MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2009 - 9:00 a.m.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 6
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
B. Librecz, Commissioner of
Community & Fire Services
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
R.
Borooah, Town Architect
M. Shatil, Manager of Facilities
C. Molloy, Manager of Museum
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
B. Karumanchery, Senior Development
Manager
S. Marsh, Senior Planner, Urban
Design
G. Sellars, Senior Planner
R. Blake, Manager West Development
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. .
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- February 10, 2009, Part A
(10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held
February 10, 2009, be
confirmed.
CARRIED
2. ACCESSIBILITY
GUIDELINES UPDATE (12.1)
Presentation
Mr. Shane Holten, Access Consultant, SPH Planning
& Consulting delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update with
respect to the Town of Markham’s
Accessibility Guidelines Project.
There was discussion regarding parking spots for the
disabled and how to ensure that they are placed in the proper location once a
building is constructed. Mr. Holten
advised that there has been discussion with staff and the building department
regarding this issue. The Committee stated
the importance of public awareness and requirements related to the different
types of disabilities.
The Committee discussed the need to find more ways to
assist residents in modifying their homes to enable them to remain in their
residences as they age and/or should they experience mobility impairments.
Committee also noted the need to be aware of the needs
of the disabled in lane based developments where garages are at the rear and
where some access to the dwelling may be required from the front.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the presentation provided by Mr. Shane Holten,
Access Consultant, SPH Planning & Consulting regarding Accessibility
Guidelines Update, be received.
CARRIED
3. MARKHAM MUSEUM ADDITION
TO VISITOR CENTRE (10.0)
Presentation
The Commissioner of
Development Services provided background information regarding the project, which
has been authorized by Building and Parks Committee to proceed to final drawings, submission of site plan
application and construction tendering, but which has not yet received site
plan approval from the Town. Development
Services Committee is the Committee of Council responsible for site plan
approval, and that is why the project is here today, to provide a status update
to Development Services Committee. There
are two basic options following the presentation today: Development Services Committee can delegate
approval authority to Planning staff or the application can come back to a
future meeting of Development Services Committee with a staff report and
recommendation.
Mr. David Ecclestone,
Project Architect, Ventin Group Architects delivered a PowerPoint presentation that
provided preliminary information regarding the site plan application for the
proposed addition to the Markham Museum Visitor Centre. He advised that the sundial will be
re-located.
There was considerable
discussion regarding the proposed number of parking spots behind the secured
gated area. Ms. Cathy Molloy, Manager of
Museum, addressed the Committee to advise that the proposed number of parking
spots in the secured area is related to the following reasons: to provide access to the theatre; open up the
route to the site and provide the opportunity to work closely with individuals
of each event; provide some form of security for staff who are there on
weekends and late in the evenings and provide an opportunity for volunteers to
have parking spots.
Members of staff and
Committee also noted the control point and security function provided by the
gate, to provide uncontrolled vehicular access onto the museum grounds.
The Committee requested
clarification related to pedestrian access to the site. Mr. Ecclestone pointed out the two proposed
walkways on site which link to the public road.
He advised that they are proposing a large pedestrian zone at the front
of the site.
The Committee suggested
that the site plan application be delegated to staff to expedite the
process. Mr. Ecclestone advised that he will
be submitting the site plan application in the next few days and anticipate
going to tender in early April 2009.
Staff will provide an update memo to Members of Council following the delegated
approval of the site plan application.
Moved by Councillor C. Moretti
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the presentation provided by Mr. David
Ecclestone, Project Architect, Ventin Group Architects regarding the Markham Museum
Addition to Visitor Centre, be received; and,
That the site plan application be delegated to
staff; and
That staff provide an update memo to Members of
Council.
CARRIED
4. SITE
PLAN APPLICATION FOR
HIGH DENSITY MIXED USE
DEVELOPMENT
LIBERTY DEVELOPMENTS INC.
7171 YONGE STREET (10.0)
Presentation
Mr. Steven Kirshenblatt, Partner, Kirkor Architects
& Planners delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the site plan
application for Liberty Developments Inc. at 7171
Yonge Street.
He indicated that the project will be Silver LEED certified including
green roofs, and that they are aware of the FLAP guidelines. Mr. Kirshenblatt advised that they are in
discussions with Markham District Energy regarding the installation of a
cogeneration system that would provide electricity generation for the buildings. Mr. Kirshenblatt noted that the applicant is
consulting with wind experts and believed that the proposed design will
mitigate the impacts of tall buildings and wind.
The Committee stated their contentment with the
further revisions made to the application resulting in a reduction in density to
be in keeping with the Yonge Steeles Corridor Study, and the numerous
environmental aspects being incorporated.
The Committee suggested that a working group be established to assist in
working through some of the residents concerns such as building materials, architectural
design and sanitary sewage issues.
Ms. Marion Matthias, 33
Colburne Street, addressed the Committee with
respect to the proposed Liberty Development at 7171
Yonge Street and suggested that “Thornhill” references
be incorporated into the development. Ms.
Matthias stated concerns with transportation and the existing
infrastructure. She also stated concerns
with a future street connection to Dudley Avenue
because of potential infiltration.
The Committee inquired of the next steps. Staff advised that the site plan application
is going through the Town’s normal review process and they would like site plan
approval to remain with the Town rather than the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Staff also advised that they are targeting
for a Public Information Meeting to be held on March 24, 2009 to update the community. Staff anticipates that the staff
recommendation report will be presented to the Development Services Committee
in June 2009 at the earliest.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the presentation provided by Ms. Lezlie Philips,
Project Planner, Liberty Developments Inc. regarding Site Plan application for
high density mixed use development, Liberty Developments Inc., 7171 Yonge
Street, be received; and,
That staff together with the Ward Councillor
arrange for a Public Information Meeting; and further,
That a Working Group be established with staff,
the Ward Councillor, and members of the community to engage in discussions
related to building materials and architectural design.
CARRIED
5. MILNE DAM CONSERVATION AREA
MULTI-USE PATHWAY UPDATE (6.3)
Mr. Alan Brown, Director of Engineering,
addressed the Committee to provide a brief update with respect to the February
19, 2009 Public Information
Meeting for the Milne Dam Conservation Multi-use Pathway and proposed next
steps.
The Committee discussed some of the issues
raised at the Public Information Meeting such as: protection of the wet lands,
width of the pathway; impact on the existing residents and excess parking
currently occurring on residential streets.
The Committee believes that a working group should be established to
review the proposed alignment of the pathway and report back to the Development
Services Committee in April 2009. The
Committee stated that the working group needs to be well balanced and include
the following: staff and Council
representatives, a representative from the Cycling and Pedestrian Committee;
three area residents, a representative from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and
a few residents from the broader community area.
There was discussion related to the timing of
a decision on the preferred route and consequently whether the proposed
alignment should be endorsed at this time or endorsed in principle only. The Committee is concerned with it being
endorsed prior to receiving comments from the TRCA.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio
That the presentation from Mr. Alan Brown, Director of
Engineering, regarding the Public Information Meeting held on February 19, 2009
for the Milne Dam Conservation Area Multi-use Pathway preferred alignment and
next steps be received; and,
That Council endorses in principle the preferred
alignment; and further,
That staff meet with representatives of interested
stakeholders and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in a
working group to review the proposed final design of the preferred alignment
and report back at the April 14, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting.
** NOTE** Amended as follows at the March 10, 2009 Council meeting:
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
1) That the presentation
from Mr. Alan Brown, Director of Engineering, regarding the Public Information
Meeting held on February 19, 2009 for the Milne Dam Conservation Area Multi-use
Pathway preferred alignment and next steps be received; and,
2) That Council receive
the following delegations from the March 10, 2009 Council meeting regarding
Milne Dam Conservation Area Multi-Use Pathway:
- Matt Chapman
- Reuben Tang, Bandfield Home Owners Group
- Michael Landry
- Maureen Cowan, Milne Community Alliance
- Shelley Bourne, Boyington Heights Ratepayers
Inc.
- Tupper Wheatley, Milne Park Conservation
Association
- Evelyn Johnston; and further,
3) That staff report back
to the March 24, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting with a proposed
Terms of Reference and the composition for a working group to review options
for a multi-use pathway.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 12:25 PM.