MINUTES
MARCH
31, 2009 - 9:00 a.m.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 10
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Councillor J. Webster Chair: Regional Councillor T. Wong
Vice-Chair: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor G. Landon
PART A
Presentations, Major Studies, and Issues Agenda
9:00 a.m. – Canada Room
Attendance
|
Regrets
Councillor A. Chiu
Absent
Regional Councillor J. Jones
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
B. Librecz, Commissioner of
Community & Fire Services
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
B. Karumanchery, Senior Development
Manager
L. Duoba, Senior Project Coordinator
M. Boyce, Senior Project Coordinator,
Policy
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at 9:00 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor
J. Webster in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- March 10, 2009, Part A (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held March 10,
2009, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. LONG TERM TOURISM DESTINATION
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
REGION OF YORK (10.0)
Presentation
Ms. Brenda McGowan, Manager, Tourism Development,
Region of York delivered
a high level PowerPoint presentation regarding Long Term Tourism Destination
Development Strategy. She advised that
the Region is welcoming all comments and/or input from the municipalities. Ms. McGowan confirmed that invitations were
sent to the individual Business Improvement Area (BIA) representatives within
York Region for their comments and input.
There was discussion regarding the relation of
municipal festivals and York Region Tourism.
Ms. McGowan advised that there is no intention for the Region to run
municipal festivals and/or events, but to more willingly to assist and support what
is already in place and help take it to the next level (such as provide
additional marketing tools or grant funding).
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the presentation provided by Ms. Brenda McGowan,
Manager, Tourism Development, Region of York regarding Long Term Tourism
Destination Development Strategy, be received.
CARRIED
3. GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
EMPLOYMENT LANDS STRATEGY (PHASE
1) (10.0)
Presentation
Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban
Design provided some opening comments with respect to the Employment Lands Strategy
(Phase 1).
Mr. Peter Thoma, urbanMetrics inc. delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding the Employment Lands Strategy (Phase 1), that
will assist in providing an adequate and well-located supply of employment
lands, in both the short and long term, and provide for a diverse range of employment
opportunities for Markham residents.
There was considerable discussion related to the encouragement
of redevelopment of current employment lands primarily in the south
Don Mills Road area. The Committee suggested that a special
workshop be arranged to discuss the issues related to redevelopment. The Committee expressed the importance of
having employment lands close to the transit lines.
Mr. Nick McDonald, Meridian Planning Consultant Inc.,
delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the policy framework related to
the Employment Lands Strategy (Phase 1).
The Committee discussed the recent closing of some of
the big box retails and queried what will be replacing those developments. Mr. McDonald advised that the issues related
to these retail developments will have to be reviewed as they move forward and
that one suggestion would be to not plan for big box retail developments in new
development areas. The Committee
discussed at length the need for more creative and new thinking when
considering future employment land development.
The Committee suggested that any new employment land policy
designation or special approach created to address the Markham Centre area
should also apply to other key intensification areas such as Cornell and
Langstaff. The Committee discussed the
importance of protecting against employment land conversion and suggested that
all measure/tools, such as the distribution of servicing allocation, should be
utilized to assist in ensuring that the long term strategy related to
Employment Lands is successful. The
Committee also suggested that it would be useful to hear from international
business leaders and real estate representatives working in the field with
regard to industrial trends and future outlook.
Staff assured the Committee that today’s feedback and
comments will be addressed in the consultant’s report that is anticipated to be
presented to the Development Services Committee in May 2009.
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the presentation provided by Mr. Peter Thoma,
Partner, urbanMetrics inc. and
Mr. Nick McDonald, Partner, Meridian Planning Consultant
Inc., regarding Growth Management Strategy - Employment Lands Strategy (Phase
1), be received; and,
That staff be directed to arrange a Council
Workshop to explore more fully the various aspects of the employment lands
strategy, and emerging policy framework, with a focus on strategies to assist
in the redevelopment of older existing employment areas.
CARRIED
4. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY REVIEW UPDATE (5.7)
Presentation
Ms. Lilly Duoba, Senior Project Coordinator and Mr.
Mark Schollen, Schollen and Company delivered a PowerPoint presentation
providing an update with respect to the Environmental Policy Review.
The Committee discussed some infill opportunities with
respect to the small Hamlets. Staff will
confirm the total acreage of lands being expanded in the Hamlets. Staff advised that there are limited uses permitted
in the Hamlets and Hamlets are not included as part of the intensification
strategy. This review of the Hamlet
boundary is a one time opportunity as part of the Town’s Greenbelt
conformity exercise to ensure that the Hamlet boundaries are consistent with
what currently exists in the area and that notice will be given to the owners
in the Hamlets. The Committee stated
concerns with respect to the current policies related to Hamlets. Staff advised
that they will look at the Hamlet policies as part of the Official Plan review.
There was discussion related to the east/west ecological
connection that, following consultation with the Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), has been relocated further
north. The Committee suggested making
the east/west connection wider than the proposed 200 metres and also raised
concerns regarding the cost of bringing these corridors into public ownership. Staff advised that a 200 metre width was
arrived at because it was felt to be defensible and that this proposal of east/west
connection does not commit the Town to acquire all these lands, but will layout
options. The Committee noted the option
to designate the lands needed for the east/west connection under the Greenbelt
Act.
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Mayor F. Scarpitti
That the presentation provided by Mr. Mark Schollen,
Principal, Schollen and Company regarding Environmental Policy Review Update,
be received.
CARRIED
5. TOWARD A MARKHAM GROWTH STRATEGY:
OUTLINING AN INTENSIFICATION
STRATEGY (10.0)
Presentation
Ms. Shuttleworth delivered a
PowerPoint presentation to provide an overview of the report entitled “Toward a
Markham Growth Strategy: Outlining an
Intensification Strategy” that was deferred at the March
24, 2009
Development Services Committee meeting.
She confirmed that a summary of the comments being received at the ongoing
series of Public Information Meetings about the Growth Management Strategy will
be included in a future presentation and report.
The Committee suggested that
the following be addressed in the proposed intensification principles:
- Parking issues
- Public consultation (results and continuation)
- Heritage Conservation Districts
Moved by Councillor V.
Burke
Seconded by Mayor F.
Scarpitti
That staff be directed to add
a principle about appropriate infill within the Main Streets of our Heritage
Conservation Districts.
CARRIED
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor C.
Moretti
That the presentation provided
by Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design regarding
Toward a Markham Growth Strategy: Outlining an Intensification Strategy, be
received.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
No new business.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 12:30 PM.