Arvin Prasad, Commissioner of Development Services, introduced the item, advising that the density proposed in the Province’s Bridge Station Transit Oriented Community (TOC) Proposal exceeds what was envisioned in the Langstaff Gateway Secondary Plan, which prioritizes creating a complete community where residents want to live, work, and play. Mr. Prasad advised that the Province is seeking zoning certainty for the TOC proposal by March 1, 2022, and that staff anticipate the use of a Minister’s Zoning Order.
Darryl Lyons provided a presentation titled “City Comments on Provincial Bridge Station Transit Oriented Community Proposal”.
Graham Churchill provided a deputation on the City Comments on the Provincial Bridge Station TOC Proposal. Mr. Churchill advised that the density being proposed in the Bridge Station TOC Proposal would make it one of the densest communities in the world when combined with the High Tech TOC Proposal. Mr. Churchill outlined that the combined High Tech and Bridge Station TOCs density is 200,000 people per square kilometre, which exceeds the densest city in Hong Kong, Manhattan and St. James Town in Toronto. Mr. Churchill suggested that great rivers, parks, and trails make great cities, noting that there is an opportunity to incorporate a great natural system feature that connects to the Toronto Ravine System, and/or that runs between to Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue in the Bridge Station TOC. Mr. Churchill questioned how the 407 Transitway fits into the plan for the Bridge Station TOC.
Committee discussed the following relative to the staff report on the Provincial Bridge Station TOC Proposal:
- The high likelihood that the Province will use a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) for the Bridge Station TOC;
- The types of things that can be included under a MZO (i.e. the location of the community centre and library, the density, and the permitted building heights);
- The need to understand the plans for the Langstaff Community more holistically (i.e. considering the High Tech TOC, the Bridge Station TOC, and the lands outside of the TOC together);
- The benefits of burying the hydro corridor to create more useable land;
- The significant increase in density and reduction in jobs compared to the Langstaff Gateway Secondary Plan;
- The high likelihood that the Province will propose TOCs at Clark and Royal Orchard Stations;
- The status of the Richmond Hill secondary plan for the High Tech TOC area;
- The uncertainty in regards to how the Bridge Station TOC will proceed;
- The School Boards authority to determine the type, size, and location of the school;
- The importance of integrating the Bridge Station TOC with Markham’s trail system;
- The importance of considering community impacts after the Bridge Station TOC is built;
- The heights of the buildings being proposed in the Bridge Station TOC;
- How to balance density with the principles that make a complete community;
- The importance of the City having a say in the location, and size of the Community Centre, and Library;
- The need to better understand subway capacity;
- Whether the Bridge Station TOC will follow the typical municipal development processes (i.e. will it be presented at a Statutory Development Services Committee Public Meeting);
- The potential of the Bridge Station TOC as a mega transportation hub.
Darryl Lyons, Manager, Policy, clarified that the City will not be able to pass any by-laws that are in contradiction to the MZO. Mr. Lyons noted that staff are seeking clarity from the Province on the process it plans to proceed with in regards to developing the Bridge Station TOC.
Committee spent time reviewing and refining the staff recommendation.