APRIL 27, 2010
**COUNCIL
CHAMBER**
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 11
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. Brown, Director of Engineering
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
B. Karumanchery, Senior Development
Manager
T. Lambe, Manager, Policy and
Research
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at 9:00 AM in the Council Chamber with Councillor
J. Webster in the Chair. The Committee
recessed at 1:15 PM and reconvened at 12:58 PM.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- April 20, 2010, Part B (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part B, held April 20,
2010, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. RECOMMENDED
MARKHAM GROWTH
ALTERNATIVE TO 2031 (10.0)
Report Figures
1-3 Appendix
A Appendix
B Appendix
C Appendix
D Appendix
E
Appendix
F Appendix
G Appendix
H Appendix
I Appendix
J Appendix
K
Appendix
L Submissions Introduction
and Summary Presentation
Transportation
Strategy Presentation Servicing
Study Presentation
Financial
Evaluation Presentation
Staff
Presentation April 27
Mr. Tim Lambe, Manager, Policy and
Research delivered a brief PowerPoint presentation in response to the
submission of the North Markham Landowners Group (NMLG) presented at the April
20, 2010 Development Services Committee meeting.
Mr. Alan Brown, Director of
Engineering, delivered a brief PowerPoint presentation in response to the
servicing issues raised by the NMLG.
There was discussion with respect to addressing
the motions put forward from Councillor Erin Shapero and Councillor Valerie
Burke at the December 1,
2009 Council meeting and the motion put forward from Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath and Regional Councillor Joseph Virgilio at the February 23, 2010 Council meeting.
The Committee thanked staff,
especially Commissioner Jim Baird, former Director Valerie Shuttleworth and Tim
Lambe for their continued professional input.
The Committee also thanked all the consultants and the members of the
public who have participated in the extensive review and consultation process.
The Committee discussed the following
with respect to the staff option of 60% intensification:
- Provides for future economic prosperity
- Preserves heritage areas
- Minimizes the impacts on the existing communities
- Provides a variety of ground related housing and includes
condo/apartment buildings that will satisfy the future change in
demographics
- Need to have strong policies and conditions in
place to ensure that the required infrastructure is in place prior to planning
approvals
- Proposes the development of transit oriented
communities (eg. Langstaff Gateway and Liberty
Developments in Thornhill)
- Aligns with the legislated Provincial growth
forecasts
- Aligns with the new Region of York Official Plan
- Provides a strong position to work with the other
levels of government (Provincial and Federal) in obtaining funding
commitments to deliver the required infrastructure including transit
- Defendable position if appealed at the Ontario
Municipal Board (OMB)
- Potential grid lock and increased traffic
frustrations
The Committee discussed the following
in relation to the 100% intensification option:
- Class One farmland needs to be protected and
provide food security
- What if farmlands are protected, but no one
wanting to farm the land
- Species need to be protected (biodiversity)
- The vision of the Places
to Grow Act supports intensification
- Provides more affordable housing
- Climate change and sustainability
- The need for environmental improvements
(Provincially and Federally)
- The number of apartments/condos required for this
option can be physically accommodated in the Town’s intensification areas
- Investments to aging infrastructure is required
- Cannot achieve employment targets with this
proposal
- Would require more highrise buildings to 2031 without
the demand in the Town’s housing market
There was discussion regarding whether
a decision needs to be made at this time.
Staff indicated that the Town is required by legislation to conform to
the Provincial Growth Plan, and if Council does not make a decision there is
the possibility the Region of York and the Province of Ontario can compel the
Town to a decision. There is also
potential for referrals of the Region of York and Markham Official Plans to the
Ontario Municipal Board, and it is incumbent on the Town to take a
position. Staff advised that today’s
recommendation is endorsing a strategy that provides staff with the direction
to prepare a new Official Plan. Staff
also advised that all studies related to the growth alternatives have been
advanced and some of the studies are completed.
Staff indicated that in order for the outstanding studies such as
transportation and servicing to be completed a decision on the preferred growth
is required, and the studies will address measures to implement Council’s
direction. The Committee suggested that
staff report back outlining the amount of growth that is attainable with the
current infrastructure and what the phasing plans would be.
The Committee inquired whether the
boundaries currently outlined in the maps can be reviewed (particularly in the
concession block between Kennedy Road
and McCowan Road). Staff pointed out that the growth strategy is
dealing with a land budget and a corresponding urban expansion
recommendation. The urban boundary will
ultimately be determined through the new Official Plan. Refinements can be made to the maps, if
warranted, in the context of the new Official Plan process.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the rules of the Markham Council
Procedural By-law 2001 be waived to permit recorded votes.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor J.
Virgilio
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
That the Town of Markham request the
Province and York Region to reduce the population target for Markham in the new
Region of York Official Plan by 40,000.
Motion
defeated
By
recorded vote (6:6)
(see
following recorded vote)
YEAS: Deputy Mayor J. Heath, Regional
Councillor J. Virgilio, Councillor V. Burke, Councillor E. Shapero, Councillor
D. Hamilton, Councillor L. Kanapathi
NAYS: Mayor F. Scarpitti, , Regional
Councillor G. Landon, Councillor C. Moretti, Councillor J. Webster, Councillor
D. Horchik, , Councillor A. Chiu.
ABSENT: Regional Councillor J. Jones
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
That Markham’s
new Official Plan not include any expansion of the urban boundary beyond what
is in the current Official Plan.
Motion
defeated
By
recorded vote (5:7)
(see
following recorded vote)
YEAS: Deputy Mayor J. Heath, Regional
Councillor J. Virgilio, Councillor V. Burke, Councillor E. Shapero, Councillor
D. Hamilton
NAYS: Mayor F. Scarpitti, , Regional
Councillor G. Landon, Councillor C. Moretti, Councillor J. Webster, Councillor
D. Horchik, Councillor L. Kanapathi, Councillor A. Chiu.
ABSENT: Regional Councillor J. Jones
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
1) That the Report entitled “Recommended
Markham Growth Alternative to 2031” dated April 20, 2010, including the
attached Figures and Appendices, be received; and,
2) That the Compact Disc prepared by the
Town Clerk, containing the submissions and emails relating to the Public
Information Meeting held on February 16th and 17th, 2010,
be received; and,
3) That the recommended growth alternative
to 2031, as described in the report of November 17, 2009 (Appendix A, to this
report) and further discussed in this report, be endorsed as the basis for
completing implementing studies, and for preparing a new Town of Markham
Official Plan with appropriate conditions with respect to
providing and the timing of required infrastructure including transit;
and,
4) That Staff report on the following
studies, when finalized based on the growth alternative to be endorsed by
Council:
·
Markham
Strategic Transportation Plan;
·
Markham
Master Servicing Study;
·
Financial Analysis;
·
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study;
·
Employment Lands Intensification
Study; and
·
Affordable and Special Needs
Housing Strategy Study; and,
5) That Staff report back on possible options
to assist Council in a decision regarding commencing a formal process to review
adding lands to the Provincial Greenbelt; and,
6) That Staff report back on work and
public consultation to be undertaken in preparing a new Town of Markham
Official Plan; and,
7) That copies of this report and the
decision of Council with respect to a preferred growth alternative for Markham,
be forwarded to the Region of York and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing; and further,
8) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
as amended
By
recorded vote (7:5)
(see
following recorded vote)
YEAS: Mayor F. Scarpitti, Regional
Councillor G. Landon, Councillor C. Moretti, Councillor J. Webster, Councillor
D. Horchik, Councillor L. Kanapathi, Councillor A. Chiu.
NAYS: Deputy Mayor J. Heath, Regional
Councillor J. Virgilio, Councillor V.
Burke, Councillor E. Shapero, Councillor D. Hamilton
ABSENT: Regional
Councillor J. Jones
Clause 3
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Regional Councillor G.
Landon
That the following be added to the end
of Clause 3:
With appropriate conditions with
respect to providing and the timing of required infrastructure including
transit
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor E. Shapero
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That staff be directed to report back to the
Development Services Committee by June 2010 with respect to the Town of Markham
requesting the Province of Ontario to expand the Greenbelt for permanent
protection of the Class One Agricultural Lands for the purpose of a foodbelt
within the remaining whitebelt lands (after the approval of the staff
recommended 60% growth alternative).
CARRIED
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That staff be directed to report back to the
Development Services Committee by June 2010 with respect to reviewing options
of further protection of the agriculture lands in the whitebelt area that will
provide for 40 year protection of no development (north and east areas of Markham).
CARRIED
3. GROWTH
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
ANGUS GLEN LANDS NORTH OF
MAJOR MACKENZIE DRIVE (10.0)
Letter
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That the correspondence dated April 21, 2010 from Mr. Patrick
O'Hanlon, President, Angus Glen Developments Ltd., in support of the
"Recommended Markham Growth Alternative to 2031" staff report, be received;
and,
That the correspondence from Michael
Deli-Benedetti, Esquire Homes; Mr. Ted Spence and Donald Givens, Malone Given
Parsons Ltd., be received.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM.
Alternate formats for this document
are available upon request.