Development Services Committee Minutes
January 14, 2014
Immediately
following Special Council Meeting starting at 9:00 AM
Council Chamber
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Regional Councillor Jim
Jones Chair: Councillor Carolina
Moretti
Vice-Chair: Councillor Don Hamilton Vice-Chair:
Councillor Alex Chiu
Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor Gord
Landon
Vice-Chair:
Councillor Alan Ho
Attendance
|
Councillor Alex Chiu
|
Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative
Officer
Jim Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of
Community & Fire Services
Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
Rick Cefaratti, Planner II
Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor
Biju Karumanchery, Senior
Development Manager
Rino Mostacci, Director of Planning
and Urban Design
Kitty Bavington, Council/Committee Coordinator
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at the hour of 11:07 a.m. in the Council Chamber with Regional
Councillor Jim Jones in the Chair. Regional Councillor Gord Landon assumed the Chair for
Transportation items, Nos. 1 and 2.
The Committee recessed at 1:03 p.m. and reconvened at 2:00 p.m.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest – None Declared
1. DENISON STREET EXTENSION - FEASIBILITY
STUDY (5.10)
Presentation
Alan Brown, Director of Engineering, provided
background information on this initiative arising from public concerns
regarding east-west congestion in Box Grove.
Martin Scott, Manager, Municipal Road Design, McCormick
Rankin, a member of the MMM Group, gave a presentation entitled "Denison
Street Extension - Feasibility Study". Mr. Scott outlined existing and
future transit, future residential developments, three alignment alternatives,
and next steps.
The Committee discussed the options, constraints,
impact on the Rouge National Urban Park, future development of the Remington
lands, protection of the valley lands, pathway routes, a potential intersection
for Don Cousens Parkway at Ninth Line, impacts from the bridge, improvements to
Steeles Avenue, and Environmental Assessment issues. Staff were requested to
review another alternative suggested as 2A (alignment 2 connecting to Ninth
Line at alignment 1) at the future EA study stage.
Staff advised that this project has been included in
the 2015 budget to commence the next steps.
Moved by: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the presentation provided by
Martin Scott, Manager, Municipal Road Design, McCormick Rankin, a member of the
MMM Group entitled "Denison Street Extension - Feasibility Study" be
received; and,
2) That staff be directed to review an
alternative suggested as 2A (alignment 2 connecting to Ninth Line at alignment
1) at the future EA study stage.
CARRIED
2. SETTING SPEED LIMITS ON REGIONAL ROADS (5.10)
Presentation
This item was deferred to a future meeting.
3. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- December 3, 2013 (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting held December 3, 2013, be
confirmed.
CARRIED
4. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
- December 3 and December 9, 2013 (10.0)
December
3 December
9
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the
minutes of the Development Services Public Meeting, held December 3 and
December 9,
2013, be confirmed.
CARRIED
5. HERITAGE
MARKHAM COMMITTEE MINUTES
- December 11, 2013 and
January 8, 2014 (16.11)
December
11 January
8
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the minutes of the
Heritage Markham Committee meeting held December 11, 2013 and January 8, 2014, be
received for information purposes.
CARRIED
6. CYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE (CPAC) MINUTES
-October 17, 2013 (16.34)
Minutes
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the minutes of the Cycling and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee (CPAC) meeting held October 17, 2013, be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
7. AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
- November 14 and December 5,
2013 (16.34)
November
14 December
5
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the minutes of the Agricultural Advisory
Committee meeting held November 14 and December 5, 2013, be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
8. 2013 FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE
OF THE STREET NAME RESERVE
LIST (10.14)
Report
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the updated Street Name
Reserve List for the fourth quarter of 2013, attached as Appendix ‘A’ to the
January14 , 2014 staff report titled ‘2013 Fourth Quarter Update of the Street
Name Reserve List’, be received.
CARRIED
9. INFORMATION REPORT
REQUEST BY TIMES GROUP
FOR RELEASE OF LETTER OF
CREDIT NO. GTECGT030013
APPLYING TO 10 SUNCREST BLVD.,
LEITCHCROFT COMMUNITY (SC 02
109704) (10.0, 7.0)
Report
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the Recommendation Report titled “Request by Times
Group for release of Letter of Credit No. GTECGT030013, applying to 10 Suncrest
Blvd., Leitchcroft Community, File SC 02 109704”, be received; and,
2) That the Times Group’s request for release of Letter of
Credit No. GTECGT030013 be granted and the site plan agreement be declared null
and void and released from the title of the property; and,
3) That Times Group assume all costs associated with any refund
of Letter of Credit No. GTECGT030013 and the release of the site plan agreement
from the title of the property; and,
4) That the Times Group be advised that the property remains
designated and zoned for employment uses, and that it is intended that the site
be developed for future office and other permitted uses to the satisfaction of
Council; and further,
5) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
10. RECOMMENDATION REPORT
APPLICATION FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL
BY FONTUR INTERNATIONAL INC. FOR
A
BELL CANADA MONOPOLE
TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER
AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
COMPOUND AT
9255 WOODBINE AVENUE
(SC 13 110509) (10.6)
Presentation Report Memo
+ Correspondence Correspondence
after November 5
On November 5, 2013
Development Services Committee deferred consideration of the above subject
matter. The Committee was provided with a staff memo dated November 5, 2013 and
correspondence and petitions from residents. Additional correspondence and a
petition were received at the meeting.
Jim Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services, provided an explanation of the regulatory authority and
process, industry guidelines for cell towers, and described the proposed tower,
consultation process, and comments received.
James Kennedy, Fontur International Inc. on behalf of
Bell Canada, was
in attendance to make a presentation. Mr. Kennedy identified the proposed
location for the 20-metre flagpole installation; the area of network coverage;
public consultation that resulted in three attendees and no objections; and the
subsequent expanded notice program resulting in a petition of objection from
residents 500m. away. Mr. Kennedy spoke to health and safety issues and the
Safety Code 6 standards and output measurements, visual impacts, and landscape
screening.
Jim Kwan made a
deputation in opposition, referring to the petition submitted by the residents
and health issues identified by the World Health Organization.
Macky Lau spoke in
opposition to the proposed tower, stating her opinion that it would be too
close to the community and the busy plaza, and suggesting that many residents
were not notified.
Weiyi Guan spoke in
opposition and referred to petitions submitted to different levels of
government. Ms. Guan discussed health issues and safety standards.
Ward Councillor Alan Ho responded
to statements made by the deputants regarding his opposition to the proposal
and the expanded notice range. Councillor Ho stated that he had received many letters
of objection with respect to health and safety issues, the lack of research,
and the proximity to schools, and he recommended deferral of the proposal.
Daniel Leung made a deputation
in opposition, and expressed concern for the notice provided.
Bin Zhou spoke in opposition
and suggested the safety standards should provide a minimum separation distance
of 400m from schools.
Mr. Kennedy responded to
questions from the Committee regarding co-locating and multi-purpose poles,
Health Canada’s standards and measurements, the option to build lower towers
that by-pass consultation with the City, European research, and the distance to
the nearby temple.
Mr. Kennedy confirmed that
Safety Code 6 had been updated in 2008, and was based on 40,000 studies.
The Committee recognized the growing
need for cell service and the few locations available for towers. A Task Force
or Public Work Session was suggested, including members of the public, local
MPs, and representatives of Industry Canada and Health Canada, to review and
determine policies for the location of cell towers. It was agreed to refer this
Site Plan application to the Work Session. It was also suggested that responses
be pursued from the MPs that had been petitioned on this matter.
Mr. Kennedy expressed support
for the Task Force initiative, and committed to deferring any further action on
this application until the results from the Task Force have been determined.
Moved by: Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1)
That correspondence and petitions in opposition to
the proposed Telecommunication Tower at 9255 Woodbine Avenue, be received; and,
2)
That the
deputations by Jim Kwan, Macky Lau, Weiyi Guan, Daniel Leung and Bin Zhou in
opposition to the proposed telecommunications tower, be received; and,
3)
That the presentation by James
Kennedy of Fontur International Inc. on behalf of Bell Canada, regarding the
proposed telecommunications tower, be received; and,
4) That the report dated November 5, 2013, entitled
“Application for Site Plan Approval by Fontur International Inc. for a Bell
Canada Monopole Telecommunication Tower and associated equipment compound at
9255 Woodbine Avenue, File SC 13 110509”, be received; and,
5) That the Site Plan application and
telecommunication tower policies be referred to a Public Work Session
within 90 days, inviting the local MPs and representatives of Industry Canada,
Health Canada, and major industry carriers; and further,
6) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
11. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OF THE
YONGE STREET NORTH SUBWAY
EXTENSION (5.0)
Correspondence
Councillor Valerie Burke and Mayor Frank Scarpitti spoke of the
importance of the Yonge Street North Subway Extension.
It was suggested that a comprehensive GTA transit summit be held;
however, the focus of this item is the Yonge Street Subway.
Moved by: Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Seconded by: Councillor Valerie Burke
That the correspondence dated December 16, 2013 from Jeffrey A. Abrams,
City Clerk, City of Vaughan regarding the "Federal Government Support of
the Yonge Street North Subway Extension" be received.
CARRIED
Moved by: Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Seconded by: Councillor Valerie Burke
Whereas Metrolinx has
identified the Yonge Subway Extension (Finch Avenue to Hwy. 7) as a “priority”
project in their Big Move update; and,
Whereas Markham Council has
endorsed the Yonge Subway Extension; and,
Whereas VIVA and TTC has
completed the Environmental Study and conceptual design for the Yonge subway;
and,
Whereas funding is required
(±$100 million) for VIVA/TTC to proceed with preliminary design; and,
Whereas the Region of York,
City of Markham, City of Vaughan, Town of Richmond Hill and City of Toronto
require the subway extension to accommodate existing and future transit needs;
and,
Whereas the Provincial
Government has completed its Investment Strategy for the Big Move Transit Plan;
and,
Whereas the Government of
Canada has committed to development a “Building Canada Fund” for Infrastructure
Funding;
Now therefore be it resolved;
1) That
the Federal and Provincial Governments be requested to provide funding in 2014
for the preliminary design of the Yonge Subway Extension to proceed; and,
2) That
the Prime Minister of Canada and federal Ministers of Finance, Transportation
and Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, along with the
Premier of Ontario and provincial Ministers of Finance and Infrastructure
and Transportation, along with the local MP/MPPs, and York
Region, City of Vaughan, Town of Richmond Hill, City of Toronto and Metrolinx
be advised accordingly.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
12. CABOTO MEADOWS INC.
OFFICIAL PLAN AND ZONING
BY-LAW AMENDMENTS
AND PLAN OF SUBDIVISION
311 & 313 HELEN AVENUE
FILES OP/ZA/SU 13-127998
(10.3, 10.5, 10.6)
The Committee was requested to authorization a Public
Meeting for Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments and Plan of Subdivision
for Caboto Meadows Inc. Staff will provide a preliminary report prior to the
Public Meeting.
Moved by: Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by: Councillor Carolina Moretti
1) That Staff be authorized to schedule a
statutory Public Meeting to consider the proposed Official Plan and Zoning
By-law Amendments and Plan of Subdivision, Files OP/ZA/SU 13-127998 by Caboto Meadows
Inc.; and,
2) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
13. RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE (10.0)
A Committee member questioned if maintenance easements or other
remedies are available to property owners that need to access neighbouring
properties for the purpose of maintaining or repairing their own properties.
Staff will report back on current practices and any remedies available to
property owners.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 3:27 PM.
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