MAY 26, 2009 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 18
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Councillor J. Webster Chair: Regional Councillor T. Wong
Vice-Chair: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor G. Landon
Attendance
|
Councillor A. Chiu
Regrets
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
M. Boyce, Senior Policy Coordinator
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
S. Chait, Director of Economic
Development
J. Ryerson, Director of Culture
C. Kakaflikas, Manager, Special
Projects
J. Streisfield , Assistant
Town Solicitor
B. Karumanchery, Senior Development
Manager
V. Shuttleworth, Director of
Planning and Urban Design
A. Tari, Committee Clerk
|
The Development Services
Committee convened at 9:00 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor D.
Horchik in the Chair. Regional
Councillor G. Landon assumed the Chair for Transportation item, No.5 and
Economic Development item, No. 6.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
Councillor V. Burke disclosed an interest with respect to Item #4, as
her family owns a business in the area, and did not take part in the
consideration or discussion of or vote on the question of the approval of such
matter.
1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- May 12, 2009, Part A (10.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the
minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held May 12, 2009,
be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. MARKHAM BUILT FORM
MASSING AND HEIGHT STUDY (10.0)
Presentation
Mr. Mark Sterling,
Principal, &Co. delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the status of
the Markham Built Form, Massing and Height Study.
There was brief
discussion regarding the existing parks in the Thornhill area and the pattern
of development along the Yonge Street corridor.
The Committee
inquired about next steps with respect to this study. Staff advised that the document being
composed by Mr. Sterling will produce built form guidelines for the already
identified intensification areas within Markham. These
built form guidelines are essentially an overarching piece that will go
together with the intensification strategy and be further refined through local
area studies to be completed in the coming years. Staff indicated that these guidelines will be
referred to in the Town’s new Official Plan and could possibly be attached as
an appendix. The guidelines will be
helpful in explaining and justifying the intensification districts that are
essential to the Town’s Growth Management Strategy.
The Committee
discussed the importance of viewing these intensification areas in their
entirety especially where they are adjacent to municipal boundaries (eg. City
of Toronto south of Steeles Avenue).
There was
discussion regarding how to handle intensification areas such as Milliken
Centre, that are a work in progress.
Staff pointed out the importance of putting in place principles and
guidelines that will assist in managing the incoming development applications.
Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by
Councillor A. Chiu
That the
presentation provided by Mr. Mark Sterling, Principal, &Co. regarding the
Markham Built Form, Massing and Height Study be received.
CARRIED
3. GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY UPDATE (10.0)
Presentation
Ms. Valerie
Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design, delivered a PowerPoint
presentation regarding the Growth Management Strategy Update. The presentation also included an overview
and summary of the public engagement results and the York Region Land Budget
and Urban Boundary expansion study.
There was
discussion regarding the ability to meet all the needs such as commercial and
retail through mixed developments. Staff
indicated that there will be market challenges and that a more detailed
analysis will be done.
The Committee
inquired about parking structures and tax credits. Staff advised that the Finance Department is
exploring financial impacts, of the growth scenarios, and that financial
recommendations will be coming forward.
The Committee
congratulated staff on the presentation and the public consultation process.
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
That the
presentation provided by Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and
Urban Design regarding Growth Management Strategy Update be received.
CARRIED
4. THORNHILL EMPLOYMENT AREA (10.0)
Presentation
Mr. Nick McDonald,
Meridian Planning Consultants Inc., delivered a
PowerPoint presentation outlining the initial land use observations for the
Thornhill Employment Area.
There was
discussion regarding the Canac property and how the lands will be developed in
the future. Staff advised that the main
purpose of this study is to attempt to remove from zoning the potential incompatible
permitted uses, and staff will be bringing forward some recommendations in the
Fall. Staff also advised that Canac has
hired a consultant and it is anticipated that the consultant will be coming
forward with a proposal to redevelop the entire site. Staff are encouraging Canac to focus on
employment uses for their site. Staff
indicated that Canac could possibly request the Town to also consider their
site for residential uses. Staff pointed
out that this study is focused on maintaining this area as an employment
district.
Moved by Regional
Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the
presentation provided by Mr. Nick McDonald, Meridian Planning Consultants Inc.
regarding the Thornhill Employment Area be received.
CARRIED
5. LASSETER
DEVELOPMENT INC.
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MAJOR
MACKENZIE DRIVE
AND McCOWAN ROAD
(10.5, 10.7) ZA 08 107108
& SU 09 115161
Memo
Staff advised that
the purpose of the memo is to authorize a Public Meeting for the Lasseter
Development Inc. development applications before the summer recess (Public
Meeting date of June 16, 2009). Staff
indicated that they do not anticipate these applications to be contentious.
Moved by Mayor F.
Scarpitti
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
That a public
meeting be held to consider the applications submitted by Lasseter Development
Inc. for Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision to permit a 250
unit townhouse development at the southwest corner of Major Mackenzie and McCowan
Road (files ZA 08 107108 & SU 09 11516)
CARRIED
6. LESLIE
STREET LRT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
(YRRT) (5.7)
Presentation
Mr. Scott Thorburn, of URS, Consultant Ltd., delivered
a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview with respect to the Leslie
Street LRT Environmental Assessment (EA) and a summary of consultation events.
There was discussion regarding the proposed road cross
section and alternative landscape treatments between each section.
The Committee inquired about the interface between the
Leslie Street LRT and Highway 7. Mr.
Thorburn indicated that during the workshops they will explore a wide range of
alternatives.
The Committee suggested that the EA for the Leslie
Street LRT needs to be extended up to Major
Mackenzie Drive primarily because of the sizeable employment
area within the East/West Beaver Creek.
The Committee requested that the Region contact representatives from
both the Markham Board of Trade and the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce for
information on employment densities gathered through their SMART Commute 404-7
Association.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That the presentation provided by Mr. Scott Thorburn, of
URS, Consultant Ltd., regarding Leslie Street LRT Environmental Assessment
(YRRT) be received; and,
2) That the Town of Markham formally
request that the Leslie Street LRT Environmental Assessment be extended up to
Major Mackenzie Drive based on the employment figures from East Beaver Creek
and West Beaver Creek; and,
3) That this request be forwarded to the
Region of York, Metrolinx, the Province of Ontario, the Town of Richmond Hill,
City of Toronto and local MPP’s; and further,
4) That the Region of York be
requested to ensure adequate notice is provided to the residents of Thornhill
with respect to the public meetings for Leslie Street LRT.
CARRIED
7. CULTURAL
MAPPING (6.5, 10.16)
Presentation
Mr. John Ryerson, Director of Culture and Ms.
Christina Kakaflikas, Manager, Special Projects delivered a PowerPoint
presentation regarding Cultural Mapping.
The Committee congratulated staff on moving this
initiative forward and inquired how it will be communicated to the public. Staff advised that there will be a formal
launch in the Fall 2009 in collaboration with the Markham Arts Council and
Markham Board of Trade. Staff also
advised that they anticipate turning this into a prototype for the Province
of Ontario.
Moved by Councillor C. Moretti
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the presentation provided by Mr. John Ryerson,
Director of Culture and Ms. Christina Kakaflikas, Manager, Special Projects
regarding Cultural Mapping be received.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at 11:40 AM.