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:

Sabrina Bordone

Development Technician

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

November 22, 2005    

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

PRELIMINARY REPORT

Neamsby Investment Inc.

Applications for Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Approval to Permit a Banquet Hall at 95 Duffield Drive, Markham

ZA.05-024222 & SC.05-022598

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That a Public Meeting be held to consider Zoning Amendment application (ZA 05 024222) submitted by Neamsby Investments Inc. to permit a banquet hall at 95 Duffield Drive.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide preliminary information regarding the site plan and rezoning applications and to recommend that a statutory Public Meeting be held with respect to the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment.

 

BACKGROUND:

The subject lands, consisting of two parcels on a registered plan, are located on the south side of Duffield Drive, between McDowell Gate and Deverill Court, and are approximately 1.56 ha (3.85 ac) in area (See Figure 1).  The lands are currently vacant with no significant vegetation or natural features.  The site is characterized by a south-to-north downward slope.       

 

Immediately abutting the subject property to the south is a vacant parcel of land that is the subject of a current site plan application to permit a single-storey industrial building fronting onto 14th Avenue.  To the southeast is an existing residential condominium townhouse development.  To the north, across Duffield Drive, are existing single-storey industrial buildings.  The properties abutting to the east and west are also vacant and are currently zoned to permit industrial and limited commercial uses (Figures 2 & 3).

 

 

 

Official Plan and Zoning

The Official Plan designates the lands “General Industrial Area”, which provides for the proposed banquet hall, subject to the review of a specific development proposal and approval of a Zoning Amendment.  

 

The lands are zoned “Select Industrial with Limited Commercial” [M.C. (40%)] by By-law 108-81, as amended, which permits a variety of industrial uses and limited commercial uses.  An amendment is required to permit the proposed banquet hall use. 

 

Proposal is for a Banquet Hall Facility

The applicant has submitted applications for a Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Approval to permit the construction of a 2,564 m2 (27,603 ft2) single-storey industrial building (banquet hall facility).  The Town’s Parking Standards By-law 28-97, as amended, requires parking for a banquet hall to be provided at a rate of 1 space per 9 m2 of net floor area.  The proposed development requires a total of 285 spaces.  The submitted site plan shows a total of 289 spaces. 

 

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL:

The potential benefits of the proposed development are as follows:

 

  • The banquet hall may help meet the needs of both businesses and members of the general public as the facility will be used for a variety of purposes such as weddings, parties, business conferences, etc.  As such, the proposal may also help to foster the growth of Markham’s Hospitality Sector.   

 

CONCERNS/ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED:

The following is a brief summary of concerns/issues raised to date. These matters, and any others identified through the circulation and detailed review of the proposal, will be addressed in a final staff report to be presented to Committee at a later date:

 

  • A Deeming By-law is required to be submitted by the applicant to combine the two subject parcels;                                                                                                                                          
  • Urban design requirements will need to be satisfied with respect to the building location and street relationship, architectural treatment, landscaping, and screening of parking.    

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None at this time.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no significant vegetation or natural features on site.

 

 

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Accessibility considerations will be reviewed as part of the site plan approval process.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

All Town departments and external agencies have been circulated with these applications and all comments will be considered in a final report.

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Planning & Urban Design

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENT:\\MARKHAM.CA\APPS\AMANDADOCS\PLANNING\SAVEPATH\290    66473050.DOC

 

ATTACHMENTS:                Figure 1 – Location Map

                                                Figure 2 – Area Context and Zoning

                                                Figure 3 – Air Photo

                                                Figure 4 – Site Plan

                                                Figure 5 – Elevations

 

APPLICANT/AGENT:          Neamsby Investments Inc.

                                                Attn:  Rudy Buczolits

                                                7501 Keele Street, Unit 100

                                                Vaughan, ON

                                                L4K 1Y2

 

                                                Phone # (905) 761-8200

                                                Fax # (905) 791-2137

 

Figure 1