON
THE REGION OF YORK OFFICIAL
PLAN,
AS ADOPTED DECEMBER 16, 2009 (10.17)
Report Attachment
Mr. Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
summarized the details in the staff report and provided the Committee with
further details regarding the information contained in Appendix A.
There was considerable discussion regarding the importance
of obtaining infrastructure improvements throughout the Region that will
support the future forecasted growth.
The Committee also discussed the conversion of employment lands or
inclusion of residential uses in employment areas and the importance of
live/work communities. Staff advised
that the conversion of employment lands to other uses is not permitted, but is
under review through a comprehensive review (of the Official Plan) and that
staff are not proposing mixed use developments as a standard throughout the
Town.
The Committee requested that the following suggestions
be considered:
- Add the 407
Transitway throughout the entire document
- That the
Region review where these rapid transits intercept to ensure that the
proposed density is appropriate and that the forecasted growth will be
transit supported
- Amend the
proposed wording for section 7.2.25f to read: “Any such limited parking provided
should be accommodated in below grade structures as a preference and above
grade only as a last resort, and be designated to be physically integrated
with adjacent development with priority spaces to be designated for car
poolers and auto share users”
- Use another
term other than“New Canadians”
- strengthen
the need for segregated bike lanes
Staff advised that they will amend Appendix A of the
report entitled “Town of Markham Comments on the Region of York Official Plan,
as adopted December 16, 2009” incorporating the comments and suggestions
received at today’s meeting and bring it back to a future Development Services
Committee meeting.
Mr. Stephen F. Waque, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, representing
Zodiac Developments Inc., addressed the Committee advising that his client’s
property has been mistakenly included into the Greenbelt Plan and that the
lands should be included as part of future employment lands. Mr. Waque has advised that he has submitted
the reports that support this technical error to our planning department. He is requesting that the Town of Markham
request the Region of York to request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and
Housing and the Minister of Energy and Environment to amend the Greenbelt Plan by
removing the subject lands (north east of 19th Avenue and Highway
404) from the Greenbelt Plan.
There was discussion with respect to having the Terraprobe
Consulting Geotechnical & Environmental Engineering Study peer
reviewed. The Committee requested that
staff obtain approval from the Region and the Province on the consultant that
will do the peer review.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio
1) That the correspondence dated February 1,
2010 from Mr. Don Given, Malone Given Parsons Ltd., on behalf of their clients
Armadale Properties Limited noting that their client has formally raised
concerns with the Region regarding the adopted Regional Official Plan policies
related to the future development of the Buttonville Airport, be received; and,
2) That staff report back to the Development
Services Committee by March 2010 on the findings of the consultant’s peer
review of the Terraprobe Consulting Geotechnical & Environmental
Engineering Study.
CARRIED
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio
1) That the report entitled “Town of Markham Comments on the
Region of York Official Plan, as adopted December 16, 2009”, be received; and,
2) That staff be directed to
amend Appendix A in this report and report back at the February 16, 2010 Development Services Committee meeting; and further,
3) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
6. OAKCREST/
SABISTON/ RIVER BEND
STUDY AREA REVIEW FINDINGS (10.0)
Report Attachment
Mr. Nick McDonald, Principal, Meridian Planning Consultants,
delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing their findings for the Oakcrest,
Sabiston and River Bend area.
There was discussion regarding the proposed
recommendation that would support lot severances only if the lot frontages are
not less than 50% of the average lot frontages on the street and proposes a new
standard which restricts the length of the front wall facing the street to 70%
of the lot line (intended to maximize side yard setbacks).
Mr. Phillip K. H. Eng, Oakcrest
Avenue, addressed the Committee regarding the Meridian
Planning Consultant report for the Oakcrest, Sabiston, River Bend Study Area
advising that he is not in support of all the recommendations.
Mr. Nunzio Fuina, Oakcrest Avenue, addressed the Committee
regarding the findings from Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest,
Sabiston and River Bend Study Area stating that lot creations should be allowed
through lot severance with lot sizes no less than 50’ frontage. He advised the Committee that he did his own
survey of the residents on Oakcrest and that many of the residents are in
favour of lot creation through severance.
Mr. Greg Chitilian, Oakcrest Avenue, addressed the
Committee with respect to the findings from Meridian Planning Consultants for
the Oakcrest, Sabiston and River Bend Study Area requesting that his
applications (submitted in June 2007) to create two 70’ lots be considered
based on the existing zoning by-laws and not the recommendations outlined in
the Consultant’s report.
Staff advised that they are comfortable bringing a
recommendation report forward now that the consultant’s report is complete that
would support Mr. Chitilian’s application to create two 70’ lots, and that
staff will continue to work with Mr. Chitilian and his architect.
Mr. Pat Dimilta, Oakcrest
Avenue, addressed the Committee regarding the
findings from Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and
River Bend Study Area advising that he is not in support of the new recommended
wider side yard setbacks. Mr. Dimilta
stated that he is in support of permitting lot severance equal to half the
original lot size. He believes that site
plan approvals are not necessary for lot severances.
Mr. Roy Handapangoda, River
Bend Road, addressed the Committee regarding the
findings from Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and
River Bend Study Area advising that he has submitted an application in 2007 to
severe his lot in half and build two new homes on 50’ frontage. He believes the consultant report should have
reference to green buildings and energy efficiency.
Ms. Evelin Ellison, Ward One South Thornhill
Residents, addressed the Committee with respect to the findings from the
Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and River Bend Study
Area and stated some concerns. She
believes that the study should have reference to water run-off and would like
to know if the Storm Water Management is sufficient to sustain the proposed
future developments.
Staff advised that the broader implications outlined
in the consultant’s report will be considered as part of the Official Plan
Amendment and that staff would not be recommending a specific minimum lot size.
The Committee suggested that allowing lot severance
equal to half the original lot size would be a more reasonable approach than the
recommendations outlined in the consultant’s report.
Moved by Councillor D. Hamilton
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That the staff report titled “Oakcrest/ Sabiston/ River Bend
Study Area review findings,” be received; and,
2) That the attached Study report titled “Land Use Planning
Report, Oakcrest/ Sabiston/ River Bend Study Area - South Unionville,” (dated
January 5, 2010, prepared by Meridian Planning
Consultants), be received; and,
3) That Staff be directed to prepare a report
and recommendation on rezoning
applications for 16 River Bend Road
(ZA 07 133206) and 4 Oakcrest Avenue
(ZA 07 125054), with a maximum allowable lot severance equal
to half the original lot size; and,
4) That staff prepare an
Official Plan Amendment specific to the Oakcrest, Sabiston, and Riverbend Area
having regard for the principle that severances equal to half the original lot
size would be permitted; and,
5) That the correspondence from Don and Carrie Perruzza, Bill
and Lesley Kelly, Aurelio Filice and Pat Dimilta, be received; and further,
6) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
7. STAFF
COMMENTS ON THE
“MARKHAM PERMANENT FOODBELT PROPOSAL
– BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCES” AS
PER DECEMBER 1, 2009, COUNCIL
MEETING (10.0)
Report Attachment
The Committee thanked staff for all their work in
bringing this forward. The Committee
discussed the possibility of forming a Task Force that will assist in achieving
the Town’s natural heritage policies including a 30% forest cover that would
include representatives from various agencies such as the Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority, Nation Research Council and Environment
Canada.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
1) That the staff
report entitled ‘Staff Comments on the “Markham Permanent Foodbelt Proposal
– Blue Ribbon Task Forces” as per December 1, 2009, Council Meeting’, dated
February
2, 2010, be received; and,
2) That based on the discussion in this report, public and
stakeholder input into growth management and sustainability initiatives
continue to be addressed through the established Town committee structure,
policy studies and public consultation processes currently underway, under the
direction of Council; and,
3) That, as per the recommendations of the Agricultural
Assessment Study endorsed by Council in principle on December 1, 2009, the Town
advance the creation of an Agricultural Advisory Committee to assist with Rouge
Park agricultural matters, Official Plan agricultural
policies and other initiatives to support agriculture viability and
sustainability in Markham; and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 1:06 PM.
Alternate formats for this document
are available upon request.