MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
2008-03-04
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
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
C. Stobo, Assistant
Town Solicitor
L. Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open
Space Planning
S. Kitagawa, Senior Planner
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
S. Marsh, Senior Planner Urban
Design
L. Mele, Traffic Demand Management
Coordinator
S. Chait, Director Economic
Development
C. Kakaflikas, Manager Special
Projects
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor
J. Webster in the Chair. Regional Councillor
T. Wong assumed the Chair for Economic Development Item No. 6.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- February 12, 2008, Part A (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held February
12, 2008, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. MARKHAMGATE
SUMMIT
(SHOPS ON STEELES) (10.0)
Presentation
Stephen Kitagawa, Senior Planner, delivered a brief PowerPoint
presentation regarding the Official Plan Amendment application for a proposed
mixed use development known as Markhamgate Summit (Shops on Steeles). The
development will include residential, retail and office space. Staff advised there have been three community
meetings held regarding this proposal: January 29, 2008 (held by City of Toronto
Councillor SHiner)), January 30, 2008 (an Open House hosted by the applicant)
and February 26, 2008(held
by Councillor Shapero). Some of the
outstanding issues relative to this presentation are: a staff review of the transition of
development with the adjacent residential; the lack of servicing allocation
capacity for the proposed residential development; the need for submission of
zoning and site plan applications, and the review of traffic and servicing
studies.
Staff advised that today’s presentation is similar to the presentation
delivered at the community information meeting held on February 26, 2008 and as
a result, formal notices were not sent out to members of the public and a
preliminary report is tabled for the March 18, 2008 Development Services
Committee meeting that outlines a proposed format for the Working Group to
follow.
Mr. Len Abelman, WZMH Architects, delivered a PowerPoint presentation
outlining the site and context, the proposed design vision and redevelopment
planning rationale. He stated the
current development was designed and built in 1977 and was in need of a
facelift. The proposal is aiming for an
urban type environment. Mr. Abelman
advised their proposal will include outdoor shopping streets complete with a
public square and public park area. The
residential buildings proposed include a 10 storey building facing Don
Mills Road; 18 storey building, two 24 storey
buildings facing Steeles Avenue,
28 and 32 storey buildings facing Highway 404. The proposal also includes main
floor retail with 3 storey residential dwellings above. Mr.
Abelman advised they are considering green roofs, storm water management, and
an increase in the building’s insulation to reduce energy consumption for
heating.
Mr. Alan Mihalj, MMM Group, outlined the proposed traffic route for the
site. He stated that the proposal will maintain the existing access entrances
that are currently on site. Mr. Mihalj
advised their study has gathered existing traffic data in October 2006 from the
following existing intersections:
Steeles
Avenue @ Don Mills Road
Steeles
Avenue @ Townsend Road
Don
Mills Road @ Simmonston Road
Steeles
Avenue @ Site Driveway
Don Mills Road @ Site
Driveway
Mr. Mihalj advised their study concluded that the above mentioned
intersections currently operate at acceptable levels of service during the peak
hours and will continue to do so with the proposed development in place. The study’s conclusion was that boundary road
and intersections do not require any improvements with this redevelopment
proposal.
Mr. Jay Bigelow, WZMH Architects, advised the Committee that currently
the only application submitted is for the Official Plan Amendment and specifics
on the architectural design will be developed in more detail as the
applications progress.
Mr. Jeff Davies, Davies Howe Partners, advised the Committee that
currently there has not been any discussion with Town staff regarding the
proposed Working Group. He stated that
their client would like to know the purpose of the working group, how long it
is anticipated to last.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the presentation provided by staff, Mr. Len
Abelman, WZMH Architects and Mr. Alan Mihalj, MMM Group regarding Markhamgate
Summit (Shops on Steeles) be received.
CARRIED
3. PATHWAYS
& TRAILS MASTER PLAN
AND CYCLING MASTER PLAN (5.12)
Presentation
Lorenzo Mele, Traffic Demand Management Coordinator
delivered a PowerPoint presentation with respect to the Cycling Master Plan. Staff anticipates bringing forward a report
in approximately two months to the Development Services Committee with
recommendations to endorse the studies and implementation strategy.
The Committee discussed the safety of the bicycle
routes on arterial routes. Staff advised
that they are looking at more at off-road routes because of the challenge with
high volumes of traffic. The Committee
suggested considering a physical division between the bicycle route and traffic
and have the signs indicate whether the route is recommended for younger
children.
Shirley Marsh, Senior Planner Urban Design, delivered
a PowerPoint presentation with respect to the Pathways and Trails Master Plan.
Moved by Councillor E. Shapero
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the presentation provided by staff regarding
Pathways & Trails Master Plan and Cycling Master Plan be received.
CARRIED
4. TREE
PRESERVATION BY-LAW TASK FORCE (5.7)
Presentation
Ms. Linda Irvine, Manager,
Parks and Open Space Planning, delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding
the proposed Tree Preservation By-Law outlining the Task Force recommendations,
legislative exemptions, permits, appeals and staff implications. She advised that the Task Force had met on
four occasions.
Staff advised that if there is a conflict between the
Municipal By-law and the Provincial legislation the Provincial legislation
prevails. The Committee suggested
changing the wording from “allow” to “require” under Tree Management Plans.
The Committee discussed the administrative side of the
Tree Preservation By-law and expressed concerns on how the program will be administered.
The Committee thanked Deputy Mayor Jack Heath,
Regional Councillor Tony Wong, Councillor Valerie Burke, Councillor Erin
Shapero, Linda Irvine and Carolyn Stobo for all their work.
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the presentation provided by staff regarding the Tree
Preservation By-law Task Force be received.
CARRIED
5. GROWTH
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (10.0)
Presentation
Ms.
Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design, delivered a
PowerPoint presentation providing an update on the status of the growth
management strategy. Staff advised that a
report outlining high level overview of growth option for the Town will be
presented before the summer recess.
Staff advised a Town wide comprehensive
intensification review will also be coming forward to the Development Services
Committee. Staff also advised that Tim
Lambe, Manager Policy and Research and Murray Boyce, Senior Project Coordinator
Policy & Special Projects, have both been meeting with the development
teams to identify potential sites for intensification. The Committee discussed the importance of
establishing principles that can be used to analyze each intensification applications.
Moved by Councillor E. Shapero
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
That the presentation provided by staff regarding
Growth Management Strategy be received.
CARRIED
6. UPDATE
ON THE UPCOMING CHINA MISSION (10.16)
Presentation
Regional Councillor T. Wong introduced Ms. Suzanne McCrimmon,
Senior Business Development Officer to the Committee.
Ms. Christina Kakaflikas, Manager Special Projects
gave a presentation regarding the Markham China Business Mission briefly
outlining the mission’s objectives, mission’s delegates, agenda update and
organizing partners.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
That the presentation provided by staff regarding an
update on the upcoming China Mission be received.
CARRIED
7. IN CAMERA ITEM (8.0)
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That Development Services Committee resolve into an
in-camera session to discuss the following confidential matters (12:03 PM):
(1) LITIGATION MATTER REGARDING COMMITTEE OF
ADJUSTMENT DECISION
(2) THORNHILL
VILLAGE PLAZA,
VAUGHAN
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the Committee rise (12:08
PM)
CARRIED
8. TORONTO
AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
– PETTICOAT CREEK WATERSHED
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
(RECOMMENDATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE)
(13.13.2) L. Miller, ext. 6922
Report Attachment
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
Whereas the Environmental Issues Committee has reviewed the request for
funding from the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for the Petticoat
Creek Watershed strategy development; and,
Whereas the Environmental Issues Committee supports the request for
funding, in principle; and,
Therefore be it resolved that the Environmental Issues Committee
requests that funding, in the amount of $5,000, be provided through a
Development Services Commission account; and further,
That the account be provided through the Planning Capital Contingency
account number
080 7955 7353 002.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at the hour of 12:10 PM