NOVEMBER
10, 2009 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 32
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
Attendance
|
Councillor A. Chiu
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
J. Carnegie, Director of Corporate
Communications
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
S. Kitagawa, Project Manager,
Sustainability Office
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. Regional
Councillor G. Landon assumed the Chair for Transportation items, Nos.3 to 5.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- October 27, 2009, 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
October 27, 2009, be
confirmed.
CARRIED
2. BEST
PRACTICES IN SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY DESIGN (10.0)
Presentation
Mr. Stephen
Kitagawa, Project Manager, delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding Best
Practices in Sustainable Community Design with examples from around the world.
There was
discussion regarding the motivation factor for these cities to build
sustainable communities, including active senior government and municipal
involvement and funding, and resource constraint impetus. Staff indicated that North American cities
are increasingly beginning to address sustainable initiatives in new and
re-developing communities. It is an
incremental process, and requires cooperation by many stakeholders.
There was
discussion regarding communities that offer people the opportunity to “live,
work and play”.
The Committee
discussed the importance of developing the appropriate strategies, policies and
action plans to achieve an integration of health and environmental issues.
Moved by
Councillor V. Burke
Seconded by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the
presentation provided by Mr. Stephen Kitagawa, Project Manager regarding Best
Practices in Sustainable Community Design, be received.
CARRIED
3. REGION
OF YORK
TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE (5.10)
Presentation
Mr. Loy Cheah, Manager,
Transportation Planning, Region of York delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding
the Region of York Transportation Master Plan Update.
There was discussion
regarding the future improvements for Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue. Mr.
Cheah indicated that there are studies underway to assist in defining what
improvements are required on these roads.
The Committee inquired
about the estimated 2031 Transportation Master Plan Costs and how it will be
funded. Mr. Cheah advised that alternate
and non-traditional ways of obtaining the funding will need to be considered
and that a key part is the commitment from both Federal and Provincial funding.
Mr. Peter Miasek,
representing Transport 2000, addressed the Committee with respect to the Region
of York Transportation Master Plan Update stating some concerns. He advised that overall they are pleased with
the transit first philosophy however are concerned with the contradiction in
the plan that suggests “transit first, new freeways behind”. Mr. Miasek believes that one of the Region’s
recommendations to extend the 404 Highway beyond Ravenshoe Road is not justified by traffic demands. He is concerned with the potential loss of
agricultural land, environmental damage and urban sprawl into the Whitebelt if
the 404 Highway is extended.
Ms. Marion Matthias,
Thornhill resident, addressed the Committee regarding the Region of York
Transportation Master Plan Update stating concerns. She is concerned that with the possibility of
road widening as part of the recommended road improvements especially along
Bayview Avenue from Highway 7 down to Steeles Avenue. Ms. Matthias inquired if the recent announcement
that Toronto was successful in obtaining the 2015 Pan Am
Games will it accelerate the delivery of the Yonge Subway extension.
Mr. Cheah advised that
the section of Bayview Avenue that Ms. Matthias referred to is a part of a
sustainable travel study that is currently being conducted with public input.
Mr. Alan Brown, Director
of Engineering delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing staff comments
with respect to the Region of York Transportation Plan Update.
The Committee stated
concern with the Region’s process with respect to obtaining comments from the
various Municipalities within the Region.
Mr. Bryan Tuckey, Commissioner of Planning and Development Services,
Region of York advised the Committee that the Town of Markham staff have been very helpful throughout this
process of the Transportation Master Plan.
He indicated that this Master Plan is a 30 year plan at a high level and
that this plan is intended to be a living document with the opportunity to be
updated more often than the current practice of every five years.
The Committee suggested
the following be included with the comments to be forwarded to the Region of
York:
·
That the order of priority from
Markham Council with respect to transit is: Yonge Subway Extension, 407
Transitway and all day GO service (on GO lines that come into the Region of
York)
·
Stronger link between
intensification and delivery of rapid transit
·
Ensure the interface with City of Toronto is sorted out for the Donald Cousens Parkway (DCP)
and that the construction of the
northerly section (Major Mackenzie to Hwy 48) of the DCP moves ahead
·
Further discussions regarding any Bayview Avenue widening (following the completion of the
sustainable travel study) is required
·
More consideration toward
sustainability
·
Improved integration (fare by
distance and a transit GTA wide service)
·
Further discussion regarding grade
separations along 404 Highway (primarily the one at Highway 7/Hwy 404)
·
Need for sufficient transit in the
south east part of Markham
Staff advised that they
can meet directly with any Committee members to further discuss any concerns
and/or issues and that Members of Council can e-mail their concerns to
staff. The Committee suggested that the
updated staff comments with respect to the Region of York Transportation Master
Plan be brought back to the first Development Services Committee meeting in
December 2009.
Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor J.
Webster
That the presentation
provided by Mr. Loy Cheah, Manager, Transportation Planning, Region of York and
regarding the Region of York Transportation Plan Update, be received; and,
That the presentation provided by
Mr. Alan Brown, Director of Engineering providing staff comments on the York
Region Transportation Master Plan Update, be received; and,
That staff amend the comments that
will be forwarded to the Region of York with the suggestions received at the
November 10, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting and with any further
suggestions received from Members of Council; and further,
That staff report back with the
amended comments with respect to the York Region Transportation Master Plan
Update at the December 1, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting.
CARRIED
4. REGION
OF YORK
WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER
PLAN UPDATE (5.0)
Presentation
Mr. Jonathan P'ng, Manager, Water and Wastewater,
Region of York delivered
a PowerPoint presentation with respect to the Region of York Water and
Wastewater Master Plan Update.
There was discussion regarding the water tower at Wootten
Way North which is proposed by the Region to be
decommissioned.
The Committee inquired about how the costs are going
to be funded. Staff advised that once
the study is completed it will be reviewed by the Regional Finance Department
to determine the percentage to be funded by Development Charges, grants etc.
Mr. Alan Brown delivered a PowerPoint presentation
providing staff comments regarding the Region of York Water and Wastewater
Master Plan Update.
There was discussion regarding whether the current
sewer systems are sufficient to sustain the proposed intensification. Staff pointed out that a key issue in certain
built up areas is the infiltration of storm water into sanitary sewers and that
they will be reporting back to Development Services Committee in January 2009
with proposed policies on Storm Water Management.
The Committee suggested that the staff comments be
amended with the suggestions from today’s meeting and that any further comments
will be e-mailed to staff. The Committee
requested that the amended comments with respect to the Region of York Water
and Wastewater Master Plan Update be brought to the first Development Services
Committee meeting in December 2009.
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti
That the presentation provided by Mr. Jonathan P'ng,
Manager, Region of York Water and Wastewater Master Plan Update be received;
and,
That the presentation provided by Mr. Alan Brown,
Director of Engineering providing staff comments on the York Region Water and
Wastewater Master Plan Update, be received; and,
That staff amend the comments that will be
forwarded to the Region of York with the suggestions received at the November
10, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting and any further suggestions
received from Members of Council; and further,
That staff report back with the amended comments
with respect to the York Region Water and Wastewater Master Plan Update at the December 1, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting.
CARRIED
5. MARKHAM
CENTRE
TRANSPORTATION STUDY (5.10)
Presentation
Mr. Brian Hollingworth, Director, IBI Group, delivered a PowerPoint
presentation providing their results with respect to the Markham Centre
Transportation Study.
There was brief discussion regarding the land use scenarios developed
for analysis purposes.
The Committee requested that staff forward a coloured copy of this
presentation to the Members of Council that includes the numbers of the
sustainability implications that Mr. Hollingworth presented.
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the presentation provided by Mr. Brian Hollingworth, Director, IBI
Group regarding the Markham Centre Transportation Study, be received.
CARRIED
6. TORONTO STAR ARTICLE (10.0)
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath indicated that there was an article in the
Saturday November 7, 2009 Toronto Star newspaper regarding surprise charges
that purchasers were faced with on their final closing of condominium units at
a medium-high rise building near Warden Avenue and Enterprise Drive in
Markham. He requested that staff provide
more details if possible.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 12:44 PM.