MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
2008-05-27 - 9:00 a.m.
Meeting No. 16
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
|
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at 9:00 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor
J. Webster in the Chair. Regional
Councillor G. Landon assumed the Chair for Transportation items, Nos. 2 & 3.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- May 13, 2008, Part A (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held May 13, 2008,
be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. METROLINX
UPDATE (5.0)
Mr. Joe Perrotta, Director, Transportation and Policy,
Metrolinx, delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update with respect
to the Metrolinx White papers and briefly outlining the next steps. The presentation also outlined four test
concepts for the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area
(GTHA) transportation system:
Business-as-usual; Linear; Radial and Web.
Mr. Alan Brown, Director of Engineering, delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding the Metrolinx White papers including staff’s
comments.
The Committee suggested that Don
Mills Road be changed to Light Rail Transit (LRT)
in place of the proposed Bus Rail Transit (BRT) section. The Committee discussed the need for
integration within the transit systems and transit hubs.
Mr. Perrotta, advised the Committee that the purpose
of Metrolinx is to collectively look at the various Regions together with
Toronto and Hamilton, as a whole and that a comprehensive implementation and
funding strategy is required in order for the Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP) to be a success.
Ms. Marion Matthias, Thornhill resident, addressed the
Committee with respect to the Metrolinx White Papers. She indicated that it is extremely important
that the Heritage section of Thornhill be respected during Metrolinx’s planning
(specifically the area from Arnold
Avenue north to Elgin
Street).
The Committee suggested that staff provide an update
illustrating which comments and/or suggestions from the Green Papers were
incorporated into the White Papers.
Staff agreed to circulate a draft copy of the updated comments for the
White Paper submission and add it as an item on the June 10, 2008 Development Services
Committee agenda.
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the presentations by Mr. Joe Perrotta of
Metrolinx, Director, Transportation and Policy and Alan Brown, Director of
Engineering regarding Metrolinx White Papers Update be received.
CARRIED
3. HIGHWAY
7/WARDEN AVENUE
RAPID TRANSIT UPDATE
AND YONGE SUBWAY UPDATE (10.0)
Mr. Tom Middlebrook, McCormick Rankin Corporation,
delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Yonge Subway. The presentation included the proposed
stations, various construction techniques, crossing of the East
Don River, terminal requirements at Steeles
Avenue and Richmond Hill Centre and project
schedule.
Sam Balsamo, Condor Properties, addressed the
Committee with respect to the proposed development by Condor Properties at Yonge
Street and Highway 7. He advised that that they are committed to
working with VIVA to ensure integrated goals are established between the
proposed development and future transit.
There was discussion regarding the proposed subway
station at Centre Street
in Thornhill and whether it should be built, eliminated, or roughed in for a
future station.
Ms. Marion Matthias, Markham
resident, addressed the Committee regarding the Yonge Subway, indicating she
feels the proposed Centre Street
station should be eliminated. Ms.
Matthias is concerned that the Yonge Street EA will not protect the Heritage
Section of Thornhill. She enquired about
the Hydro Poles and whether they will be buried and if Condor Properties will
integrate the Munshaw Homestead
Heritage House into their development?
The Committee requested that the Region provide
additional information with respect to the proposed Centre
Street station to assist in determining whether or
not that station should be built.
Mr. David Clark, York Region Rapid Transit, delivered
a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Highway 7 (H3) VIVA design elements, route
and next steps.
The Committee discussed the proposed bike lanes along
Highway 7 and suggested a physical barrier be installed between the bike lane
and car lane to ensure safety for the riders or relocate the bike lane to the
boulevard or a side street. Mr. Clark
will report back to the Committee regarding this issue. The Committee also discussed the Cross
Section of Highway 7 that includes 6 lanes for cars, two bus lanes and two bike
lanes. The idea that the car lanes
should be minimized to only 4 lanes was raised.
Mr. Clark advised that the EA for this area is already approved with
Markham Council’s concurrence to such.
It was noted by staff that Highway 7 is already 6 mixed traffic lanes
therefore, width west of Woodbine Avenue,
and that the EA proposes to continue the 6 lanes through Markham Centre, plus
dedicated transit lanes from the west to Town Centre
Blvd.
There was discussion surrounding how residents north
of Highway 7 can conveniently get to the Highway 7 VIVA route without using
their cars.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the presentation by Mr. David Clark, York Region
Rapid Transit, and Mr. Tom Middlebrook regarding Highway 7/Warden Avenue Rapid
Transit Update and Yonge Subway Update be received.
CARRIED
4. IN CAMERA ITEM (5.7)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti
That Development Services Committee resolve into an in
camera session to discuss the following confidential matter (12:20 PM):
(1) DONALD COUSENS PARKWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
CARRIED
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the Committee rise (12:45
PM)
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
5. UNIONVILLE ARMS (16.11)
Councillor J. Virgilio advised the Committee that the
demolition that occurred at the Unionville Arms, (which is a Class A heritage
building within the Unionville Heritage District) went far beyond the demolition
permitted by the Town’s building permit and included most of the building. Town staff is currently working with the
owner to address this issue and to ensure that the façade and the limited remaining
portions of the side walls of the historic building will not be demolished but
integrated into the new structure so that at least a small portion of the
original building will remain.
Charges will be laid under the Ontario
Heritage Act for alteration/demolition without approval and the Building
Department has not indicated if charges are to be laid under the Building
Code Act.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Councillor E. Shapero
That the update regarding the demolition of the
Unionville Arms building, be received.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at the hour of 12:50 PM.