Development Services Committee Minutes

Meeting #:Meeting Number 14
Date:
-
Location:
Council Chamber
Roll Call
  • Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton
  • Regional Councillor Joe Li
  • Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  • Councillor Keith Irish
  • Councillor Reid McAlpine
  • Councillor Andrew Keyes
  • Councillor Amanda Collucci
  • Councillor Khalid Usman
  • Councillor Isa Lee
Regrets
  • Mayor Frank Scarpitti
  • Regional Councillor Jack Heath
  • Councillor Alan Ho
  • Councillor Karen Rea
Staff
  • Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services
  • Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
  • Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff
  • Brian Lee, Director, Engineering
  • Biju Karumanchery, Director, Planning & Urban Design
  • Ron Blake, Senior Manager, Development
  • Stephen Chait, Director, Economic Growth, Culture & Entrepreneurship
  • Sandra Tam, Senior Business Development Officer
  • Ashley Visneski, Parks Development Coordinator, Planning & Urban Design
  • Scott Chapman, Election & Council/Committee Coordinator

Alternate formats for this document are available upon request


Development Services Committee convened at the hour of 9:38 am in the Council Chamber with Regional Councillor Jim Jones presiding as Chair.

Development Services Committee recessed at 11:20 am and reconvened at 11:35 am.

  • Moved byDeputy Mayor Don Hamilton
    Seconded byCouncillor Khalid Usman
    1. That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting held June 24, 2019, be confirmed.
    Carried
  • Moved byDeputy Mayor Don Hamilton
    Seconded byCouncillor Khalid Usman
    1. That the minutes of the Development Services Public Meeting held June 18, 2019 and June 24, 2019, be confirmed.
    Carried

Joanne Barnett, Andrin Wismer Markham Limited, addressed the Committee during open session in regard to confidential item 14.1.3 on the public agenda. Ms. Barnett provided members of Committee with an overview of the pending development application associated with the subject property, including the applicable zoning and policy context, conceptual site plan, and technical issues addressed following the statutory public meeting through consultations with staff.

Deputations were also provided for the following item:

#8.2  Wismer Percy Reesor Parkette

Refer to the individual item for the deputation details.

There were no communications.

There were no petitions.

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Joe Li
    Seconded byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    1. That the minutes of the Heritage Markham Committee meeting held July 10, 2019 and August 14, 2019, be received for information purposes.
    Carried

Ron Blake, Senior Manager, Development, addressed the Committee and provided members with a brief overview of the development application.

Stephen Chait, Director, Economic Development, Culture & Entrepreneurship, addressed the Committee and provided members with an overview of the site history as well as the business expansion aspirations expressed by the applicant and reflected in the development application.

There was discussion regarding the City's ability to attract and maintain the intensity of office use contemplated by the development application in the immediate and long-term. Staff advised Committee of the vibrancy of the site's existing office space as well as the current market demand for site expansion by both existing and future tenants. There was also discussion on the importance of creating a supportive environment for this type of high quality commercial employment to the overall economic development of the City.  

  • Moved byCouncillor Isa Lee
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Don Hamilton
    1. That the report titled “PRELIMINARY REPORT, OP Trust Office Inc., Application for Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a phased campus-style business park development at 101 McNabb St. (Ward 8), File No. ZA 17 151261” be received.
    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Joe Li
    Seconded byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    1. That the report titled “Delegated Authority for Signing Conservation Authority, Provincial and Federal Permit Applications for Engineering Capital Projects” be received; and,

    2. That Council authorize the Director of Engineering to execute application forms and other documents required to obtain permits from various government agencies and levels of government for City capital projects; and further,

    3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

There was no discussion on this item.

  • Moved byCouncillor Keith Irish
    Seconded byCouncillor Khalid Usman
    1. That the report entitled “Rename the section of Meadowview Avenue between Yonge Street and Doncaster Avenue to Doncaster Avenue”, dated September 9, 2019, be received; and,
    2. That the by-law attached to this report to rename the section of Meadowview Avenue between Yonge Street and Doncaster Avenue to Doncaster Avenue be approved; and,
    3. That Staff be directed to request permission from the Region of York to rename their portion of Meadowview Avenue to Doncaster Avenue; and,
    4. That Staff provide notification of the municipal address change to each affected property owner; and further,
    5. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

Joyce Tsao, Markham resident, addressed the Committee in regard to the staff report on the Wismer Percy Reesor Street Parkette. Ms. Tsao expressed concerns related to noise disturbances, loss of privacy, security, and potential loss of property values for residents resulting from the parkette's existing location. Ms. Tsao requested that the Committee support the relocation of the Wismer Percy Reesor Street Parkette to one of two proposed locations further north on Percy Reesor Street to mitigate impacts to area residents.

Biju Karumanchery, Director, Planning & Urban Design, addressed the Committee and provided members with a background of the Wismer Percy Reesor Street Parkette and the proposed options contained in the staff report. It was noted that staff was not aware of the two potential sites identified by Ms. Tsao, but that relocation to either of those sites would involve more significant costs due to extensive regrading than if the parkette were moved to the site identified in Option 3 of the staff report.

The Committee discussed the following relative to the staff report:

  • Balancing the wishes of the affected residents with the significant cost required to relocate the parkette
  • The parkette's existing level of use and the need for a community amenity space
  • Potential cost, requirements and feasibility of removing the parkette and/or play structure from the existing site without relocation

Certain members of Committee considered the removal of the play structure without relocating the parkette to an alternate site to be a potential option. The Committee directed staff to seek feedback through a survey of area residents to determine whether the community would support the removal of the play structure while maintaining the site as an open park space. It was suggested that staff work with the local Ward Councillor to confirm the details of the survey. 

  • Moved byDeputy Mayor Don Hamilton
    Seconded byCouncillor Keith Irish
    1. That the report titled “Wismer Percy Reesor Parkette Project, Response to Resident’s Request to Relocate the Percy Reesor Parkette” be received; and,
    2. That the deputation of Joyce Tsao be received; and further,
    3. That the removal of the play structure at the Percy Reesor Parkette be contingent upon the results of a public consultation survey of the residents of the impacted community.
    Carried

Sandra Tam, Senior Business Development Officer, addressed the Committee and provided members with a brief update to the business delegation referenced in the staff report. It was noted that the Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE) has revised the conference itinerary to focus on Shanghai as the sole destination for the delegation. It was noted that this has resulted in a reduction in the overall cost of the delegation from $6,250 to approximately $5,166.

  • Moved byCouncillor Khalid Usman
    Seconded byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    1. That the Report dated September 9, 2019 entitled “The Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs Business Delegation to China, 2019” be received; and,
    2. That the City of Markham be represented by Sandra Tam, Senior Business Development Officer; and,
    3. That the total cost of the participation not exceed $6,250.00 and be expensed from within the 2019 International Investment and Attraction account 610-998-5811; and further,
    4. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

10.

There were no motions.

There were no notices of motion.

There was no new / other business.

Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton addressed the Committee and extended a congratulations to Bianca Andreescu for her victory at the 2019 United States Open Tennis Championships.

  • Moved byCouncillor Khalid Usman
    Seconded byCouncillor Andrew Keyes

    That, in accordance with Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act, Development Services Committee resolve into a confidential session to discuss the following matters:

    Carried

14.1
DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY ISSUES
 

14.1.1
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES - JUNE 24, 2019 (10.0) [Section 239 (2) (e) (e)]
 

Development Services Committee confirmed the June 24, 2019 confidential minutes.

14.1.2
LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION, INCLUDING MATTERS BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS, AFFECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD – (APPEAL BY 1637063 ONTARIO INC.) 2522584 ONTARIO INC., MARYDALE AVENUE (WARD 7) (8.0) [Section 239 (2) (e)]
 

Development Services Committee consented to refer this item directly to the September 10, 2019 Council meeting for consideration.

14.1.3
LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION, INCLUDING MATTERS BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS, AFFECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD - ANDRIN INVESTMENTS LIMITED, 5440 16TH AVENUE (WARD 4) (8.0) [Section 239 (2) (e)]
 

Development Services Committee consented to refer this item directly to the September 10, 2019 Council meeting for consideration.

  • Moved byCouncillor Isa Lee
    Seconded byCouncillor Keith Irish
    1. That Development Services Committee adjourn at 12:35 pm.
    Carried