SEPTEMBER
15, 2009 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 24
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 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
B. Librecz, Commissioner of
Community & Fire Services
A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate
Services
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
B. Karumanchery, Senior Development
Manager
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
S. Sito, Sr. Environmental
Development Engineer
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. 2 to 5.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DRAFT
YORK REGION OFFICIAL PLAN (10.17)
Presentation
Mr. John Waller, Director, Long Range & Strategic
Planning Branch, Regional Municipality of York, delivered a PowerPoint
presentation regarding the Draft York Region Official Plan providing an
executive overview of the plan. He
advised the Committee that a formal statutory meeting will be held on October 7, 2009.
There was brief discussion regarding the possibility
of the Pickering Airport
and how that will be dealt with in relation to the Town’s Official Plan and the
Regional Official Plan. Staff advised
that it has been identified in the Town’s Official Plan. Mr. Waller advised that it is identified in
the Regional Transportation Plan and the Draft Regional Official Plan.
The Committee enquired if the Region is aware that the
Town of Markham is
reviewing potential intensification
within existing employment lands. Mr.
Waller confirmed that the Region is aware of this and advised there is still a
need for additional employment lands in the long-term and they that need to be
protected.
The Committee suggested that the Region consider the
following:
- LEED Gold
certification as a standard and not LEED equivalent
- Increase of
transit to employment areas
- Protection of
Heritage Districts
There was discussion regarding the lack of Provincial
and Federal funding with respect to transit.
The Committee briefly discussed the Buttonville
Airport lands and noted that the
Region’s policy says that these lands “shall” be preserved for employment and
that this may preclude mixed use development.
Staff advised that the current policy for those lands is Business
Park and that staff will work to
have that continue. Staff also noted
that the Region’s draft policy will be carefully reviewed.
The Committee discussed the need for affordable
housing. Mr. Waller confirmed that there
are policies in this proposed Draft Official Plan to require minimum levels of
affordable housing and to include affordable housing along transit corridors
and within second suites.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the presentation provided by Mr. John Waller,
Director, Long Range & Strategic Planning Branch, Regional Municipality of
York regarding the Draft York Region Official Plan, be received.
CARRIED
2. DON
MILLS/LESLIE STREET LRT PROJECT (5.7)
Presentation
Mr. David Clark, Chief Architect, Infrastructure and
Development, VIVA, addressed the Committee advising that in June 2009 the
Regional Council has put this study on hold to obtain further information from
the Town of Richmond Hill
and the Town of Markham. Mr. Clark is requesting that the Town of Markham
forward a resolution to the Region confirming their position with respect to
the Don Mills/Leslie Street LRT project.
Mr. Scott Thorburn, URS Consultant Ltd., delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding the Don Mills/Leslie Street LRT Project.
The Committee pointed out their concern with respect
to how the first Public Meeting was conducted and how notice was given and
requested that the following be considered:
- Have
representatives from Town of Markham
Council at
future Public Meetings (consult their calendars before a date is chosen)
- Public
Meeting notices need to be descriptive and easily understood by residents
- Need to be
more respectful and sensitive to the existing communities
- Provide more
options and/or solutions (other modes of transit such as VIVA buses,
alternate routes)
- Present the
impact if the LRT does not proceed (eg. traffic congestion)
- Hold another
Public Meeting to respond to all the questions raised at the first meeting
- Explore more
advanced technology with respect to transit
Ms. Marsha Winton, 27
Chumleigh Crescent, addressed the Committee
regarding the proposed LRT line along Leslie Street
and stated her opposition. She believes
that the proposed LRT line will be noisy for the surrounding communities and
potentially make it more difficult for children to cross at the intersections.
Mr. Fred Webber, German Mills Ratepayers Association,
addressed the Committee with respect to the proposed LRT line along Leslie
Street and spoke in opposition. He believes the LRT would be disruptive to
the existing communities. Mr. Webber
does not agree that the LRT is the correct mode of transit. He suggested that other modes of transit and
alternate routes should be considered.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor E. Shapero
1) That the presentation provided by by Mr. Scott Thorburn, URS Consultant Ltd., regarding the
Don Mills/Leslie Street LRT Project, be received; and,
2) That the Region of York be requested to
continue with the Leslie Street LRT Environmental Assessment study and broaden
the scope of the study to include other corridors for the extension of the Don
Mills LRT (including Woodbine Avenue, Highway 404 corridor to Highway 7); and,
3) That the study also examine new
technologies as it relates to LRT; and,
4) That the Region of York examine the
possibility of instituting VIVA service within the Leslie Street Corridor, in the interim; and,
5) That the Region of York be requested to
hold a Public Meeting to respond to all the questions raised by the community
and that representatives from the Town of Markham Council be a part of the
meeting (that the calendars be consulted prior to selection of a date for the
meeting) and that comprehensive notice be given; and further,
6) That staff be authorized and directed to do
all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
3. MARKHAM'S
SAFE STREETS STRATEGY (5.12)
Presentation
Mr. Alan Brown, Director of Engineering delivered a PowerPoint
presentation providing a quick highlight with respect to Markham’s
Safe Streets Strategy.
Councillor Joseph Virgilio thanked Mr. Brown and all the members of the
Working Committee for all their hard work with respect to the Markham’s
Safe Street Strategy.
There was considerable discussion regarding the importance of Police
enforcement.
The Committee suggested that staff include the following in their
future report:
- Social
Marketing Campaign
- Work together
with developers where developments are not completed to have some form of
treatment on roads to encourage lower speeds
- Research the
strategy used in the Town of Newmarket
or Town of Georgina who have
received an award
- Working
together with Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
- Double fines
in residential areas
- Explore the
possibility of photo radar
- Innovative
technology that will work for EMS
and Fire Trucks
The Committee suggested that staff report back on this matter in late
2009 or early 2010.
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio
That the presentation provided by Mr. Alan Brown, Director of
Engineering regarding Markham's
Safe Streets Strategy, be received; and,
That the Police Chief and District Superintendents
be invited to a future Development Services Committee to discuss dedicated
enforcement officer and funding.
CARRIED
4. CARLTON
ROAD AND VILLAGE PARKWAY
TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECT (5.12)
Presentation
Mr. Brown delivered a PowerPoint presentation
regarding the Carlton Road
and Village Parkway Traffic Calming Project.
He advised that the key issue is the Carlton
Road curve and its historic safety concerns.
Councillor Virgilio thanked Mr. Brown, his staff and
the members of the Traffic Calming Group for all their work on this project.
Mr. David Gibbons, on behalf of the Unionville
Ratepayers Association, the BIA and Unionville Villagers’ Association stating
that they are not in support of Option 2.
He is suggesting that Option 1 should be considered. Mr. Gibbons believes that the traffic calming
made the safety issue worse.
The Committee discussed the pros and cons of having a
stop sign installed at McKay Crescent
and Carlton Road. There was discussion regarding raised
intersections. The Committee suggested
that staff examine other treatments (eg. Rumble strips)
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That the presentation provided by Mr. Alan
Brown, Director of Engineering regarding the Carlton Road and Village Parkway
Traffic Calming Project, be received; and,
2) That the Phase 2 improvements for Carlton
Road from Pennock Crescent (east to McKay Crescent east) – Option 2 with the
installation of a stop sign at McKay Crescent (east)and the removal of traffic
calming from Pomander Road to Main Street be approved; and,
3) That the cost of such work $50,000 to
$80,000 be funded from the Engineering Department Capital Account
#083-5350-7660-005; and,
4) That the schedule of By-Law 106-71 for
all-way stop and control be amended to include intersection of Carlton Road and McKay
Crescent (east leg);
and,
5) That the Phase 3 pilot project (McKay
Crescent (east leg) to Pomander Road be approved at the cost of $35,000 to be
funded from the Engineering Department Capital Account #083-5350-7660-005; and,
6) That staff conduct a survey to proceed with
the pilot project at the top of Hemingway to Warden Avenue and if the results
are favourable to proceed and be funded from the Engineering Department Capital
Account #083-5350-7660-005; and,
7) That staff be authorized to survey the
approximate 3,000 residents and businesses who live and/or travel on Carlton
Road and Village Parkway as to their preference for the 3 options for Phase 3;
and further,
8) That staff report back as to the results of
the survey and recommendations related to Phase 3.
CARRIED
5. DON
MILLS CHANNEL CAPACITY STUDY (5.7)
Presentation
Mr. Soran Sito, Sr. Environmental
Development Engineer delivered a presentation regarding the Don Mills Channel
Capacity Study.
The Committee enquired how
arrangements were made that resulted in the channel being privately owned with
the Town having easements. Staff advised
that when this channel was built back in the 1960’s that is how drainage channels
were dealt with.
The Committee discussed the pros and cons related to
the various options. The Committee
suggested that another Public Information meeting be held. Staff advised that it is very important to
understand the full spectrum of cost before coming up with a plan. Staff is suggesting that further discussions with
Council, related to level of service for older areas within Markham,
are required. Staff also advised that a
financial study related to this Don Mills Channel is underway.
Ms. Shawna Carlton, Nadalini Properties Holdings Inc.,
addressed the Committee to obtain further information regarding the potential
flooding issues. She advised that she
will submit materials at a later date.
Ms. Carlton enquired how often the maintenance is completed.
Staff advised
that the maintenance is completed every two years.
Moved by Councillor E Shapero
Seconded by Mayor F. Scarpitti
1) That the presentation provided by Mr. Soran
Sito, Senior Environmental Engineer regarding the Don Mills Channel Capacity
Study, be received; and,
2) That Option 1 as presented (culvert
enlargement, maintenance) to provide the 2 year level of service and to
accelerate the completion of the Storm Water Management Utility study be
approved; and further,
3) That staff conduct an outreach to the
Business Community.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 1:35 PM.