DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
NOVEMBER 22, 2011,
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Canada Room
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Regional Councillor Jim
Jones Chair: Councillor Carolina
Moretti
Vice-Chair: Councillor Don Hamilton Vice-Chair:
Councillor Alex Chiu
Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor Gord
Landon
Vice-Chair:
Councillor Alan Ho
PART A
Presentations, Major Studies, and Issues Agenda
9:00 a.m. – Canada Room
Attendance
|
Councillor Alex Chiu
|
Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative
Officer
Jim Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire
Services
Gary Adamkowski, Director, Asset Management
Sabrina Bordone, Planner
Ronji Borooah, Town Architect
Stephen Chait, Director, Economic
Development
Mary Creighton, Director of
Recreation Services
Marina Haufschild, Senior Planner,
Urban Design
Anna Henriques, Planner II
Catherine Jay, Manager, Urban Design
Christina Kakaflikas, Manager,
Special Projects
Richard Kendall, Manager, Central
District
Rino Mostacci, Director of Planning
and Urban Design
John Ryerson, Director of Culture
Eric Sherbert, Assistant Town Solicitor
Glen Taylor, Senior Manager,
Infrastructure and Special
Projects
Kitty Bavington, Council/Committee Coordinator
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at the hour of 9:05 a.m. in the Canada Room with Regional
Councillor Jim Jones in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST –
None Declared
1. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- November 1, 2011, Part A
- November 8, 2011, Part A (10.0)
Nov
1 Nov
8
Moved by: Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held
November
1, 2011 and November 8, 2011, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. BUTTONVILLE REDEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT PLAN (10.0)
Presentation
Don Given of Malone Given Parsons Ltd. gave a
presentation outlining the draft Master Plan for the Buttonville Airport lands.
The proposed development will create a 21st Century employment
district with a vibrant mix of office, retail, residential, and service uses on
one of the prime locations for development in the GTA. The presentation
included the Vision, the road network, the water feature, opportunities
respecting work/play dynamics, value-added amenities, and the provision of
density to support transit investments. Mr. Givens described future transit
initiatives to connect with the development, road improvement options, and
sustainability features.
Applications for Official Plan and Secondary Plan
amendments will be forthcoming. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2013,
with occupancy in 2015. A Memorandum of Understanding will be initiated, and a
working group will be established to resolve issues and refine the plan.
Regular updates will be provided to the Development Services Committee.
In response to questions from the Committee, Mr.
Givens advised that the airport will be closed prior to the beginning of
construction. With the airport height restrictions removed, the tallest
structure is proposed to be 6 to 8 storeys high; however, a taller landmark
building has been suggested.
Committee discussions included road patterns, transit
options, connectivity to Highway 404 and Renfrew Drive, integration into the
existing adjacent developments, pedestrian and accessibility initiatives, glass buildings with respect to long-term
maintenance, dark sky lighting, gathering places and promenades near the water
feature, community amenities, and the treatment of the valleylands to the east
including a wildlife connection. The Committee suggested a transit link to the
Unionville GO line may be practical.
It was requested that discussions be scheduled for the
Committee regarding airport issues and possible impacts from the potential
advancement of the Pickering Airport.
Moved by: Councillor Alan Ho
Seconded by: Councillor Colin Campbell
That the presentation provided by Don Given, Malone
Given Parsons Ltd. regarding Buttonville Redevelopment Concept Plan be
received; and,
That the Buttonville Redevelopment Concept Plan be
referred to staff for a report on issues relating to transportation
improvements and options, and potential impacts of the closure and Buttonville
Airport and possible advancement of the Pickering Airport.
CARRIED
3. REMINGTON GROUP DOWNTOWN
MARKHAM PHASE 1 – RETAIL FINAL
EVALUATION AND BUILDING
MATERIALS (10.0)
Presentation
Randy Peddigrew and Sheldon Levitt of Quadrangle
Architects Limited gave a presentation regarding Remington Group Downtown
Markham Phase 1 – Retail Final Evaluation and Building Materials for buildings
‘L’ and ‘M’. Mr. Levitt explained the location and context of the buildings,
the proximity to the Unionville GO Station, sustainability strategies, and the
LEED Silver status. Elevations, site plans, floor plans, samples of building
materials, and design and landscape features were displayed.
In response to questions from the Committee, the
presenters advised that the majority of parking spaces will be located
underground, with 400 spaces being provided in the first phase. This is a
pedestrian and transit orientated development.
The Committee had comments regarding: targeting net
zero energy for the future; promoting the use of public art; bird-strike
initiatives; and being dark sky friendly and accessible.
Moved by: Councillor Don
Hamilton
Seconded by: Councillor Valerie Burke
That the presentation provided by Randy Peddigrew and
Sheldon Levitt of Quadrangle Architects Limited regarding Remington Group
Downtown Markham Phase 1 – Retail Final Evaluation and Building Materials be
received.
CARRIED
4. MARKHAM CENTRE STREETSCAPE STANDARDS
STREET HIERARCHY (10.0)
Presentation
This matter was deferred from the June 28, 2011 Development Services
Committee meeting. The Committee agreed to defer this matter to the next
available Development Services Committee meeting, due to a lack of time.
Moved by: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by: Councillor Valerie Burke
That the presentation provided by Mr. Ronji Borooah,
Town Architect regarding Markham Centre Streetscape Standards Street Hierarchy,
be deferred to the next available Development Services Committee meeting.
CARRIED
5. PAN AM/PARAPAN AM TORONTO 2015
MARKHAM AQUATICS AND FIELD
HOUSE (6.0)
Presentation
Douglas Birkenshaw, Kevin Steltzer and Michael Lam from B+H Architects
gave a presentation regarding the Pan Am/Para Pan Am Aquatics and Field House. Mr.
Birkenshaw explained the location of the facility and the area context, traffic
and pedestrian flows, landscaping, building design details, floor plan and
facility details, natural lighting elements, exterior facade and materials, and
security perimeter fencing. It was noted that a second-floor lobby space has
been expanded, as requested by the Markham Live Committee.
Discussions included the security fence design; the possibility of
using the building fins as a rotating advertising feature; the use of permeable
parking lot materials; public art; potential alternate uses of the badminton
courts and configuration of entrances to accommodate them; the addition of an
interior or exterior water feature; and, accessibility issues. It was suggested
that provisions for a concession stand be accommodated on the second floor in
the final details, and that a distinct Markham identification element be added.
The Committee expressed appreciation to the consultants for working
with the Town on this project; and to the Pan Am organization for the Legacy
opportunity. The Committee directed staff to continue communicating with
Council throughout the finalization of the site plan.
Moved by: Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Seconded by: Councillor Don Hamilton
1) That the presentation on the proposed
Pan Am/Para Pan Am Markham Aquatics and Field House, be received; and,
2) That the site plan application be
endorsed, in principle; and,
3) That final Site plan approval be
delegated to the Commissioner of Development Services or his delegate; and
further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
6. HERITAGE EASEMENT AGREEMENTS FOR
HERITAGE PROPERTY TAX
REDUCTION PROGRAM (16.11)
Report
A Committee member noted that residents may be
hesitant to apply for the program due to concerns that the easement may remain
in effect in the event Council cancels the program in the future. Staff were
directed to report back on this issue.
Moved by: Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by: Councillor Carolina Moretti
1) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute Heritage
Easement Agreements with the property owners identified on Schedule “A”
attached to the report dated November 22, 2011, and any other documents
required to give effect thereto, in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor;
and,
2) That Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
Moved by: Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by: Councillor Colin Campbell
3) That Staff prepare a report for an upcoming Development Services Committee meeting regarding the status
and impact on Heritage Easement Agreements, in the event Council discontinues
the Heritage Property Tax Reduction Program in the future.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 12:15 PM.
Alternate formats for this document
are available upon request.