MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
September
9, 2008
Meeting No. 20
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
|
Councillor A. Chiu
Regrets
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate
Services
R. Blake, Manager, West District
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
R. Kendall,
Manager, Central District
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor
J. Webster in the Chair. Regional
Councillor G. Landon assumed the Chair for Transportation Item, No. 5.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- June 24, 2008, Part A (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held June 24,
2008, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. GROWTH
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY - OPTIONS (10.0)
Mr. Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
advised the Committee that both the Region of York and Town of Markham
are in the process of developing a growth management strategy to address the
mandated Provincial growth up to 2031.
Mr. John Waller, Director, Long
Range and Strategic Planning,
Region of York, delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding growth management
strategy and options for residential and employment lands within the Region of
York. He advised that the Region is in
the process of entering an extensive public consultation phase that will
include 5 scheduled (September 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25, 2008) York Region Open
House meetings.
There was discussion regarding the required funding to
ensure the transit infrastructure can support the new developments and communities. Accommodating the growth projection is
contingent on senior government funding for the required transportation
infrastructure. Staff also advised that
Hold Provisions (H) can be attached to the Zoning Amendments directly linking
the delivery of transportation infrastructure with development.
The Committee suggested that the Region provide
scenarios at the scheduled meetings to ensure residents know the various
options, ie. Whitebelt Development, High density infill development, etc. Mr. Waller, emphasized the importance for the
Region of York to have a very focused strategy in place that will protect lands
for future employment.
Moved by Regional Councillor T. Wong
Seconded by Councillor E. Shapero
That the presentation by Mr. John Waller, Director,
Long Range and Strategic Planning, Region of York regarding Growth Management
Strategy - Options be received.
CARRIED
3. YONGE
STEELES CORRIDOR STUDY (10.0)
Mr. Bob Allsopp, duToit Allsopp Hillier, delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding the Yonge & Steeles Corridor that
included: study process to-date; current
plan (preferred options); urban design principles and guidelines; demonstration
plan and implementation and phasing.
There was discussion with respect to achieving diverse
building heights. Staff advised that
today’s presentation is a brief overview.
The actual Yonge Streeles Corridor Study is extremely detailed with various
guidelines that will facilitate the achievement of an attractive and
sustainable community. Staff also advised
that the Official Plan Amendment will have a number of incentives to encourage mixed
use development.
Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the presentation by Mr. Bob Allsopp, duToit Allsopp
Hillier regarding Yonge Steeles Corridor Study be received.
CARRIED
4. MARKHAM
CENTRE DESIGN CHARETTE
RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS (10.0)
Presentation Consultants Presentation
Commissioner J. Baird advised the Committee that in the
Fall of 2007 Council authorized staff to review and update the Markham Centre
Secondary Plan, and a consultant was retained to provide built form guidance. He also advised that many of the applications
for Markham Centre are seeking additional building height. Consequently, staff is in the process of
establishing additional guidelines pertaining to building height and urban
design criteria.
Mr. Richard Kendall, Manager, Central
District, provided the Committee with background information and current height
policies for Markham Centre.
Mr. George Dark, Partner, Urban
Strategies Inc., delivered a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the results of
the two day charette (approximately 40 representatives in attendance) that was
held on June 12 and 13, 2008.
There was considerable discussion
regarding the original vision (The Duany Plan), landowner proposals since that
time, and the proposed “post-charette” visions.
The Committee stated concerns with respect to required infrastructure to
support the proposed development. Committee
also discussed the need to ensure that development applications are considered
in the context of the original vision for Markham Centre. Staff advised that it is mandated that the
Official Plan be reviewed every five years, and that the Markham Centre
Secondary Plan needs to be updated and further strengthened to guide current
development applications. Staff also
advised that the development of a public realm plan is essential in terms of
defining what is important to the Town of Markham.
There was discussion regarding the
importance of implementing a number of green initiatives to ensure sustainable
practices are obtained throughout the Markham Centre development.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor G.
Landon
That the presentation by Mr. George Dark, Partner,
Urban Strategies regarding Markham Centre Design Charette, Results and Next
Steps be received.
CARRIED
5. YONGE
SUBWAY EXTENSION
- RECOMMENDED ALIGNMENT AND
STATIONS (10.0)
Presentation
Ms. Mary Frances Turner, Vice President, York Region Rapid Transit,
delivered a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the outcome of the first Public
Consultation Centre (PCC) held on June 17 and 18, 2008.
Mr. Tom Middlebrook, McCormick Rankin, provided a technical
presentation outlining the principle areas of decision making with respect to
the Yonge Subway that included: station
location options, Richmond Hill Centre alignments, crossing of the East
Don River and terminal requirements for both Steeles
Avenue and Richmond Hill Centre.
The Committee discussed the proposed location for the transportation hub
located at the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Centre and suggested the need for
further detailed analysis of subway alignment and station options. The Committee expressed the need to ensure
that the transit services will be readily accessible for the proposed major
development to the south of the transit hub (Langstaff lands in Markham). Ms. Turner agreed to continue dialogue with
key stakeholders.
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the presentation by Ms. Mary Frances Turner, Vice President, York Region
Rapid Transit and Mr. Tom Middlebrook, McCormick Rankin, regarding Yonge Subway
Extension - Recommended Alignment and Stations be received; and,
That the York Region Transportation staff work together
with Markham, Richmond Hill, Metrolinx, Ministry of Transportation, 407,
Landowners, and other stakeholders to continue detailed analysis of the Yonge
Subway Alignment and station location options at the Richmond Hill/Langstaff
Centre Hub.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services Committee
meeting adjourned at 12:30 PM.