MEMORANDUM

To: Mayor and Members of Council

From: Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

Tim Lambe, Manager Policy and Research

DATE: February 1, 2011

RE: Official Plan Review

Request to schedule a Special Meeting of Council

Recommendation

That staff be authorized to proceed with notice and scheduling for a Special Meeting of Council on April 12, 2011 to commence Markham’s Official Plan review, to be held pursuant to Subsection 26 of the Planning Act;

That the Development Services Committee Public Meeting scheduled for April 12, 2011 be cancelled and replaced with a Special Meeting of Council.

And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

Background

The Official Plan is a statutory document, adopted by Council under the Planning Act, which sets out land use policy to guide future development and manage growth. Markham needs a new Official Plan to update Town policies and bring them into conformity with governing Provincial and Regional policies and Plans and to address Town preferences for planning and managing growth and change to 2031.

Planning Act Requirements

Section 26 of the Planning Act, requires that at least every five years, Council shall revise the Official Plan to ensure that it:

conforms with Provincial Plans;
has regard for matters of Provincial Interest and is consistent with Policy Statements; and
if it contains policies dealing with areas of employment, including, the designation of areas of employment in the official plan and policies dealing with the removal of land from areas of employment, to ensure that those policies are confirmed or amended.

Section 26 of the Planning Act requires that as part of a 5 year review of the Town’s Official Plan, Council hold a special meeting to hear submissions from the public and affected agencies in regard to revisions that may be required to the Town’s Official Plan. Notice of the Special Meeting of Council must be given for at least two consecutive weeks, not less than 30 days prior to the meeting.

Special Meeting of Council

Staff is proposing to schedule a Special Meeting of Council for April 12, 2011. The meeting will provide a description of the proposed program to prepare a new Official Plan for the Town and provide the opportunity for submissions in regard to the program or the Plan. Notice for the Special Meeting of Council must be placed in the local newspapers during the weeks of February 21 and 28. Additional notice beyond Planning Act requirements will be provided which will include posting the notice on the website, newspaper ads (March) and notifications to stakeholders.

A report outlining a detailed work program for the Official Plan review including consultation has been prepared and is being targeted for the Development Services Committee on February 22, 2011. Given the tight timelines, staff is seeking approval from the Committee to secure the date to hold a Special Meeting of Council so that staff can start to make preparations for the meeting.