MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
2007-02-27
Meeting No. 7
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. Brown, Director of Engineering
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
S. Heaslip, Senior Planner
R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage
Planning
T. Kanji, Senior Planner
B. Karumanchery, Manager, East
District
R. Kendall,
Manager, Central District
T. Lambe, Manager, Policy and
Research
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
M. Wouters, 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.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
1. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- January 23, 2007, Part A
- February 13, 2007, Part A (10.0)
Jan
23 Feb
13
Moved by: Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by: Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meetings, Part A, held January 23
and February 13, 2007, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. MURPHY HULL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL (10.7)
Staff gave an overview of the subject property and the
precinct plan for lands south of Highway 7 and east of Warden Avenue in Markham
Centre. It was noted that an application has not yet been submitted.
Murphy Hull, applicant, was in attendance to introduce
Hullmark’s Markham Uptown proposal.
Simon Ko of Kirkor Architects & Planners presented
renderings and design concepts for the mixed uses and gateway features of the Grand
Plaza, road patterns, pedestrian routes, opens spaces and parks, a school site,
and the LEEDS technology that will be used. Building heights of 16 to 19
stories are proposed for intensification at the gateway location, opposite the
Markham Civic Centre, and will terrace down with transition development towards
the valley side and the Heritage district to the east. Within the 88 acre site,
27.25 acres will contain 4,200 residential units, and 500,000 sq. ft. of office
and commercial space. Parking will be provided underground. Mr. Hull noted the challenge of portraying both
of Markham’s high tech
and Heritage preservation images. The next step will be to submit a formal
application. Timeframes are estimated as one to two years for approvals, with a
10 year build-out.
Committee discussed parking requirements for retail
uses fronting on the major roads, the preferred concurrent development with
adjacent properties, and the need for a rapid transit system. It was suggested
that some of the building heights and intensification be shifted easterly, and that
building setbacks be staggered and an alternate material be used rather than
blue glass, to achieve visual relief. With respect to the Garden
of Arts proposed for the corner of Warden
Avenue and Highway 7, Committee indicated a
preference for more natural features instead of the billboards and hard
surfaces. In response to Committee’s questions, Mr. Hull advised that the
residential units will be as affordable as possible, three-bedroom units will
be available, and District Energy will be used.
Moved by: Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by: Councillor J. Virgilio
That the presentation by staff, and Murphy Hull of
Murphy Hull Developments and Simon Ko of Kirkor Architects and Planners, regarding
the development proposal at Warden Avenue and Highway 7, be received.
CARRIED
3. MILLER
PAVING LIMITED, 7781 WOODBINE AVENUE (10.6)
Staff gave an overview of the planning history and the
development proposal for the property east of Woodbine
Avenue and north of 14th
Avenue.
Jim Kirk of Malone Given
Parsons Ltd., Steven Wimmer of MBTW Group, and Art Welter of Trinity, representing
the applicant, Miller Paving Limited, presented the Master Plan concept and
compared it to the 2004 conceptual submission. Discussions included the gateway
features, pedestrian routes, public spaces, road patterns, built form, and parking.
One office building is proposed and the rest will be retail buildings.
Committee requested an
integrated signage proposal with the site plan, upgraded building designs
similar to a “life style centre”, improved vegetation and pedestrian components.
The applicant advised that the adjacent gas station owner has been approached
to facilitate a coordinated development.
Moved by: Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by: Councillor J. Virgilio
That the presentation by staff and Jim Kirk of Malone Given Parsons Ltd., Steven
Wimmer of MBTW Group, and Art Welter of Trinity, representing the applicant,
Miller Paving Limited, regarding conceptual Site Plan and elevations for
commercial lands submitted by Miller Paving Limited for 7781 Woodbine Avenue,
be received.
CARRIED
4. H
& R DEVELOPMENTS CORNELL CENTRE
(LINDVEST PROPERTIES (CORNELL)
LTD) (10.6)
Staff provided background information for Cornell
Centre, south of Highway 7, intended to function as a centre for the Cornell
community and eastern Markham with intensive residential and retail uses, as
well as community amenities.
Dan Leeming of the Planning Partnership, representing
H & R Developments, reviewed the evolution of the plan since 2001. This proposal
includes a first phase of live/work uses with retail and open space, including
the woodlot, along an east-west main street. The main street will be a
condominium road, and will be privately owned to facilitate maintenance of its
unique character. Streetscapes and site plans were displayed. Staff advised that York Region has indicated
the private road would be acceptable for transit purposes. The second phase
would include transit-supportive mixed use development along a north-south main street, with
underground parking.
Committee suggested parking structures may be more
practical than underground parking for future phases, and recommended that the
building setbacks along Highway 7 be staggered. It was noted that Highway 7 is
identified in the drawings as Avenue 7, and staff advised that as jurisdiction
shifts to the Region, there may be an opportunity to rename the road. Staff
will consult with the Region in this regard.
Sal Crimi of S.C. Land Management Corp., representing Macwood/Springhill
Homes Inc., was in attendance to advise the Committee that they will be
presenting a proposal in the near future for mixed use development north of the
subject property.
Staff will continue to work with the applicant. A
presentation will be made to the Cornell Advisory Group, and once outstanding
matters have been resolved, a recommendation report will be presented to the
Committee.
Committee directed staff to organize a series of bus
tours and walk-throughs of Markham’s
new communities, possibly using future
Part A session times, to assess how well the developments are functioning.
Moved by: Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by: Regional Councillor J. Heath
That the presentation by staff and a representative of
the applicant, regarding conceptual Site Plan and elevations for commercial
lands, submitted by H & R Developments (Lindvest Properties (Cornell) Ltd),
Cornell Centre, be received;
And that the deputation by Sal Crimi of S.C. Land
Management Corp., representing Macwood/Springhill Homes Inc., be received.
CARRIED
5. PRESENTATION ON TRIP TO JAPAN (10.0)
John Livey gave a presentation on his recent trip to
Japan entitled “John and Cheryl’s Excellent Adventure”. The 12 day trip was an
initiative of the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations
(CLAIR), to increase understanding of Japan’s
local government. Mr. Livey showed photos of their visit to two major cities, Tokyo,
with a population of 32 million, and Matsue, and discussed Japan’s
population, economy, culture, climate, cleanliness, transit system, and
technology advances.
Moved by: Councillor V. Burke
Seconded by: Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the presentation by John Livey, CAO, on his recent trip to Japan,
be received.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services Committee
meeting adjourned at the hour of 12:20 p.m.