Electronic Development Services Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Number 11
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Live streamed
Roll Call
  • Mayor Frank Scarpitti
  • Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton
  • Regional Councillor Jack Heath
  • Regional Councillor Joe Li
  • Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  • Councillor Keith Irish
  • Councillor Alan Ho
  • Councillor Reid McAlpine
  • Councillor Karen Rea
  • Councillor Andrew Keyes
  • Councillor Amanda Collucci
  • Councillor Khalid Usman
  • Councillor Isa Lee
Staff
  • Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services
  • Brenda Librecz, Commissioner, Community & Fire Services
  • Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
  • Brian Lee, Director, Engineering
  • Biju Karumanchery, Director, Planning & Urban Design
  • Ron Blake, Senior Development Manager, Planning & Urban Design
  • Loy Cheah, Senior Manager, Transportation
  • Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff
  • Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage
  • Darryl Lyons, Manager, Policy
  • Francesco Santaguida, Assistant City Solicitor
  • Marg Wouters, Senior Manager, Policy & Research
  • Scott Chapman, Election & Council/Committee Coordinator
  • Hristina Giantsopoulos, Election & Council/Committee Coordinator

Alternate formats for this document are available upon request


In consideration of the ongoing state of emergency surrounding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the emergency public health orders issued by the Government of Ontario, this meeting was conducted electronically to maintain physical distancing among participants.

The Development Services Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:30 AM with Regional Councillor Jim Jones presiding as Chair.

Development Services Committee recessed at 11:24 AM and reconvened at 11:40 AM
Development Services Committee recessed at 1:05 PM and reconvened at 1:45 PM.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti arrived at 9:55 AM.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti left the meeting at 1:45 PM and returned at 2:27 PM.

Development Services Committee observed a moment of silence for Safet Tairoski, Markham resident, who was killed in a fatal collision the previous week.

  • Moved byDeputy Mayor Don Hamilton
    Seconded byCouncillor Andrew Keyes
    1. ​That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting held June 8, 2020, be confirmed.
    Carried

There were no deputations.

There were no communications.

There were no petitions.

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Joe Li
    Seconded byCouncillor Isa Lee
    1. ​That the minutes of the Development Services Public meeting held June 2, 2020, be confirmed.
    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Joe Li
    Seconded byCouncillor Isa Lee
    1. That the minutes of the Heritage Markham Committee meeting held May 13, 2020, be received for information purposes.
    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Joe Li
    Seconded byCouncillor Isa Lee
    1. That the report titled ‘Information Report 2020 Second Quarter Update of the Street and Park Name Reserve List’, be received;
    2. That Council approve the revised Street and Park Name Reserve List set out in Appendix ‘A’ attached to this report; and further,
    3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

A RECREATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT AT 349 TO 355 JOHN STREET FILE NO. PLAN 19 128732 (WARD 1) (10.5)

  • Moved byCouncillor Keith Irish
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Don Hamilton
    1. That the report dated June 22, 2020, entitled “PRELIMINARY REPORT – 349-351 John Street Inc., Application for Zoning By-law Amendment to add commercial uses including motor vehicle sales and storage, a restaurant, and a recreational establishment at 349 to 355 John Street File No. PLAN 19 128732 (Ward 1)”, be received.
    Carried

There was discussion regarding staff's recommended approach to address concerns identified by the owner as opposed to addressing these matters during the review of a future development application or heritage permit application, including the potential impact of Committee's endorsement of the approach on the protection of heritage attributes associated with the property.

Staff advised that alterations to existing heritage attributes proposed by the owner will be considered as part of a building permit application review process and involve consultation with the Heritage Markham Committee.

  • Moved byCouncillor Keith Irish
    Seconded byCouncillor Karen Rea

    That the following clause be deleted from the resolution:

    "That the recommended approach to address concerns identified by the owner in Appendix ‘B’ of this report be endorsed by Markham Council."

    Lost
  • Moved byCouncillor Andrew Keyes
    Seconded byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    1. That the staff report titled “Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, Joseph & Lean Pipher Farmhouse and Smokehouse, 33 Dickson Hill Road”, dated June 22, 2020, be received; and,
    2. That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the Joseph & Leah Pipher Farmhouse and Smokehouse-33 Dickson Hill Road be approved for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest; and,
    3. That the recommended approach to address concerns identified by the owner in Appendix ‘B’ of this report be endorsed by Markham Council; and,
    4. That the Clerk’s Department be authorized to publish and serve Council’s Notice of Intention to Designate as per the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act; and,
    5. That if there are no objections to the designation in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be authorized to place a designation by-law before Council for adoption; and,
    6. That if there are any objections in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to refer the proposed designation to the Ontario Conservation Review Board; and,
    7. That if the designation is referred to the Conservation Review Board, Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to attend any hearing held by the Board in support of Council’s decision to designate the property; and further,
    8. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, introduced the item and provided members of Development Services Committee with an overview of the staff report.

Darryl Lyons, Manager, Policy, delivered a presentation on the draft MTSAs identified in Markham as well as staff's recommended revisions to the proposed mapping and minimum density targets provided by York Region. Key objectives and Council priorities reflected in staff's comments to York Region were noted.

The Committee reviewed the proposed mapping for each of the draft MTSAs in detail and discussed the following relative to the staff report:

  • Ensuring appropriate transitioning and mitigating potential impacts of intensification in MTSAs on adjacent stable residential neighbourhoods and road networks, including those surrounding McCowan BRT Station and Mount Joy GO Station;
  • Seeking information and clarification from York Region on plans for the extension of transit infrastructure along the Highway 7 Rapidway corridor from Town Centre Boulevard to Cornell; 
  • Continued consideration of appropriate development and transportation planning for MTSAs located within or adjacent to Markham Centre through the Markham Centre Secondary Plan Update;
  • Ensuring appropriate planning in areas adjacent to designated MTSAs;
  • Establishing appropriate pedestrian and cycling connections throughout Markham Centre with the Unionville GO Station;
  • Ensuring an appropriate location for the Enterprise BRT Station relative to community facilities and amenities;
  • Potential timelines for implementation of transit initiatives in Cornell; and,
  • Continuing to explore opportunities to secure an MTSA at Denison Street.

In addition, the Committee discussed and requested that staff report back to Development Services Committee with a memo providing further information on the following matters:

  • Potential impact of the Province's recently announced Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe on the draft MTSA mapping;
  • Status and potential impact of Metrolinx's proposed changes to the Yonge North Subway Extension alignment on the proposed Longbridge / Langstaff Subway Station MTSA;
  • Implications of applying an expanded radius of 800 metres on certain draft MTSA boundaries;
  • Exploring the feasibility and appropriateness of additional MTSAs such as John Street and Centennial GO Station;
  • Potential relocation and / or expansion of the proposed centre point for the Milliken GO Station MTSA north of Steeles Avenue; and,
  • Potential relocation and / or expansion of the proposed centre point for the Unionville GO Station MTSA further south to capture lands abutting the future Highway 407 Transitway.

It was also requested that staff provide Development Services Committee with an update on the existing road conditions and future road network in Markham Centre at a future meeting.

  • Moved byCouncillor Khalid Usman
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Jack Heath
    1. That the staff report entitled “City of Markham Comments on York Region’s Draft MTSAs for Inclusion in the Regional Official Plan” dated June 22, 2020 be received; and,
    2. That Council support the comments and recommendations regarding the draft major transit stations areas (MTSAs), provided in Appendix ‘B’ and Appendix ‘C’ to this report; and,
    3. That Council request York Region to bring forward a Regional Official Plan Amendment to implement MTSAs and include inclusionary zoning policies in advance of completion of the Municipal Comprehensive Review and adoption of a new Regional Official Plan to enable local municipalities to require the provision of affordable housing in MTSAs as soon as possible; and,
    4. That the report entitled “City of Markham Comments on York Region’s Draft MTSAs for Inclusion in the Regional Official Plan” dated June 22, 2020, be forwarded to York Region as Markham Council’s input on the Region’s draft MTSAs; and,
    5. That Council request a detailed plan from York Region for the proposed extension of the Highway 7 Rapidway from Town Centre Boulevard BRT Station to Cornell Terminal; and,
    6. That staff be directed to report back to Development Services Committee at its July 13, 2020 meeting with further information on the identified matters; and further,
    7. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

(YORKTON) LTD. (6.3)

Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, and Biju Karumanchery, Director, Planning & Urban Design, introduced the item and provided members of Committee with an overview of the staff report. 

  • Moved byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    Seconded byMayor Frank Scarpitti
    1. That the report dated June 22, 2020 to Development Services Committee, titled ‘Design, Construction and Financing of the Yorkton Community Phase 2 Parks by Kylemore Communities (Yorkton) Ltd’ be received; and,
    2. That Council approve the request by Kylemore Communities (Yorkton) Ltd to finance the cost of design, construction, and contract administration of these parks identified as Plan 65M-4613, Block 2 (0.37ha/0.9ac) and Block 5 (0.07ha/0.16ac) in draft plan of subdivision 19TM-04009, subject to the conditions identified in Attachment A; and,
    3. That Council authorize the reimbursement of the cost of design, construction, and contract administration of these parks up to a maximum of $614,272.93; and,
    4. That Council authorize the execution of an agreement by the Mayor and Clerk for the construction and reimbursement the cost of design, construction, and contract administration of these parks in a form satisfactory to the Commissioner of Development Services and City Solicitor, or their respective designates; and further,
    5. That staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

There were no motions.

There were no notices of motion.

Councillor Karen Rea addressed the Committee and inquired as to the logistical and resource arrangements for the upcoming electronic Committee of Adjustment meetings being held this week. Staff provided an update on this matter.

Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton addressed the Committee and requested that the City's Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CPAC) be permitted to hold electronic meetings during the ongoing emergency period to discuss urgent matters related to road safety.

There was discussion regarding the status of the road safety audit commissioned by the City and its relationship to the City's overall road safety program. Staff advised of the anticipated timetable for the preliminary results and subsequent recommendations from the road safety audit. Members of Committee also inquired as to potential opportunities to expedite road safety initiatives in light of recent increases in pedestrian and cycling traffic.

It was requested that staff develop additional communication materials for the public on road safety education and awareness over the summer months. 

There were no announcements.

  • Moved byCouncillor Isa Lee
    Seconded byMayor Frank Scarpitti

    That the Development Services Committee meeting adjourn at 3:30 PM.

    Carried