MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
2007-01-23
Meeting No. 3
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Regional Councillor J. Jones Chair: Regional Councillor T. Wong
Vice-Chair: Councillor J. Webster
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. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate
Services
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
S. Chait, Director, Economic
Development
D. Ciastko, Senior Economic
Development Officer
L. Duoba, Project Coordinator
S. Kahn, Business Development
Officer
B. Karumanchery, Manager, East
District
R. Kendall,
Manager, Central District
T. Lambe, Manager, Policy and
Research
L. Wheeler, Senior Planner
K. Bavington, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at the hour of 9:05 a.m. in the Canada Room with Deputy
Mayor J. Jones in the Chair. Regional Councillor
T. Wong assumed the Chair for Economic Development item No. 1.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST - None Declared
1. COMPETITIVE STRATEGY PHASE I RESULTS
(10.16)
Presentation
Mr. Keith Bray, President and CEO of the Markham Board of Trade, was in
attendance.
Staff gave a brief introduction to this item. Markham’s
Economic Development Strategy is now over 10 years old and needs to be updated
to allow Markham to be globally
competitive. There are three phases to the economic development strategy process:
Phase 1 - Economic Base Analysis; Phase 2 - Community Engagement; and Phase 3 -
Business Planning and Economic Strategy.
Lauren Millier of urbanMetrics inc., highlighted the results of Phase 1,
explaining the purpose and methodology, and noting the following significant
key economic findings:
-
population growth is strong
-
labour force and employment is
growing
-
education attainment is high among
residents
-
income levels remain high
Other significant
findings include:
-
the challenge of commuting patterns,
wherein 70% of residents commute to employment outside of Markham
-
a significant number of employment
is concentrated in professional, scientific and technical services
-
significant export and investment
opportunities exist in: advanced manufacturing; professional, scientific and
technical services; finance and insurance; and information and cultural
industries
-
Markham
is recognized as an innovative community with innovative Economic Development
projects and investments to drive growth
-
the supply of employment land is a
challenge. The current 10-year supply is scattered over mostly smaller parcels
of land. There is an opportunity for the town to pursue a selective, strategic role
as owner/developer.
There are a variety of challenges facing businesses, and the key
criteria for site selection are telecommunications, access to customer base,
and access to market. Input from stakeholders identified the following for Markham:
Strengths – location and telecommunications
Weaknesses – transportation network
Opportunities – refine the vision
Threats – retaining employment land inventory and
strategic sites for employment uses; competition from China
and India;
transportation network.
In summary, there are four key issues to continue to pursue:
-
what role should the Town play in
economic development
-
which economic sectors are the
priority focus for the Town and how should they be addressed
-
which global markets are the most
opportune for the Town and how should they be addressed
-
What role should the Town play in
enhancing land and labour availability as economic drivers
Committee requested an updated analysis of employment (up 20% since
2001) and transportation data (post-2001). Discussions included the role and
perceived value of Buttonville
Airport.
The Phase 1 report will be tabled in February, and with the Committee’s
endorsement, it will be released for public discussion. A half-day Economic
Strategy Workshop is scheduled in March to seek input from the community to
guide development of the Economic Strategy in Phase 3.
Moved by: Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by: Councillor C. Moretti
That the presentation by staff, and Lauren Millier of urbanMetrics inc.,
regarding the Competitive Strategy Phase I results, be received.
CARRIED
2. DIRECTED
GROWTH STRATEGY
AND NEW OFFICIAL PLAN (10.3)
Presentation
Staff provided background information on the proposed Directed Growth
Strategy and New Official Plan and related planning initiatives for this term
of Council. A report will be presented in February, 2007.
Staff discussed the need to conform with Provincial legislation and the
Regional Official Plan,
linking the Town’s Strategic Plan and sustainable development,
including financial sustainability. Staff suggested a new Official Plan is
warranted, as portions of the current O.P. are 30 years old and the amendments
to respond to Provincial and Regional policies will be significant.
Discussions included the preliminary estimates for Markham’s growth to
2031 based on Growth Plan allocations from York Region, which have not yet been
finalized; potential housing stock; population and employment growth; providing
a structure for directed growth and intensification; and infrastructure
requirements. A draft work program schedule was presented.
Committee discussed various matters including the “Whitebelt”, noise
contours and impacts from Pickering Airport; demographic changes with respect
to growth projection; phasing; anticipated impacts of telecommuting/home based
businesses on employment land supply; coordinating the transit strategy for
infrastructure investments from senior levels of government; and the importance
of a communication plan and public involvement in the development of a Growth
Strategy and new Official Plan. Staff encouraged a proactive approach to
properly manage growth.
Committee complimented staff for their hard work and for the
presentation on this matter. Staff was directed to provide a legal summary on
the statutory obligations of described legislation and planning initiatives.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by: Councillor A. Chiu
That the presentation by staff regarding Directed Growth Strategy and
New Official Plan, be received.
CARRIED
3. ROUGE
WATERSHED STRATEGY (10.8)
Presentation
Staff gave a brief presentation on the background of the Rouse
Watershed Strategy: the purpose, the basis, the process, public consultation,
and the watershed context in Markham.
Sonya Meek and Caroline Woodland of the Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) were in attendance. Ms. Meek described
the planning approach and explained the key findings with respect to stream
erosion. Proposed management strategies are:
-
increase natural cover
-
maintain water balance
-
build sustainable communities
Staff will continue to work with TRCA and provide input on the draft
Watershed Plan and Implementation Guide, and a report will be presented to the
Committee in March, 2007.
Committee discussed the definition of “sustainable”.
Moved by: Councillor V. Burke
Seconded by: Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the presentation by staff, and the TRCA regarding the Rouge
Watershed Strategy, be received.
CARRIED
4. PRESENTATION
ON TRIP TO JAPAN (10.0)
The presentation by John Livey, CAO, on his recent trip to Japan,
was deferred to the meeting of February 13, 2007.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at the hour of 11:50 a.m.