REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
FROM:	Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning & Urban Design
PREPARED BY:	Murray Boyce, Senior Project Coordinator, Policy & Research
DATE OF MEETING:	January 24, 2006
SUBJECT:	Comments on the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – November 2005

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Comments on the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – November 2005” dated January 24, 2006 be received;

THAT the Council of the Town of Markham congratulate and commend the Province for their leadership and commitment to bringing forward a comprehensive long-term provincial plan to guide municipalities in managing growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe;

THAT the Town of Markham support the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and the Ontario Growth Secretariat in the finalization and implementation of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, as outlined and commented on in this report;

THAT Council request the Province, through the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, to make a commitment to release for consultation, with municipalities and key stakeholders, a long term multi-year provincial infrastructure investment strategy identifying infrastructure investment priorities in support of implementation of the growth plan policies;

THAT Council request the Province, through the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to make a commitment to deliver new fiscal tools including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and permanent removal of tax capping in TIF areas, and changes to the Development Charges Act, to assist municipalities with the implementation of the growth plan policies, particularly as they relate to intensification and development of higher order transit;

THAT Council request the Province (through the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal) and the Region of York (through the Regional Commissioner of Planning) to make a specific commitment to consult with Markham staff at the technical review stage of the implementation analysis to ensure that:

· the refinement and allocation of growth forecasts and the assessment of the need and location for future designated greenfield areas fits with Markham’s emerging growth management strategy;

· the “built boundary” accurately reflects all committed development and includes all lands within the OPA No. 5 planning districts and along the Highway 7 regional transit corridor; and

· the scope and scale of Markham Centre and the delineation of its designated land area as urban growth centre be based on developable land area, and not include natural heritage features and areas where development is not permitted in accordance with provincial plans and policies;

THAT Council request the Province, through the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, to revise the growth plan policies as they relate to:

· the implementation analysis to make a specific commitment to consultation between lower tier municipalities, the Province and upper tier municipalities in completing the technical review and sub-area assessment;

· Schedule 4 – Urban Growth Centres to make correct reference to “Markham Centre” instead of “Markham City Centre” as an urban growth centre;

THAT Council request the Province, through the Minister of Environment, to expedite the provincial response to the Environmental Assessment (EA) Advisory panel’s recommendations on streamlining the EA process for key infrastructure projects (ie. transit, roads, water and wastewater) that support the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe;

THAT Council request the Province, through the Minister of Transportation, to fulfill its commitment to establish a Greater Toronto Transportation Authority to ensure coordination of transit and transportation infrastructure and services and implement the transportation initiatives of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe;

THAT Council endorse the aforementioned staff report and submit it to the Province, along with the Council resolution, as the Town of Markham’s comments on the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Environmental Bill of Rights Registry No. XR05E0002;

AND THAT the Clerk be requested to forward a copy of this report to the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Ontario Growth Secretariat, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Transportation, York Region MPPs, and the Region of York.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to respond to the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, November 2005 released by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal for comments by January 27, 2006.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Provincial leadership in strategic growth planning at the inter-regional scale has great potential to achieve mutually beneficial results for the Town of Markham, the Region of York and the Province. Policies at each level increasingly reflect a common, shared vision for the planning and development of “complete communities” to accommodate new growth, and to provide for the transit and infrastructure investment required to support new growth.

With the November 2005 release of the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Province has continued to build momentum and support for its provincial growth strategy - “Places to Grow – Better Choices, Better Future”. The strategy contemplates the use of a combination of provincial planning policy (ie. the Growth Plan and Greenbelt Plan), provincial planning tools and legislation (ie. Places To Grow Act, Planning Act and OMB Reforms) and provincial financial tools and resources (ie. TIF legislation and provincial investment in infrastructure) to support the creation of strong communities, and enhance the quality of life, environmental protection and economic growth in Ontario.

The focus of the proposed growth plan is the planning and development of “complete communities” to accommodate growth, and the transit and infrastructure investment required to support growth. Markham has already made great progress in planning and developing “complete communities” such as Cornell, Markham Centre and the Cathedral community. Complete communities can be generally characterized as well-designed, compact urban development, accommodating both a mix of housing and a range of jobs, with convenient access to public transportation. The Province estimates that building more complete communities could result in savings of over 20 per cent of infrastructure capital costs over 25 years in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area.

To encourage the development of complete communities the provincial growth plan envisages increasing intensification within the existing built up area of upper tier municipalities (ie. York Region) with a focus on urban growth centres (ie. Markham Centre) and intensification corridors (ie. Highway 7 and Yonge Street) where the potential for development at transit supportive densities is greatest. In particular, the proposed plan establishes an intensification target of 40% for new residential development in the built up area of upper tier municipalities, and density targets for population and employment growth in urban growth centres and designated greenfield areas of upper tier municipalities.

Intensification and redevelopment is a key component of the Region’s and the Town’s emerging urban structure based on regional centres (ie. Markham Centre) and regional corridors (ie Highway 7). Markham Centre already has development approvals in place that will deliver the proposed provincial intensification target for urban growth centres of 200 jobs and residents per hectare. At the same time, the OPA No. 5 communities, including Cornell, are achieving the provincial intensification target of 50 jobs and residents per hectare of designated greenfield land.

The continued success of these intensification exercises will be directly related to the Province providing municipalities with supportive policies and implementation tools, and sustained long term provincial investment in infrastructure. While new planning tools and legislation (the Provincial Policy Statement and Bill 51 Planning Act Legislation) were introduced last year to support the provincial growth, municipal governments are still awaiting the approval of changes to the Development Charges Act and the approval of Tax Increment Financing legislation to provide financial incentives to facilitate intensification of built up areas and development of higher order transit.

A sustained provincial investment in growth supportive infrastructure is required in order for municipalities to implement the growth plan policies and successfully accommodate the provincial growth forecasts and achieve the province’s vision of strategic growth for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Markham is likely to receive a large portion of York Region’s allocation of additional population, households and employment growth, both within the current built up area and future greenfield areas and will be required to develop a strategy to manage this growth. A sustainable long term provincial investment in infrastructure and high order transit will be required to deliver Markham’s urban growth centre (ie. Markham Centre) and intensification corridors (ie. Highway 7 and Yonge Street). At present, municipalities are required to amend their Official Plan to accept new growth in accordance with the Places to Grow Plan, without the assurance that long term sustainable provincial infrastructure funding will be provided to support the additional growth.

The Town of Markham should congratulate and commend the Province for their leadership and commitment to bringing forward a comprehensive long-term provincial plan to guide municipalities managing growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. However, Council should reinforce through its recommendations to the Province that without:

· a commitment to a long term multi-year provincial infrastructure investment strategy identifying infrastructure investment priorities in support of implementation of the growth plan policies;

· a commitment to the deliver new fiscal tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and permanent removal of tax capping in TIF areas;

· a commitment to changes to the Development Charges Act;

municipalities such as Markham will not be in a position to fully implement the growth plan policies particularly as they relate to intensification and development of higher order transit.

Consultation between the Province, the Region and the Town, throughout the research and analysis stage of the provincial implementation analysis, will be key to ensuring the growth plan policies can be implemented by the Town’s growth management strategy. For this reason, it is recommended that the Province consult with lower tier municipalities while completing the technical review and sub-area assessment of the provincial implementation analysis of the growth plan policies.

1.0 BACKGROUND:

1.1 Provincial Leadership in Strategic Growth Planning

Over the past year, the provincial government has continued to build momentum and support for its provincial growth strategy.

Strategic Planning at the Provincial Level

In February 2005, the Province approved the Greenbelt Plan identifying where urban growth will not occur in order to provide for permanent protection of agricultural and environmental lands.

At the same time, the Province released for comment a Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe identifying areas where land and infrastructure capacity exists to accommodate new growth within the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The two plans complement each other as part of the Province’s overall growth strategy.

Provincial Planning Tools and Legislation and Financial Resources

A key component of the provincial government’s approach is to also provide provincial planning tools and legislation and financial resources to assist municipalities in implementing the provincial growth strategy. These implementation initiatives include:

· Bill 26 - The Strong Communities (Planning Amendment) Act which came into effect in November 2004 and strengthens the implementation provisions of the Planning Act;

· A new Provincial Policy Statement which came into effect on March 1, 2005, introducing a higher policy implementation standard (ie. decisions affecting planning “shall be consistent with” the PPS) and new policies that support the provincial growth strategy by requiring intensification and redevelopment within existing settlement areas and allowing significant boundary expansions only after a comprehensive municipal review;

· A five year infrastructure investment strategy, ReNew Ontario, released in May of 2005 highlighting the government’s infrastructure investments that will be prioritized to support the provincial growth strategy;

· Bill 136 – The Places to Grow Act which came into effect in June 2005 to provide a legislative framework for the Province to designate any area of land as a growth plan area and for the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal to establish a growth plan for all or part of that area;

· A Provincial Development Facilitator (Alan Wells) appointed in August 2005 for a one-year term to assist the Province, municipalities, developers and community groups resolve issues relating to growth management, land use and infrastructure planning and environmental protection;

· A discussion paper on developing a “Tax Increment Financing (TIF)” model for Ontario released in September 2005 examining options to implement TIF as a tool to promote urban regeneration; and

· Bill 51 – The Planning and Conservation Land Statute Law Amendment Act which was introduced in December of 2005 and proposes new planning rules and expanded/enhanced planning tools to strengthen implementation of provincial policies and municipal priorities. If passed, Bill 51 would also provide new rules for information, materials and parties at the Ontario Municipal Board. A separate report providing comments on Bill 51 legislation will be forwarded to the Development Services Committee in February 2006.

Together with the November 2005 release of the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, these provincial growth management and implementation initiatives demonstrate a commitment on the part of the current provincial government to provide leadership in strategic growth planning at the inter-regional scale.

1.2 Markham is supportive of emerging Provincial Growth Strategy

In responding to the discussion papers, draft plans and draft legislation released in support of the provincial growth strategy, Council in August and November 2004, and April 2005 has:

· supported the strategic approach of the Greenbelt Plan towards the protection of certain agricultural and environmental lands in Markham;

· supported the general provincial policy direction of the Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, in favour of intensification and compact urban form, subject to on-going policy support, infrastructure support and financial support from the Province to municipalities; and

· identified preferences for changes in provincial legislation and policies, and further action required by the Province, including the provision of financial incentives such as TIF legislation, to provide for an improved implementation framework for land use planning at the municipal level.

The Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and the Ontario Growth Secretariat, together with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, have responded to many of Council’s recommendations relating to the Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Discussion Paper (August 2004) and the Draft Growth Plan (April 2005) with the release of the Proposed Growth Plan, the approval of the Places to Grow Act, the approval of the Greenbelt Plan and the introduction of new Planning Act and OMB reforms. Council’s previous recommendations on the Places to Grow Act and the Draft Growth Plan and a commentary on the action taken by the Province is provided in Appendix ‘A’.

2.0 DISCUSSION:

2.1 Province Released Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe

In November 2005, the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal released the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe for public review and comment. A copy of the Proposed Growth Plan is attached as Appendix ‘C’. The proposed growth plan is the first to be developed under Bill 136 - the Places To Grow Act, an Act which enables the Minister to designate growth plan areas and develop growth plans. The proposed growth plan applies to the geographic area designated as the Greater Golden Horseshoe by Ontario Regulation 416/05.

The proposed growth plan builds on the comments received from municipalities and other key stakeholders in response to the Draft Growth Plan released in February 2005. The plan has four major sections:

· Where and How To Grow

· Infrastructure To Support Growth

· Protecting What is Valuable

· Implementation

These sections set out policies that, among other things, aim to:

· Direct growth to built-up settlement areas where capacity exists to accommodate new growth

· Promote a mix of residential and employment uses at transit supportive densities

· Preserve employment lands for future economic opportunities

· Support development of a transportation network anchored by efficient public transit

· Coordinate infrastructure planning, land use planning and infrastructure investment to

support new growth

· Ensure sustainable water and wastewater services are available to support future growth

· Identify a natural system and prime agricultural areas and enhance their protection.

2.2 Proposed Growth Plan Policy Highlights

Highlights of the policies of each section are summarized below. A more detailed overview of the policies is included in “ Planning For Growth – A Guide to the Proposed Growth Plan” attached as Appendix ‘B’ to this report.

Where And How To Grow

Overall, the policies of the draft plan have been refined to focus on the planning and development of “complete communities” to accommodate growth, and the transit and infrastructure investment required to support growth. Complete communities can be generally characterized as well-designed, compact urban development, accommodating both a mix of housing and a range of jobs, with convenient access to public transportation. The Province estimates that building more complete communities could result in savings of over 20 per cent of infrastructure capital costs over 25 years in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area.

To encourage the development of complete communities the proposed plan envisages increasing intensification within the existing built up area of upper tier municipalities (ie. York Region) with a focus on urban growth centres (ie. Markham Centre) and intensification corridors (ie. Highway 7 and Yonge Street) where the potential for development at transit supportive densities is greatest. In particular, the proposed plan establishes an intensification target for new residential development in the built up area of upper tier municipalities, and density targets for population and employment growth in urban growth centres and designated greenfield areas of upper tier municipalities. Upper and lower tier municipalities will be required to develop and implement official plan policies for intensification including identifying where intensification will occur within the built boundary. The Province will consult with individual upper tier municipalities (ie. York Region) to verify and delineate the built boundary.

According to the plan, by the year 2015, and for each year after, a minimum of 40 per cent of all residential development occurring annually within each upper tier municipality (ie. York Region) will be within the built up area as defined today. If approved, the plan would also require that urban growth centres (ie. Markham Centre) be planned to achieve, by 2031 or earlier, a minimum gross density target of 200 residents and jobs combined per hectare, and that designated greenfield areas of each upper tier municipality (ie. York Region) be planned to achieve a minimum density target of 50 residents and jobs combined per hectare.

Infrastructure to Support Growth

In order to deliver complete communities, infrastructure planning and investment and land use planning must be coordinated. Priority will be given to infrastructure investment by the Province to implement the proposed plan. The Province will consult with municipalities to refine and address a multi-year infrastructure plan for transit and transportation and water and wastewater systems. Municipalities will also be required to provide for appropriate community infrastructure such as implementing minimum affordable housing targets in accordance with the new Provincial Policy Statement.

Protecting What is Valuable

Building on the policies of the Provincial Policy Statement, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan, the proposed growth plan provides policies for enhanced protection of the natural system and prime agricultural areas, and conservation management of valuable renewable and non-renewable resources. The Province will consult with upper tier municipalities (ie. York Region) to identify the natural system and prime agricultural areas of the Greater Golden Horseshoe, located outside of the Greenbelt, and require municipalities to develop and implement official plan policies in support of natural resource conservation objectives.

Implementation

The proposed growth plan contemplates additional data gathering and analysis to provide additional guidance to the Province and municipalities and allow for implementation and refinement of the plan’s policies.

The implementation analysis will be carried out by the Province in 2006. It will include a technical assessment by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, in consultation with upper tier municipalities (ie. York Region) to:

· Verify and delineate the built boundary;

· Develop a detailed assessment of the need for future designated greenfield areas; and

· Determine the scope and scale of urban growth centres (ie. Markham Centre).

It will also include a sub-area assessment carried out by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and other Ministers of the Crown, in consultation with upper tier municipalities (ie. York Region), to refine the policies of the growth plan at a regional scale including:

· An economic assessment at the regional scale to guide planning for employment and identify provincially significant employment areas;

· Refinement, phasing and coordination of transportation infrastructure planning and investment;

· A review of water and wastewater capacity to service projected growth; and

· Identification of the natural system and prime agricultural areas, outside of the Greenbelt, for enhanced protection.

Successful implementation of the proposed growth plan policies will also require the development of a range of planning and fiscal tools by the Province. In addition to the legislative framework of the Places To Grow Act, which requires municipalities to bring their official plans into conformity with Growth Plan policies within 3 years, the Province has recently introduced additional Planning Act and Ontario Municipal Board Reforms, and is currently reviewing the Environmental Assessment (EA) Advisory panel’s recommendations on a streamlined EA process for key infrastructure projects. Tax Increment Financing legislation and establishment of a Greater Toronto Transportation Authority are also pending. Overall, it is intended that the Ministers of the Crown and municipalities will use infrastructure investment and other implementation tools and mechanisms to implement the policies of the growth plan, particularly as they relate to facilitating intensification in built up areas and the provision of higher order transit.

2.3 Clarification of Growth Plan Policies Required

Growth Forecasts and Managing Growth

The proposed growth plan includes a schedule of population, household and employment forecasts for all upper tier municipalities which will be used as the basis for planning and managing growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. These forecasts are to be reviewed every five years in consultation with upper tier municipalities. For York Region, the 2031 compact growth forecasts estimate a population of 1.5 million in 500,000 households and employment of 780,000 persons. This compares to current Regional forecasts for 2031 of 1.36 million population in 429,000 households and an employment of 734,000. A significant portion of the new growth (40%) is to be directed to existing built up areas in York Region. However, the methodology for determining the built boundary and the delineation of the built boundary by the Province has yet to be completed.

At this time, it remains unclear as to what proportion of the additional growth allocated to York Region will be allocated to Markham and whether Markham will be required to take greater than a proportionate share of the anticipated increase in York Region population, households and employment in both the built up area and new greenfield growth. It is also not clear what the implications of phasing York Region’s additional growth will have on Markham’s timeframe for completing local growth management studies and additional Town resources that will be needed to plan for the new growth, including adequate infrastructure capacity. Markham will be required to develop a Town growth management strategy that must be formally endorsed by Council that conforms to provincial and regional growth policies within three years of the approval of the provincial growth plan.

Intensification Policies

A draft built boundary has been developed by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal using 2003 MPAC and Teranet data and is shown conceptually on Schedule 2 of the proposed plan. However, for Markham the built boundary does not appear to account for all committed development including approved secondary plans, community design plans and significant draft approvals in all of the OPA No. 5 planning districts. Also, it is not clear whether designated greenfield lands located along the Highway 7 regional transit corridor in the Cornell Planning District would be included within the built boundary. The Cornell Centre mixed use regional subcentre planned for the Highway 7 regional transit corridor should be included in the Region’s built boundary and counted as an intensification area.

Further clarification is also required on the land area to be included in the calculation of the density target for urban growth centres. The current target is based on the gross land area of the urban growth centre, which does not appear to exclude natural heritage features. This delineation of the designated land area is problematic for the Town as a significant portion of Markham Centre is comprised of natural heritage features (ie. the Rouge River) and areas where development is not permitted. If the valleylands of Markham Centre are not excluded from the gross land area calculation than it would be difficult to achieve the provincial intensification target of 200 residents and job per hectare for urban growth centres.

Also, Schedule 4 - Urban Growth Centres of the proposed plan should be amended to make correct reference to “Markham Centre” instead of “Markham City Centre” as an urban growth centre.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Council request the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and the York Region Commissioner of Planning to make a specific commitment to consult with Markham staff at the technical review stage of the implementation analysis to ensure that:

· the refinement and allocation of growth forecasts and the assessment of the need and location for future designated greenfield areas fits with Markham’s emerging growth management strategy;

· the built boundary accurately reflects all committed development and includes all lands within the OPA No. 5 planning district and along the Highway 7 regional transit corridor; and

· the scope and scale of Markham Centre and the delineation of its designated land area as urban growth centre be based on the developable land area, and not include natural heritage features and areas where development is not permitted in accordance with provincial plans and policies.

It is recommended that Council request the Province to amend Schedule 4 – Urban Growth Centres to make correct reference to “Markham Centre” instead of “Markham City Centre” as an urban growth centre.

2.4 Implementation Analysis and Conformity Exercise Required

Implementation Analysis

The proposed plan policies do not specify provincial consultation with lower tier municipalities at either the technical review or sub-area assessment stages of the implementation analysis. The sequence of actions from the Province to upper tier municipalities to lower tier municipalities regarding the implementation analysis needs to be clarified to ensure that the Province and York Region are consulting with the Town of Markham as the research and analysis is being completed.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Council request the Province to revise the growth plan policies for implementation analysis to make specific commitment to consultation between lower tier municipalities, the Province and upper tier municipalities, in completing the technical review and sub-area assessment.

Town Growth Management Strategy Required to Conform to Provincial and Regional Growth Policies

The Places to Grow Act requires that municipalities shall bring their Official Plan policies into conformity with the proposed growth plan within three years of the approval of a growth plan. The Town must meet this requirement within the context of the Regional Official Plan, which must of course also comply with provincial policies. The Region of York has initiated the development of a growth management strategy to achieve conformity with the growth plan. The Town must also make a formal commitment to the completion of a conformity exercise. Some work that should be supportive of developing a Town strategy has already been initiated, through studies currently approved or in progress (ie. Hwy 7 Corridor Study, Housing Stock Analysis) and through Town commentary on senior government policy. However, this work and other required studies have yet to be cast within the context of a comprehensive work plan leading to a growth management strategy and implementing amendments to the Town’s Official Plan.

The development of a Town of Markham growth management strategy will be a significant, multi-year project that will need to be integrated with other initiatives including the proposed review of the Town’s corporate strategy, Engage 2021 and the planned development of a new Economic Development Strategy. Staff is currently working to determine the requirements of this project and will be reporting to the Development Services Committee with recommendations to formalise and proceed with the required work, likely commencing in 2007.

2.5 Provincial Commitment to Delivery of Infrastructure Investment/Fiscal Tools Required

The proposed growth plan policies contemplate that Ministers of the Crown and municipalities will use infrastructure investment and other implementation tools and mechanisms to facilitate the building of complete communities and intensification of the built up areas. ReNew Ontario 2005-2010 Strategic Highlights is an overview of a five year spending horizon based on current provincial budget commitments. However, it is not detailed or specific enough to target infrastructure investment to achieve key growth plan objectives. A longer time horizon will also be required for large scale provincial infrastructure in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The proposed plan identifies a process for an infrastructure priority assessment at the sub-area assessment stage of the implementation analysis by the Province. However, there is no commitment by the Province to release a long term, multi-year provincial infrastructure investment strategy to provide sustainable long term funding for infrastructure and assist municipalities with the implementation of the growth plan over time. Without such a provincial commitment it will be difficult for the Region and the Town to commit to a long term growth management strategy that relies upon significant infrastructure investment to redirect growth to existing built up areas.

While new planning tools and legislation (the Provincial Policy Statement and Bill 51 Planning Act Legislation) were introduced last year to support these growth plan objectives, municipal governments are still awaiting the approval of changes to the Development Charges Act and the approval of Tax Increment Financing legislation to provide financial incentives to facilitate intensification of built up areas and development of higher order transit.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Council request the provincial government to make a commitment to release for consultation, with municipalities and key stakeholders, a long term multi-year provincial infrastructure investment strategy identifying infrastructure investment priorities in support of implementation of the growth plan policies.

It is recommended that Council request the provincial government to make a commitment to the deliver new fiscal tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and permanent removal of tax capping in TIF areas, and changes to the Development Charges Act, to assist municipalities with the implementation of the growth plan policies particularly as they relate to intensification and development of higher order transit.

3.0 FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

While the details of investment priorities in transportation and transit, water and wastewater systems are to be dealt with through provincial implementation analysis of the Greater Golden Horseshoe growth plan area, there is no certainty when the long term multi-year provincial investment strategy for infrastructure will be in place to implement the plan.

Sustained strategic provincial investment in infrastructure is required in order for municipalities to implement the growth plan policies and successfully accommodate the provincial growth forecasts and achieve the province’s vision of strategic growth for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Markham is likely to be identified to receive a large portion of York Region’s allocation of additional population, households and employment growth both in its built up area and future greenfield areas. A sustainable long term provincial investment in infrastructure and high order transit will be required to deliver Markham’s urban growth centre (ie. Markham Centre) and intensification corridors (ie. Highway 7 and Yonge Street).

It is anticipated that implementation of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe by the provincial government in collaboration with municipalities should result in financial support to the Town in the delivery of key growth management initiatives related to directing urban growth, balancing a mix and range of live/work opportunities, investing in infrastructure, and protecting the environment.

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

It is anticipated that the implementation of a Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe by the provincial government in collaboration with municipalities should result in improved protection of Markham’s natural features and green spaces as a component of a natural system.

5.0 ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

It is anticipated that implementation of a Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe by the provincial government in collaboration with municipalities should assist Markham in achieving its 20-year vision with a concerted focus on strategic plan initiatives and projects. It is also anticipated that a provincial growth plan and implementation framework, including necessary planning reforms and greenbelt protection and new financial tools, should assist Council in guiding growth management, land use, economic development, and environmental protection and Official Plan policy.

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix ‘A’ – Response to April 26, 2005 Council Recommendations on Draft Growth Plan Appendix ‘B’ – Planning For Growth – A Guide to the Proposed Growth Plan, November 2005

Appendix ‘C’ – Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, November 2005

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning and Urban Design

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services

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